This year’s statewide total of deer harvested by bowhunters through Nov. 6 included 21,650 bucks, 23,163 does and 3,332 button bucks, a statewide total of 48,583 deer)

Ohio’s archery hunters have taken 48,583 deer through Sunday, Nov. 6, according to the Ohio Division of Wildlife. The average bow harvest for the first seven weekends over the past three years is 54,021 deer. Through the same date in 2021, hunters checked 52,613 deer.

Ohio’s top 10 counties for archery harvest through Nov. 6 are: Coshocton (1,923), Tuscarawas (1,602), Ashtabula (1,488), Holmes (1,460), Trumbull (1,400), Licking (1,322), Knox (1,294), Muskingum (1,130), Guernsey (1,015), and Columbiana (1,013).

Ottawa County archers bagged 168 bucks and does.

During the 2021-22 season, bow hunters checked 95,303 deer, the largest bow harvest on record and more deer than were taken during the seven-day gun season. Vertical bow shooters took 27,529 of those, with the steadily growing crossbow regiment taking the other 67,774 deer. The 2022-23 archery season began statewide on Sept. 24 and continues until Sunday, Feb. 5.

Ohio offers many more opportunities for deer hunters to take home venison in the coming weeks. Young hunters can use firearms during the annual youth season on Nov. 19-20. The seven-day gun season runs from Monday, Nov. 28 until Sunday, Dec. 4, with a gun weekend on Dec. 17-18. The late muzzleloader season will be Jan. 7-10, 2023.

More than 300,000 hunters took part in the 2021-22 fall and winter seasons. Last year, 404,800 deer permits were issued. Bowhunting hotspots are in the eastern and south-central portions of the state. Coshocton County led the state with 3,558 deer taken with a bow last year.