Deer season is underway in Ohio, and hunters have already checked more than 20,000 deer according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Archery season began Sept. 26. And hunters in the disease surveillance area, which includes all of Allen, Hardin and Wyandot counties and portions of some surrounding counties, got an even earlier start on Sept. 12. Archery season is one of four deer seasons in Ohio, and runs until February 2027.
Through Oct. 14, hunters have harvested 22,102 deer — 8,504 antlered and 13,598 antlerless, according to ODNR's Weekly Deer Harvest Report. Here's where hunters have been finding success.
The top 10 counties for deer hunting in Ohio
These are the top 10 counties for deer
hunting through Oct. 14, 2026:
- Coshocton: 955
- Trumbull: 889
- Tuscarawas: 797
- Ashtabula: 784
- Holmes: 737
- Knox: 554
- Licking: 537
- Muskingum: 535
- Carroll: 529
- Columbiana: 518
When is archery, gun deer hunting season in Ohio?
Deer hunting season in Ohio are:
- Archery: Sept. 26, 2026 to Feb. 7, 2027
- Youth gun season: Nov. 21 and 22
- Gun season: Nov. 30 to Dec. 6 and Dec. 19-20
- Muzzleloader: Jan. 2 to 5, 2027
Ohio deer hunting regulations
All rules governing hunting in Ohio can be found in the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting & Trapping Regulations.
Permitted equipment during Ohio deer hunting archery season
Hunters may use crossbows, compound bows, recurve bows and longbows to pursue deer during the archery season.
ODNR hunting licenses: How to buy, renew, tag deer, check game online
Hunters are required to have a valid hunting license and deer permit before heading into the field.
You can buy a license online at WildOhio.gov. Also, the free HuntFish OH app lets hunters purchase hunting and fishing licenses, check game, view wildlife area maps, and more. The HuntFish OH mobile app is available for iOS and Android users in the App Store or Google Play.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: It's deer hunting season in Ohio. This is where hunters are having success
