As Ohio's deer and wild turkey lovers gear up for hunting seasons, the Ohio Wildlife Council has some updates that might alter plans in specific Southeast counties. According to a recent proposal reviewed by the Council, as reported by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife, new bag limits on white-tailed deer may be on the horizon for hunters in Athens, Meigs, Morgan, and Washington counties due to an outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD).
The proposed changes aim to carefully manage to conserve the deer population affected by EHD, a hemorrhagic disease generally transmitted by biting midges, which can cause significant die-offs in the population. In response to public feedback, the Division of Wildlife is suggesting to further reduce the bag limit to one deer in Athens, Meigs, and Washington counties, while Morgan County might see a bag limit reduced to two deer, down from the current three. It's a classic fiscal pushback to counteract the disease's effects, but whether this proposal will become regulation hinges on the outcome of a vote set for Wednesday, Nov. 12.
If the Ohio Wildlife Council approves these changes, hunters will need to quickly adjust their expectations for the deer gun season opening day on Dec. 1. The new limits, if passed, would be enforced through the end of the 2025-26 hunting season on Feb. 1, 2026. But until then, it's business as usual with a three-deer bag limit, meaning hunters can temporarily breathe a sigh of relief.
In addition to deer, turkey enthusiasts have dates to mark on their calendars. The Council has also given the thumbs-up to the spring 2026 wild turkey hunting seasons, with separate youth dates for different zones. South zone youth get to take their best shot on April 18 and 19, whereas their Northeast zone counterparts have to wait until April 25 and 26. For the adults, the turkey hunt spans from April 25 to May 24 in the South Zone and from May 2 to May 31 in the Northeast Zone. And yes, hunting times are sectioned distinctly for the youth weekends and the early days of the season—split to only allow morning hunts initially, then opening up to full-day excursions as the season progresses.
What's clear is that the Council and the Division of Wildlife are attempting to strike a delicate balance between wildlife conservation and hunters' interests. Decision-making is laid bare at these public Council meetings, where anyone with an opinion and three minutes to spare can weigh in. It's a call to action for hunters, conservationists, and wildlife enthusiasts alike to join the dialogue. And given that the Division's mission is to nourish fish and wildlife resources sustainably, these proposed regulations are crucial to ensuring Ohio's natural splendors remain for future generations to admire and, yes, sometimes harvest.
