Two weekends into Ohio’s deer archery season, hunters have seen a slight decrease in the harvest so far in 2025 compared to 2024, according to an initial summary by an Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife deer biologist.

In 2024, the number of deer checked in by Oct. 6 was 9,092 while this year at Oct. 5 the tally is 9,010, which is a decrease of only 0.9 percent. However, when the numbers are compared against the three-year average, there is a significant drop of 14 percent across the state.

“Archery harvest is off to a slowish start, similar to last year,” deer biologist Clint McCoy said Thursday.

He cited two main reasons, one of which is typical early in the season when the weather is warmer, fewer hunters take to the woods, and also this year there is the effe

See Full Page