Adams County Hunters Take 1,301 Deer, Harvest Down From 2024
Deer hunters in Adams County checked in 1,301 deer during the seven day gun season held December 1 through 7, an 11.5 percent drop from 2024 totals but higher than 2023. The numbers matter for local hunters, food access, and wildlife managers as agencies weigh disease impacts, bag limit adjustments, and upcoming seasons.
Adams County hunters checked in 1,301 deer during the seven day deer gun season held December 1 through 7, down from 1,471 a year earlier and up from 967 in 2023. The county total sits in the midst of regional variation, with Brown County at 1,100, Highland County at 1,332, Pike County at 749, and Scioto County at 1,000. Statewide deer checks totaled 85,448, a decline of about 2 percent from 87,192 in 2024.
State wildlife officials reported how hunters took deer, with 67 percent harvested with straight wall cartridge rifles, 27 percent taken with shotguns, 3 percent with muzzleloaders, and 3 percent with handguns or archery. Youth weekend produced 9,759 deer checked statewide, and Adams County contributed 184 deer during that youth season. Those figures help wildlife managers track hunter participation, weapon trends, and age class recruitment for conservation planning.
Officials also linked lower harvests in parts of southeast Ohio to outbreaks of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease, a virus that affects deer populations. In response, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources adjusted bag limits in several counties, a management move intended to protect vulnerable herds and allow populations time to recover. For local residents who rely on hunting for household meat supplies or for donation programs, reduced harvests and temporary bag limit changes can have real effects on food access and on the local economy tied to hunting related purchases.
Looking ahead, hunters can participate in the Bonus gun season December 20 through 21, a muzzleloader season January 3 through 6, and archery remains open through February 1. Managers and conservation groups also point to recent regional milestones, including the designation of a section of Scioto Brush Creek as Ohio's 17th State Scenic River and recent lake sturgeon releases into Ohio rivers, efforts that aim to improve habitat and long term ecological health.
For Adams County, the season totals underscore the interplay between wildlife health, hunter opportunity, and community needs, and they will inform policy choices and outreach in the months ahead.
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