DEER HUNTING IN OHIO – THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
The 2020 QDMA Whitetail Report offers some interesting insight into current deer hunting conditions across the country and more importantly right here in our backyard, Ohio! We found these statistics interesting and thought you may as well. White-tailed deer are the most important game species in North America. More hunters pursue whitetails than any other species, and whitetail hunters contribute more financially than any other hunter segment. Collectively speaking, whitetails are the foundation of the entire hunting industry.
THE GOOD
Percentage of Deer Harvest by Weapon Type
46% of the deer harvested in Ohio were taken by archery hunters. 41% were harvested with shotgun/rifles and 13% were taken with muzzleloaders. Archery hunters are very fortunate to have a 4-month window to hunt here in Ohio. It is interesting to view the vast differences between states harvest statistics by weapon types. Much of this is dictated by season length, terrain, and seasonal weather patterns. For example, in South Carolina Archery hunters account for only 9% of the total harvest while a whopping 91% are taken with firearms.
All states combined 66% of deer were shot with a firearm, followed by 23% with a bow, 10% by muzzleloader, and 1% by other means
THE BAD
Bucks Harvested Per Square Mile
Ohio has 1.7 bucks harvested per square mile. The state with the highest buck harvest per square mile is Michigan with a whopping 3.7 bucks harvested per square mile. On the other side of the spectrum are western states such as Wyoming that have .01 bucks harvested per square mile.
Age structure of Antlered Deer Harvest
39% of the bucks harvested in Ohio were 1.5 years old, 33% were 2.5 years old and 28% were 3.5 years old and older. It is interesting to check out the percentage of 3.5 year and older bucks harvested in different states. For example, in Mississippi 75% of the antlered deer harvest is 3.5 years old or older. In Wisconsin only 16% of the antlered deer are 3.5 years or older. Much of this depends on each states Game and Fish dept. and their management plan as well as hunter numbers.
For this survey QDMA broke the country into regions and Ohio obviously falls into the Midwest region. Of all the bucks harvested in the Midwest region 30% averaged 3.5 years or older. Ohio is 2% below the average of other states within our region. Indiana led the Midwest states with 42% of their buck harvest being 3.5 years or older.
Indiana hunters seem to be the best midwestern state on allowing 1.5-year antlered deer walk as only 18% of their antlered deer harvest is 1.5 years old.
Antlerless Deer Harvested Per Square Mile
Ohio has 2.5 antlerless deer harvested per square mile. The state with the highest antlerless harvest per square mile Delaware with an astounding 5.3 deer per square mile. As with antlered deer most states in the west have a very low antlerless harvest per square mile.
THE UGLY
Age structure of Antlerless Deer Harvest
41% of all antlerless deer harvested in Ohio are fawns. 19% were 1.5 years old and the remaining 40% were 2.5 years or older. This is ugly and Ohio leads the nation in shooting fawns by a large margin. Texas is the most disciplined as only 2% of their antlerless harvest are fawns. Kansas also receives an honorable mention at only 12%
Conclusion
There are many interesting things that can be gleaned from a report like this. For example, If Ohio residents are interested in shooting more and bigger bucks it appears, we need to let the 1.5 and 2.5-year-old deer walk and seriously lay off the fawns! If filling the freezer with meat is more important to you than antlers then carry on and disregard these stats.
