Deer Season Media Resources
This page serves as a clearinghouse of all available deer hunting season information for members of the media to use in their reporting. If you are in need of additional information, please Contact Us.
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News Releases
Hunting Regulations
Hunting Season Outlook & History
Hunting Locations
License Sales & Game Check
Social
Apprentice Hunting Program
Safety
Venison
Economic Impact of Hunting
Deer Health
Media / Photo Opportunities
Additional Resources
News Releases
Hunters Prepare for Ohio's Traditional Deer-Gun Season
Ohio Marks 10th Annual Youth Deer-Gun Hunting Season
Staff Available for Questions during Deer-Gun Hunting Seasons
Tree Stand Safety…. Better And Easier Than Ever
ODNR to Report White-tailed Deer Harvest Numbers Weekly
Deer Archery Season Begins Statewide on September 29, 2012
Hunting Regulations
Deer Hunting Regulations
Youth Deer Hunting Season
General Hunting Regulations
Other Wildlife Laws and Rules
Hunting Season Outlook & History
Deer Harvest Comparison
Summary of 2011-2012 Ohio Deer Seasons
Historical Hunting License Sales Numbers
Fast Facts about Ohio Deer Hunting
- ODNR Division of Wildlife anticipates 80,000-85,000 deer will be checked and tagged during the week-long deer-gun hunt.
- Approximately 500,000 people hunt deer in Ohio. Approximately 420,000 hunters are expected to participate in this year's gun season, including many out-of-state hunters.
- Last year, Ohio hunters took more than 105,000 deer during the state’s popular week-long deer gun season. An additional 21,000 deer were killed during the December weekend (bonus) hunt. Nearly 240,000 deer were taken in the 2010-2011 deer hunting season.
- Last year, young hunters across Ohio took approximately 8,860 deer during the state's youth deer gun hunting season.
- According to a deer hunter survey, license-buying deer hunters annually spend over $266 million, which includes food, transportation, gear, lodging, processing, taxidermy, leasing fees, etc. This does not include the number of hunting licenses and deer permits purchased from the Division of Wildlife and does not include the money spent by the estimated 125,000 landowners who hunt.
- Hunting has an $859 million economic impact each year in Ohio through the sale of equipment, fuel, food, lodging and more.
- In 1949, the Division of Wildlife sold an all-time record 736,381 resident hunting licenses. Hunters that year killed one million pheasants, 5.6 million rabbits, 1.4 million squirrels, and 232,000 ducks. It was Ohio’s best hunting season of the 20th century and it happened without a statewide deer season.
- The first modern-day deer hunting season was open December 6-18, 1943 in Adams, Pike, and Scioto counties. The reported legal deer harvest that year was 168 bucks. Those deer taken on private lands and not required to be reported to a deer check station likely put the total deer harvest in 1943 over 200 deer.
- In 1913, Ohio’s first resident hunting license law was enacted. This first license cost Ohio hunters an even buck ($1). The first non-resident hunting and trapping license was issued in 1904 at a cost of $15.
- Ohio had its first full-time game wardens (or wildlife officers as they are known today) in 1901. They did not receive a salary at that time.
Hunting Locations
Find a License Agent
Public Hunting - Wildlife Area Maps
Permission Slips for Hunting on Private Property
Landowner Liability Information
- Landowners granting written permission for recreational use of their land without charging a fee are not liable for personal injuries or properties.
- Sections 1533.18 and 1533.181 of the Ohio Revised Code clarify the definitions of premises and recreational user and clearly state the exemption from liability by the landowner. Therefore, a landowner granting written permission to someone to hunt, fish, trap, or pursue other recreational purposes should not be overly concerned about being sued in the event of an accident.
License Sales & Game Check
In 2011, the Division of Wildlife began using an automated license sales and game check system. With this system, hunters are no longer required to take their harvested deer to a check station for inspection.
License Sales & Game Check Home
Game Check Options Video
Social
Share Deer Season Photos
Print a My First Harvest Certificate
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Apprentice Hunting Program
The apprentice license in Ohio was developed as part of a nationwide effort called Families Afield.
Families Afield projects are designed to remove barriers that prevent hunters from passing along the hunting heritage. Apprentice hunting licenses or fur taker permits allow new hunters and trappers, both adults and youth, to sample the experience of hunting under the mentorship of a licensed adult prior to completing a hunter or trapper education course.
To hunt or trap, apprentice license and permit holders must be accompanied by a licensed hunter or trapper 21 years of age or older.
Accompany means to go along with another person while staying within a distance from the person that enables uninterrupted, unaided visual and auditory communications.
