Hunters are preparing for another thrilling year of deer hunting as the Ohio Deer Season 2023 approaches. White-tailed deer hunting seasons for 2023–2024 have just been recommended to the Ohio Wildlife Council by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife. The proposal calls for raising bag limits for deer hunting in six counties while lowering them in one. Hunters are anticipating the chance to shoot more deer and contribute to reducing the state’s deer population due to the proposed modifications to bag restrictions. This post will look more closely at what to anticipate from the forthcoming Ohio Deer Season 2023, including suggested hunting seasons, bag limitations, and rules for productive deer hunting in Ohio.
Ohio Deer Season 2023
The proposed deer hunting seasons are supposed to be comparable to those from the prior year. No matter where or how they hunt, only one antlered deer may be taken by each hunter. The designated hunting hours are thirty minutes before dawn to 30 minutes after dusk. The plans call for raising deer hunting bag limits in six counties while lowering them in one.
Statewide Season
| OH Deer Season | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Archery Deer | September 30, 2023 | February 4, 2024 |
| Youth Gun Deer | November 18, 2023 | November 19, 2023 |
| Deer Gun Deer | November 27, 2023 | December 3, 2023 |
| Deer Gun Deer | December 16, 2023 | December 17, 2023 |
| Muzzleloader Season | January 6, 2024 | January 9, 2024 |
CWD Area
| OH CWD Deer Season | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Archery Season | September 9, 2023 | February 4, 2024 |
| Early Gun Deer | October 7, 2023 | October 9, 2023 |
Bag Limit
Ohio’s statewide deer hunting bag limit is six deer, but only one may have antlers. For instance, hunters in Ohio are only permitted to take one antlered deer during the 2023–24 deer shooting season, regardless of the hunting area or technique. A deer is considered to have antlers if at least one of them is at least three inches long. This rule ensures the prudent and sustainable management of Ohio’s deer population.
| County | Proposed Change |
|---|---|
| Belmont | Increase from 2 to 3 |
| Gallia | Increase from 2 to 3 |
| Geauga | Increase from 2 to 3 |
| Harrison | Increase from 2 to 3 |
| Jefferson | Increase from 2 to 3 |
| Monroe | Increase from 2 to 3 |
| Butler | Decrease from 3 to 2 |
OH Deer Licenses
| Licenses Types | Fees |
|---|---|
| Resident & Nonresident Youth 1-Year Hunting License | $10.00 |
| Resident & Nonresident Youth 1-Year Apprentice License | $10.00 |
| Resident 1-Year Hunting License | $19.00 |
| Resident 1-Year Apprentice License | $19.00 |
| Resident Senior 1-Year Hunting License | $10.00 |
| Resident Senior 1-Year Apprentice License | $10.00 |
| Nonresident 1-Year Hunting License | $180.96 |
| Nonresident 1-Year Apprentice Hunting License | $180.96 |
OH Deer Permits
| Permit Type | Resident Cost | Nonresident Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Either-Sex Deer Permit | ||
| Adult Permit | $31.20 | $76.96 |
| Youth Permit | $16.00 | $16.00 |
| Senior Permit | $12.00 | N/A |
| Free Senior Permit | FREE | N/A |
| Deer Management Permit | ||
| Adult and Youth Permit | $15.00 | $15.00 |
| Senior Permit | $15.00 | N/A |
| Free Senior Permit (Deer Mgmt only) | FREE | N/A |
Note: For more details on deer permits and licenses in Ohio, you may read it on the Ohio DNR website.
Hunting Regulations
- Ohio deer hunting is 30 minutes before dawn to 30 minutes after dusk.
- Hunting a white-tailed deer requires a game check.
- Unless exempt, hunters must have an Ohio hunting license and either an either-sex deer pass or a deer management permit to kill deer in Ohio in 2023-23.
- Antlered deer can only be taken once and must have at least one spike 3 inches or larger.
- Ohio hunters can hunt deer with either sex or management permits. They don’t need the either-sex pass first. Hunting antlerless deer on private land in 2023 requires a deer management permit. Except for wildlife zones and regulated hunts, these passes are invalid on public lands.
- Ohio hunters can take one antlerless deer per license year on public land, with some exceptions. The Division of Wildlife conducts controlled deer hunts in non-hunting areas and provides information on its website or phone. Controlled-hunted deer do not tally towards the county or state bag limit. During July 1–31, computer-generated random drawings select these game permits. Hunters can use deer management passes in regulated hunts not managed by the Division of Wildlife if authorized by the head. Youth deer hunts are held.
- Deer muzzleloader season allows hunters with valid licenses, and deer passes to use legal muzzleloaders or archery tools. They can only hunt deer with a.38 calibre muzzleloading gun or bigger archery tools. Deer hunting is prohibited from dusk to dawn.
- Hunters can use longbows and crossbows with a minimum draw weight of 40 or 75 pounds for the archery season. Expandable and motorized broad heads are allowed on arrow tips with at least two cutting edges and a 3/4-inch girth.
- Hunters can use 10-gauge or smaller firearms with one ball or rifled slug per barrel during gun season. Straight-walled guns from.357 to.50 is permitted. Muzzleloading rifles must be.38 calibre or bigger and shotguns ten gauges or lower with one ball per barrel. Straight-walled. 357-calibre handguns with 5-inch barrels are allowed.
