Your Guide to the Ohio Deer Season 2024

With elite densities, an impressive management program, large deer, and long seasons, Ohio is the pinnacle of deer hunting in the Midwest and the entire country. From the wild woodlands of the Appalachian foothills to the deer-heavy expanses of farmland in the west, there's enough variety to please any deer hunter at any experience level. 

Excited to hunt Ohio? Before you pack your gear and sight your rifle, check the details below to ensure you're prepared for a legal hunt that abides by all regulations and season dates — as a bonus, they're pretty easy to navigate. 

An Overview of the Ohio Deer Season 2024 

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife establishes hunting seasons to ensure a safe, sustainable, and fair hunting culture.

Hunters should familiarize themselves with dates and relevant legislation to ensure compliance and an ethical hunt. 

Here are the details for 2024.

Archery: September 28 – February 2

The archery season is a long period set aside for hunters using either a longbow or bow (including compound bows and recurve).

Bows must have a minimum draw weight of 40 pounds, and arrow tips need a minimum of two cutting edges (exposed or unexposed with 3/4 inch-width). Note that mechanical and expandable broadheads are legal in Ohio. 

Hunters may also utilize crossbows with a weight of 75 pounds with a two-cut edged arrow tip and a 3/4-inch minimum width. 

Fewer people hunt during the archery seasons, meaning this is an excellent opportunity to tag out on the generous Ohio deer limit. Additionally, hunting at the beginning of the season makes the deer less skittish, as they haven't been hunted since last year, so there's less pressure. 

Youth Gun: November 16 – 17

The youth gun dates are an opportunity for hunters 17 and under to get and enjoy hunting with less pressure and some guidance. Deer taken during the youth hunt count towards the county total limit. 

Gun: December 2 – 8

All straight-walled cartridge calibers from .357 to .50 (including .350 Legend) are permitted during the gun season. Additionally, ten gauges or smaller, using one ball or one rifled slug per barrel (rifled shotgun barrels are permitted for shotgun slug ammo), are allowed. 

Additional Deer Season Dates

Whether you get during the season dates we've already mentioned, or your only hunt will be a late-season hunt, Ohio provides plenty of opportunity to hunt deer at the end of the year.

• Bonus Gun: December 21 – 22
• Muzzleloader: January 4 – 7

During the muzzleloading seasons, hunters can use a muzzleloading rifle with a .38 caliber or larger and a muzzleloading shotgun with one ball per barrel, 10-gauge or smaller.

Ohio Deer Regulations 

All local and out-of-state hunters must have a hunting license plus deer tags to take deer during one of the Ohio deer seasons. All first-time license hunter purchases must also pass a hunter education course. 

Bag Limit 

The bag limit can get confusing as each county has its own rules limiting the number of deer hunters can take.

The statewide limit for deer is six, with no more than one antlered. Hunters cannot exceed the county bag limit; however, you can expand your hunting range into other counties if targeting six deer. 

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) 

Ohio has established disease surveillance areas (DSA) to monitor and measure the impact of Chronic wasting disease (CWD) on the deer herd.

To help slow the spread, hunters cannot bring high-risk carcass parts into Ohio or remove them from a DSA unless delivered to a certified wildlife processor or taxidermist within 24 hours.

Additionally, mandatory sampling is in place for all deer taken in a DSA on Oct. 12-13 and Dec. 2-3. Participation is voluntary at all other times; however, it is highly encouraged. 

Wear Your Blaze Orange 

What should you wear to hunt? In addition to camo, youth hunters, guides, and non-hunting adults must wear orange blazes during the youth hunt.

Where Should You Hunt?

There is a range of public hunting opportunities for hunters looking for a challenge and an opportunity to hunt carefully managed lands with woods full of healthy whitetails. These encompass state forests, wildlife areas, and national forests. 

Although a popular spot often in high demand, the Dillon Wildlife Area, Muskingum County, offers enough space and versatility for hunters to push through to find huntable and less pressured zones in the wooded country. A similar hot spot is the Tranquility Wildlife Area, encompassed by extensive forested areas and brushy undergrowth supporting a substantial deer population. 

Finally, the American Electric Power (AEP) Recreation Area is a public 34,000-acre area spread across Morgan, Muskingum, and Noble counties. It is a blend of hill, forest, and agricultural lands. A free permit is required to hunt this area. 

How to Find the Best Place to Hunt

Your best bet to find the ideal hunting location is to use a mapping feature like HuntWise and the free Ohio hunting maps to explore the public hunting lands that fulfill your whitetail hunting criteria. 

Private land hunting and guided hunting are popular strategies for targeting whitetails in a more controlled and managed environment.

Before hunting any private land, you must get permission from the private landowner. While this can be challenging, the HuntWise private landowner contact details allow you to access the contact details of private owners in the area. 

Techniques, Tips, and Gear 

Pre-season scouting is the foundation of your hunt and will impact everything from gear choice to the hunting strategies employed.

To begin, use the HuntWise mapping features (including the LiDAR mapping layer) to target high-potential areas, including mixed environments, edges of wood and agricultural zones, and water sources.

Prioritize regions necessary for the survival of deer, such as feeding, bedding, and water, and consider how the deer may be moving through these areas. Confirm deer presence by in-person scouting, which is also a great way to target natural passageways created by deer. 

If using tree stands or blinds, always target predetermined travel routes confirmed by trail cameras. Check the direction of the wind and consider where your scent will carry. Blend in natural camouflage as much as possible, and always use scent-free products. 

Gear Up

The type of gear required will depend on your firearm choice and personal preference. However, some non-negotiable items include moisture-wicking clothing, quality optical equipment, and a decent pair of boots that have been worn in properly. 

Depending on the time of year you're out scouting or early-season hunting, permethrin-treated clothing also helps protect you from tick bites.

Finally, when changing strategies and tracking movement patterns to explore a new zone of hunt land, keep the HuntWise app handy for mapping insights, weather patterning, rutting information, etc.

Start Your Ohio Deer Season With HuntWise 

The Ohio deer season is right around the corner, allowing hunters to bag a generous amount of deer.  For those looking to tag out, pre-season research and a thorough understanding of the different county laws and bag limits are essential.

For a safe, legal, and successful season, the HuntWise app is your all-in-one solution. It provides comprehensive features such as season insights, 3D mapping, private landowner contact details, and more, ensuring all your hunting needs are met. 

It's the best hunting tool for pre-season prep, hunting-day weather and activity monitoring, and making post-hunt notes that can guide your next hunt — whether you get out again this season or you're thinking ahead to next year.

Explore the app — including HuntCast and WindCast — free for your first week after downloading HuntWise!