Hunters ages 17 and younger checked 10,449 white-tailed deer during Ohio’s youth gun hunting season—Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 16 and 17—according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. In 2023, hunters harvested 10,033 deer during the two-day youth gun season and the three-year average from 2021 to 2023 is 9,061 deer.
Each fall, youth hunters enjoy a weekend of deer hunting with a firearm before the statewide gun season begins. The top 10 counties for deer taken during Ohio’s 2024 youth season include: Tuscarawas (354), Knox (314), Coshocton (303), Guernsey (291), Muskingum (284), Holmes (268), Licking (253), Washington (227), Harrison (223), and Carroll (218). Youth hunters checked 6,042 antlered and 4,407 antlerless deer during the weekend
The Division of Wildlife has issued 42,209 youth deer permits through Sunday, Nov. 17. Youth permits are valid for all remaining Ohio deer hunting seasons through Feb. 2, 2025.
Ohio’s youth hunting opportunities are available to anyone who is 17 years old or younger during the season dates. Youth hunting seasons are also available for small game, wild turkey and waterfowl. Anyone interested in learning to hunt or becoming a mentor to a new hunter is encouraged to visit Wild Ohio Harvest. The website offers information on how to get started and hunting-related workshops, as well as special hunting opportunities for mentors and new hunters.
Gun hunters of all ages can participate in the upcoming seven-day gun season which begins Dec. 2 and runs until Sunday, Dec. 8. A bonus weekend of gun hunting occurs Dec. 21 to 22; muzzleloader season is Jan. 4 to 7, 2025. The archery season runs through Feb. 2, 2025. All hunters, regardless of the implement they use, are required to wear hunter orange during the gun seasons. Find complete details in the 2024-25 hunting and trapping regulations [PDF].
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