COLUMBUS, Ohio – November 13, 2025 – Hunters in Athens, Meigs, Morgan, and Washington counties will face sharply reduced white-tailed deer bag limits starting December 1 due to a severe outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD), the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife announced Thursday.

The Ohio Wildlife Council unanimously approved the emergency reductions during its Wednesday meeting. Effective the first day of the seven-day deer gun season:

Athens, Meigs, and Washington counties: Bag limit drops from three to one deer.

Morgan County: Bag limit drops from three to two deer.

The restrictions remain in effect through the close of the 2025-26 deer season on February 1, 2026.“EHD has hit these counties hard this year,” said ODNR Wildlife Chief Mike Ton

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