Having previously held an apprentice license does not qualify the holder to purchase a regular hunting license or fur taker permit. To obtain a regular hunting license, a hunter education course must be completed successfully. To obtain a regular fur taker permit, a hunter education course and fur taker education course must be successfully completed. Apprentice licenses and trapping permits are available to both residents and non-residents, youth or adults. No one may purchase more than three apprentice hunting licenses or fur taker permits in his or her lifetime.
Things to remember as a hunting mentor:
- Understand the basics. Make sure any guest is familiar with all safety aspects of hunting and trapping. Encourage them to sign up for a hunter education class at their earliest opportunity.
- Teach by example. Remember to practice what is preached.
- Be patient. Hunting or trapping knowledge takes many years in the field to acquire. Be understanding and foster the same development in your apprentice.
- Keep a positive attitude. An understanding and positive mentor will build the student's self-esteem and confidence.
- Provide appropriate equipment. If the new hunter does not have the right gear, make sure they are able to borrow it for the outing.
- Make sure an apprentice dresses accordingly for the trip. A cold, wet, uncomfortable new hunter is not likely to ask for a second trip.
- Pass on your knowledge and ethics to the student. Help them appreciate and respect the outdoors and the animals they hunt or trap.
- Share enthusiasm and love for the outdoors. Enthusiasm is contagious. Keep in mind that a new hunter may soon share the same passion.
- Pressure to “succeed” may lead to disappointment. Keep in mind and teach an apprentice that a successful hunt doesn’t always mean a full bag limit.
- Have Fun!
Safety
Tree Stand Safey
Deer Hunter Safety Checklist
- Do a pre-hunt safety check. Does the safety on your firearm work? Is the barrel clear of obstructions? Are all parts in good working order?
- Are there fresh batteries in your flashlight? When entering or leaving the woods in the dark, turn your flashlight on whether you need it to see or not. This prevents you from being mistaken for a deer or becoming injured in a fall.
- Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return.
- Plan your hunt and hunt your plan! Know where other party members will be. Do not leave your assigned area.
- Unload idle guns or when crossing obstacles.
- Blaze or hunter orange clothing is cheap and the most effective way for other hunters to know where you are and what you are. The more hunter orange you wear, the better! Keep orange clothing visible when field dressing or dragging out a deer.
- Never assume other hunters are safe hunters. Check the gun handlers around you. Are their muzzles pointed in a safe direction?
Four primary rules of firearm safety
- Treat every gun as if it is loaded.
- Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.
- Be sure of your target and beyond.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire.
The Wildlife Management Institute says the number of injuries per 100,000 participants in outdoor activities is highest among football, baseball, and soccer players. Injuries to those participating in bicycle riding, roller-skating, and golf are also ranked well ahead of the injury rate related to hunting.
Fatalities are higher in accidents related to automobiles, falls, poisoning, fires, and suffocation when compared to hunting.
Hunters must transport firearms unloaded as shown in this firearm transportation video.
Venison
Health Benefits of Venison
Venison Recipes
Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry
Economic Impact of Hunting
According to the Economic Importance of Hunting in America, International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 2006, Ohio ranks 6th nationally in annual hunting-related retail sales and 4th in the number of jobs associated with the hunting-related industry. Each year, hunting has a 1.5 billion dollar economic impact in Ohio. Hunting-related retail sales in Ohio total over 700 million dollars.
2006 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's National Survey of Fishing, Hunting,and Wildlife-Associated Recreation - Ohio (6.6 MB)
See an overview of Ohio hunting and angling economic contributions.
Deer Health
The Division of Wildlife actively follows up on reports of any wildlife diseases in Ohio and aggressively monitors the health of our wildlife populations to ensure their long-term conservation and the welfare of our hunters, trappers, anglers, and citizens.
Black-legged ticks, which can cary Lyme disease, have been found in Coshocton County. Hunters should take precautions to prevent tick attachment.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has not been detected in Ohio deer.
To protect our healthy deer herd, there are rules about transporting and disposing of animals harvested in other states.
Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) was detected in Ohio in 2012. Biologists are constantly monitoring the deer herd for evidence of EHD.
Tumors - Hunters may find a tumor or wart on a deer they harvest. These are benign tumors which are an outgrowth of the skin and are removed when the hide is removed. As unsightly as they may be, they have no effect on the meat.
Media / Photo Opportunities
Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife staff will be stationed at A’Mays’ing Meats in Licking County on Monday, November 26th, 2012, between the hours of 1pm-6pm. A’Mays’ing Meats is one of several deer processors throughout the state that has agreed to cooperate biologists and allow for the collection aging data on Ohio’s hunter harvested deer.
Contact your local Wildlife District Office for additional interview opportunities.
Additional Resources
Buckeye Big Buck Club
Field Dressing Your Deer
Managing Ohio's Deer Herd
White-tailed Deer A to Z Species Guide
White-tailed Deer Population Status Report |