Ohio's deer harvest stood at 30,861 animals through Oct. 21, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources reported, an increase of roughly 6,500 compared with the same point a year earlier. The agency's figures show eastern counties setting the pace: Coshocton had 1,306 deer checked, followed by Trumbull with 1,140, Tuscarawas with 1,106, Ashtabula with 1,050 and Holmes with 1,015.
In southwest Ohio, Butler County recorded 231 deer, the regional high. Greene followed at 158, then Montgomery at 156, Warren at 152, Darke at 148, Preble at 146 and Miami at 125.
ODNR said the early totals followed a 2025-26 season in which half of deer permit buyers harvested at least one deer, a success rate the agency described as unprecedented.
Upcoming opportunities listed by the agency are youth gun hunting Nov. 21-22, a weeklong gun season Nov. 30-Dec. 6, another gun weekend Dec. 19-20 and muzzleloader season Jan. 2-5. Archery continues through Feb. 7. Hunters are limited to one antlered deer for the season no matter the method or county, and legal shooting hours begin 30 minutes before sunrise and end 30 minutes after sunset.