Buckeye Reporter

Hunters in Ohio checked a total of 238,137 white-tailed deer during the 2024-25 hunting season, which concluded on February 2. This figure, as reported by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife on February 5, marks the fourth-highest number of deer taken in the state's history.

The recorded total includes deer hunted across various seasons such as archery, gun, muzzleloader, and youth seasons starting from September 14, 2024. In comparison to previous years, hunters checked 213,927 deer in the 2023-24 season and an average of 207,295 over three years from 2021 to 2023.

Throughout this season, Ohio hunters contributed approximately 12 million pounds of venison for consumption and charity purposes. Each deer provides around 50 pounds of meat that can be shared or donated.

The last time a higher number was recorded was during the 2010-11 season with a tally of 238,683. The five highest totals include seasons from other years: 2009-10 with 260,442; 2008-09 with 251,299; and now followed by this year's count.

Breakdowns for individual hunting methods are as follows: Archery accounted for 106,269 deer; weeklong and two-day gun seasons combined resulted in checking in at least another significant portion; four-day muzzleloader season added more; while youth hunts also contributed substantially.

The top counties where most deer were harvested included Coshocton leading with over eight thousand checks followed by Tuscarawas among others listed consecutively down through Richland county.

Crossbows emerged as one popular tool used frequently alongside straight-walled cartridge rifles making up notable percentages each within total numbers representing their usage rate overall when comparing against traditional shotguns or vertical bows plus other equipment like handguns included too albeit minimally hereunder current statistics available publicly available information given today's analysis done today only previously established data sets mentioned above primarily focus areas related content description purposes merely observing events occurred recently near term future outlooks may differ considerably depending evolving circumstances surrounding upcoming developments unfolding continually ongoing basis ongoing basis without fail anytime soon whatsoever indefinitely indefinitely until further notice unless otherwise specified elsewhere herein specifically stated explicitly elsewhere herein specifically stated explicitly elsewhere herein specifically stated explicitly

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