Young hunters across Ohio made the most of this year's youth deer gun hunting season, bagging a total of 9,759 white-tailed deer over the weekend of Nov. 22-23. The stats, as reported by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife, indicate a slight drop from the previous year's harvest of 10,436 deer, marking a busy yet slightly less fruitful season compared to 2024.
Designed to give youths a prime shot at deer hunting before the statewide gun season opens up, the weekend saw a mix of 5,224 antlered and 4,535 antlerless deer being checked in. Among the counties, Coshocton led the pack with 319 deer, followed closely by Knox at 317, and Tuscarawas with 274. These numbers continue to provide an important snapshot into the health and sustainability of the state's deer population.
Going into the details, the ODNR has issued 43,813 youth deer permits through the end of the weekend, according to their report. These permits are not just valid through the rest of the deer season, but also extend to other youth hunting seasons, which include small game, wild turkey, and waterfowl. For those budding hunters or mentors looking to guide the next generation, resources and information can be found on the Wild Ohio Harvest website, which aims to support new hunters and mentors alike.
With the youth season wrapped up, the attention now shifts to the wider community of hunters, eagerly gearing up for a seven-day gun season starting Dec. 1. The season promises to not only fully engage experienced hunters but also to offer opportunities for new hunters to safely and responsibly experience Ohio's rich hunting traditions. For all participants, wearing hunter orange is a non-negotiable requirement during the gun seasons to ensure safety across the board. Detailed regulations can be found in the 2025-26 Ohio hunting and trapping guide.
Finally, successful hunters have numerous avenues to check their game, ranging from physical locations to digital platforms. The HuntFish OH mobile app remains a convenient tool, offering functionalities such as public hunting area exploration, hunting licenses and deer permit purchases, as well as county bag limit information. Moreover, hunters can opt to check game via the ODNR website, calling dedicated hotlines, or utilizing an operator-assisted service for landowners, with applicable fees.
