From last Saturday through yesterday, Ohio's muzzleloader hunters took to the woods and fields. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife reported a harvest of 13,476 white-tailed deer during the state's muzzleloader hunting season. This number slightly overshadows last year's figure of 12,714 deer and is part of a consistent trend over the past few years, which has seen an average take of 13,081 deer for the same period.
According to the ODNR, this season yielded 3,629 antlered deer, representing 27% of the total harvest, and 9,847 antlerless deer, which includes 8,127 does and 1,445 button bucks. Hunters also checked 172 bucks with shed antlers and 103 "nubbin" bucks - those with antlers less than 3 inches long. Coshocton County led the pack with 544 deer checked, followed by Muskingum and Tuscarawas counties with 462 and 450 deer, respectively.
As the season progresses, hunters across Ohio have tagged 225,911 deer for the 2024-25 season. Crossing the 200,000 mark for the third consecutive year, archery hunters have contributed significantly to the tally with 97,421 deer. This year's gun season added another 87,192 deer to the total, along with an additional 17,373 from a special gun weekend.
With the harvest, Ohioans have the potential to collectively add more than 11 million pounds of venison to their tables. The Division of Wildlife has provided many resources, including a wild game cookbook on its website, to help process and prepare the bounty. The season saw hunters from across the United States, including Pennsylvania and Michigan, come to Ohio, having sold 7,876 and 5,156 licenses, respectively, to out-of-state enthusiasts. To track and manage harvest data, the Division of Wildlife requires that all deer taken in Ohio be checked in the Ohio Wildlife Licensing System, furnishing the division with a vital data set to monitor deer populations and health.
To ensure sustainable enjoyment and conservation of the state's wildlife resources, the ODNR encourages ethical hunting practices and offers channels for reporting violations, such as the Turn-In-a-Poacher hotline. The public may access county-specific data on the Division's website for a comprehensive breakdown of the season's results. These data reveal insights into local deer populations and hunter success rates. With the archery season open until February 2, the numbers are yet to finalize, promising to offer a more complete portrait of Ohio's rich hunting heritage.
