The Ohio Wildlife Council is considering a proposal to lower the white-tailed deer hunting bag limits in Athens, Meigs, Morgan, and Washington counties. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife (DOW) presented this proposal at the council’s meeting on October 22.
The DOW recommended reducing the bag limit to one deer in Athens, Meigs, and Washington counties due to an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD). In Morgan County, the proposed change would lower the bag limit from three deer to two for the same reason.
Previously, the DOW suggested reducing the bag limit in Athens, Meigs, and Washington counties from three deer to two. After reviewing public comments submitted during a 30-day period, officials revised their recommendation to further reduce it to one deer in those counties. The Ohio Wildlife Council is scheduled to vote on this latest proposal on Wednesday, November 12.
If approved by the council, these changes would take effect on Monday, December 1, 2025—the opening day of Ohio’s seven-day deer gun season—and remain until Sunday, February 1, 2026. Until November 30, hunters in these four counties will still be able to harvest up to three deer.
Bag limits for other parts of Ohio are not affected by this proposal. Hunters can consult the state’s Hunting and Trapping Regulations for details about current rules.
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