COLUMBUS, Ohio — December 2, 2025 — Ohio’s weeklong deer gun hunting season is off to a strong start, with hunters checking 23,149 white-tailed deer on opening day, Monday, Dec. 1, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

The opening day total includes 8,315 antlered and 14,834 antlerless deer. This year’s harvest is slightly below last year’s total of 26,670 but remains above the recent three-year average of 21,075 deer taken on opening day.

Ohio’s seven-day gun season runs through Sunday, Dec. 7, with an additional bonus gun weekend scheduled for Dec. 20–21.

Top Harvest Counties

The counties reporting the highest opening day harvest numbers include:

Ashtabula — 1,122

Coshocton — 1,010

Muskingum — 801

Tuscarawas — 795

Knox — 784

Carroll

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