- Muzzleloader rifles, shotguns, and archery tools follow the same laws as gun season.
- High-risk body parts from deer, moose, elk, and caribou taken outside of Ohio are illegal to acquire or remove to avoid CWD. Only de-boned meat, sections, horns, and taxidermy pieces from foreign Cervids are allowed in Ohio. Hunters in Ohio can carry Cervidae carcasses without unloading. Hunters returning to Ohio with a full Cervidae corpse or non-approved parts must give it to a licensed taxidermist or processor within 24 hours of entering the state or exiting a Disease Surveillance Area.
- A deer hunter with a pass and license can help another hunter. If the pass or game check has the deer’s details, they can take more than one per day. If the proof code is affixed to the deer and all its parts, they can leave it with a taxidermist, fur buyer, cold storage, locker plant, or meat processing plant. During deer hunting seasons, they can hunt coyotes and wild pigs in solid or disguised hunter orange. They may also have a contact device, a leashed dog, and a deer pass. A hunter with a hidden firearm license may tote one but not use it to kill wildlife. Archery hunters may hunt during all deer gun seasons but must follow hunter orange and season-specific rules.
- To hunt safely and ethically, deer hunters must follow laws. They cannot hunt with a shotgun or rifle loaded with more than three shells, use a muzzleloading handgun, carry a firearm during deer muzzleloader or archery season, use dogs to hunt deer, possess shotshells during deer gun season, or build or use permanent tree stands on public hunting lands without permission. They must tag any deer they kill and prove the title before keeping it. They also cannot use devices or hunt deer outside of allowed hours. These laws defend hunters and animals.
- Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) kills white-tailed deer and is not transmissible to people. Since 2014, 25 caged deer in Holmes and Wayne counties have tested positive for CWD. CWD-positive wild deer were found in southern Wyandot and northern Marion counties in 2020 and 2021. A Disease Surveillance Area (DSA) was created in June 2021 and extended in 2022 to include all Wyandot, Hardin, and Marion counties to halt disease growth.
- To defend Ohio’s deer herd, deer corpses should be double-bagged before disposal. Only approved processors or taxidermists can bring high-risk body parts into Ohio. Call a Division of Wildlife district office or state wildlife officer if you see an ill or odd deer with an ear tag. The Division of Wildlife’s Disease Surveillance Area (DSA) in Wyandot, Hardin, and Marion counties monitors and controls CWD.
- Infected deer may not show symptoms of Chronic Wasting Disease, so hunters should be careful. (CWD). Field-dressing requires latex hands and avoiding brain and spine regions. Avoid high-risk organs and CWD-positive deer meat. The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory tests captured deer for CWD.
- The Disease Surveillance Area (DSA) prohibits baiting deer for hunting. The DSA allows normal farming activities like grazing domestic animals and chasing deer over food areas, naturally existing or grown flora, and crops.
- All deer killed in the Disease Surveillance Area (DSA) must be sampled during the seven-day gun season. Only three sites offer staffed sampling during the seven-day gun season. Hunters can send off deer for testing at self-serve booths throughout deer season. Participation is optional outside required days. Wildohio.gov lists booth sites and hours, and kiosks will provide model filing directions. Self-serve booths are offered from October 1 to the end of the statewide muzzleloader season.
FAQ related to Ohio Deer Season
When does the Ohio deer hunting season start and end?
From September 24, 2023, until February 5, 2024, deer archery is permitted in Ohio. Deer season is from November 27–December 3, 2023, and December 16–17, 2023, are the dates for the youth deer gun season.
What types of deer permits are available in Ohio?
In Ohio, there are two distinct kinds of deer licenses. Anywhere in the state, hunters are allowed to take one antlerless deer with the either-sex deer permit. The other license is a Deer Management Permit, which may be acquired independently of a license for either sex.
How much does a deer permit cost in Ohio?
In Ohio, the price of a deer permit varies depending on the kind of permit, age, and resident status. The either-sex deer permit costs $12 for seniors, $16 for kids, $31.20 for residents, or $76.96 for non-residents. (non-resident adult).
Can hunters use bait to attract deer during Ohio Deer Season 2023?
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) states that during deer season, hunters are permitted to use bait on private property throughout Ohio, except the disease monitoring region. However, hunters are not permitted to use scent-based deer lures derived from elk or deer urine.
Can hunters harvest antlerless deer during Ohio Deer Season 2023?
Yes, hunters may take antlerless deer during the 2023 Ohio Deer Season, but they must obtain a deer management permit or an either-sex deer permit. The season for the disease monitoring area differs from that of the either-sex deer permit, valid from September to February. However, regardless of how or where a deer was killed, hunters are only allowed to shoot one antlered deer every season.
Can I hunt deer with a rifle in Ohio?
Ohio allows gun deer hunting. Caliber limitations apply. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources webpage details these limitations.
Do I need a license to hunt deer in Ohio?
You must have a current hunting license and either an either-sex deer pass or a deer management permit to shoot deer in Ohio unless you are excluded from these requirements. A hunting license for an adult costs $19, a hunting license for a child costs $10, and non-residents must pay $125. In Ohio, property owners are allowed to shoot deer on their land with some limitations, but they must have at least 10 acres of adjoining land, have a hunting registration, and adhere to rules. When shooting on their property, Ohio residents who are proprietors, partners, and their kids are not required to have a hunting registration, deer permit, turkey permit, or Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp.
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