White-tailed Deer

Although absent from the state for nearly 2 decades, the white-tailed deer, Ohio’s only big game animal, now occurs in all 88 counties.  Differences in the amount of forest cover, agriculture, and human population density, however, have contributed to a patchwork of densities across the state.  In general, deer populations are highest in the state’s southeast Hill Country, lowest in the farm counties of the west, and intermediate in the glaciated counties of the northeast.  Good numbers of deer and excellent public hunting opportunities make southeast Ohio the favorite destination of many resident and nonresident deer hunters.  This region also continues to be the best bet for a trophy whitetail.  The fall herd is estimated at 725,000 deer.  This year's harvest should be up slightly from last year's harvest of 239,475 but most likely below the record harvest of 261,260 in 2009-10.  Ohio’s deer herd remains healthy and disease-free.  In 2010, 471 road-killed and 588 hunter-harvested deer from 44 counties were tested for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).  Nearly all of the hunter-harvested deer were also tested for Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) as well.  We failed to detect these diseases in all samples.

Survey details and historical data can be found in the Forest Wildlife Overview section of the 2010-2011 Wildlife Population Status and Hunting Forecast.