Ohio to Announce Changes in Deer Hunting Bag Limits This November
The Ohio Division of Wildlife is set to finalize adjustments to deer hunting bag limits during the Ohio Wildlife Council meeting scheduled for November. These changes come in response to significant deer population declines linked to a recent outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) that severely impacted several counties this year.
Bag Limit Reductions Proposed for Affected Counties
Kendra Wecker, chief of the Ohio Division of Wildlife, shared that the proposed regulations would lower bag limits in counties most affected by this “unprecedented” die-off. Specifically:
- Athens, Meigs, and Washington counties’ bag limits would drop from three deer to one.
- Morgan County’s limit would be reduced from three to two deer.
The new restrictions, subject to council approval, are expected to take effect on December 1, coinciding with the start of gun deer season.
Background: The Impact of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease
About a month ago, the Ohio Division of Wildlife responded to widespread concern after an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease decimated local deer populations. EHD is a viral disease transmitted by biting midges, notorious for causing rapid, high mortality rates in white-tailed deer, especially during hot and dry conditions.
The early response proposed a reduction in the legal season bag limit from three to two deer in several counties, including Washington, Meigs, and Athens.
Population Management and Social Tolerance
An insider from the division explained that deer population goals often reflect social tolerance, which balances the concerns of different stakeholders.
- Some residents view deer as nuisances—damaging vegetation, causing vehicle collisions, or impacting suburban landscapes—and may prefer lower populations.
- Hunters generally seek sustainable deer densities to ensure enjoyable and viable hunting seasons in the future.
This outbreak challenged those goals, as heavy mortality raised the possibility that local herds might take many years to recover to levels preferred by hunters and landowners alike.
Public Input Influences Final Decisions
The preliminary proposal to lower bag limits received intense public scrutiny, attracting over 1,150 formal comments and approximately 1,300 responses during the comment period ahead of the November Wildlife Council vote.
The level of engagement underscores the importance of adaptive wildlife management in the face of disease outbreaks and ecological stressors. Ohio’s Division of Wildlife aims to balance herd preservation with the ecological, social, and recreational values of deer populations.
Looking Ahead to the 2025-26 Deer Season
With the proposed changes expected to go into effect at the start of the upcoming season, affected counties will implement more restrictive harvest limits to support recovery efforts. Monitoring of herd health and population dynamics will continue critical in guiding future management decisions.
Ohio’s experience highlights the challenges faced by wildlife managers in responding rapidly to disease events while accommodating diverse public interests in a species as ecologically and culturally significant as white-tailed deer.
Additional reporting and sources from: Ohio deer-hunting bag limit changes to be announced in November
