Hunters across Ohio harvested 87,192 white-tailed deer during the 2024 weeklong gun season, which concluded on Sunday, Dec. 8, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
This year’s total marks the highest harvest since 2011, when 90,282 deer were checked. By comparison, hunters reported 70,103 deer during the 2023 gun season, while the three-year average stands at 70,806.
During the weeklong gun season, hunters checked 28,606 antlered deer, comprising 33% of the total harvest, while 58,586 antlerless deer made up the remaining 67%. The antlerless category includes does and button bucks. Hunters employed a range of legal hunting tools during the gun season, with the breakdown of deer checked by implement shown below.
Top 10 Counties for Deer Harvest in 2024 Gun Season: | Legal Hunting Equipment and Usage: |
|---|---|
Coshocton: 2,954 (up from 2,440 in 2023, maintaining its statewide lead) | 64% (55,611 deer) |
| Tuscarawas: 2,673 | Shotguns: 30% (26,486 deer) |
| Knox: 2,525 | Muzzleloaders: 4% (3,271 deer) |
| Muskingum: 2,515 | Archery equipment: 2% (1,357 deer) |
| Carroll: 2,399 | Handguns: Less than 1% (467 deer) |
| Ashtabula: 2,281 | |
| Guernsey: 2,201 | |
| Washington: 1,970 | |
| Ashland: 1,893 | |
| Licking: 1,860 |
Straight-walled cartridge rifles, first legalized for deer gun hunting in 2014, have proven especially popular among Ohio hunters.
The Statewide Harvest Total Between Sept. 28 and Dec. 8, archery and firearms hunters across all deer hunting seasons combined have reported a total harvest of 188,931 deer. Adams County hunters contributed significantly to this year’s success, harvesting 1,312 deer during the gun season. This figure surpasses the county’s three-year average of 1,017 deer and reflects a notable increase in local participation and success.
Ohio’s thriving white-tailed deer population and diverse hunting opportunities continue to attract hunters from across the state and beyond, ensuring this valued tradition remains strong for future generations.
