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Deer limits
Ohio Deer Bag Limits by County
The 2026-27 deer limit, group and Disease Surveillance Area status for all 88 Ohio counties, with county harvest.
Photo: James St. John (CC BY 2.0)
Ohio deer bag limit for all 88 counties
Ohio sets white-tailed deer bag limits county by county for 2026-27. 3 counties are two-deer (max. 1 antlerless) (2 deer); 5 counties are two-deer (2 deer); 66 counties are three-deer (3 deer); 5 counties are four-deer (4 deer); 4 counties are Disease Surveillance Area (whole county) (6 deer). Five more counties (Crawford, Delaware, Hancock, Morrow and Union) are three-deer outside their Disease Surveillance Area townships, where the limit is six. The statewide limit is 6 deer, only 1 of them antlered (an antler 3 inches or longer), and deer from several counties add up toward 6. Changed for 2026-27: Athens, Defiance, Meigs, Paulding, Warren, Washington and Disease Surveillance Area. Defiance, Paulding and Warren are three-deer counties on the ODNR bag limit map; the rule text omits or misplaces them, so the map is used.
| County | Limit | Group | DSA | 2025-26 deer | 2024-25 deer | 2026-27 to Nov 3 | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams | 3 | three-deer | – | 3,895 | 3,637 | 884 | District 5 |
| Allen | 6 | DSA (six-deer) | Whole county | 1,831 | 1,650 | 434 | District 2 |
| Ashland | 3 | three-deer | – | 5,108 | 4,678 | 1,082 | District 3 |
| Ashtabula | 3 | three-deer | – | 7,161 | 6,042 | 1,760 | District 3 |
| Athens | 2 | two-deer (max. 1 antlerless) | – | 917 | 3,663 | 308 | District 4 |
| Auglaize | 3 | three-deer | – | 1,621 | 1,415 | 294 | District 5 |
| Belmont | 3 | three-deer | – | 3,725 | 4,023 | 449 | District 4 |
| Brown | 3 | three-deer | – | 3,023 | 2,719 | 561 | District 5 |
| Butler | 3 | three-deer | – | 1,466 | 1,478 | 387 | District 5 |
| Carroll | 3 | three-deer | – | 6,077 | 5,759 | 1,266 | District 3 |
| Champaign | 3 | three-deer | – | 1,867 | 1,864 | 397 | District 1 |
| Clark | 3 | three-deer | – | 954 | 945 | 251 | District 5 |
| Clermont | 3 | three-deer | – | 2,759 | 2,675 | 651 | District 5 |
| Clinton | 3 | three-deer | – | 1,173 | 1,027 | 196 | District 5 |
| Columbiana | 3 | three-deer | – | 5,245 | 4,639 | 1,320 | District 3 |
| Coshocton | 3 | three-deer | – | 8,527 | 8,196 | 2,193 | District 4 |
| Crawford | 3 | three-deer outside the DSA; six-deer in DSA townships | Townships | 1,881 | 1,775 | 348 | District 2 |
| Cuyahoga | 4 | four-deer | – | 822 | 806 | 366 | District 3 |
| Darke | 3 | three-deer | – | 1,356 | 1,278 | 266 | District 5 |
| Defiance | 3 | three-deer | – | 1,887 | 1,468 | 323 | District 2 |
| Delaware | 3 | three-deer outside the DSA; six-deer in DSA townships | Townships | 1,877 | 1,818 | 501 | District 1 |
| Erie | 3 | three-deer | – | 1,161 | 1,178 | 311 | District 2 |
| Fairfield | 3 | three-deer | – | 2,351 | 2,403 | 478 | District 1 |
| Fayette | 3 | three-deer | – | 591 | 551 | 110 | District 1 |
| Franklin | 4 | four-deer | – | 709 | 638 | 164 | District 1 |
| Fulton | 3 | three-deer | – | 1,489 | 1,243 | 289 | District 2 |
| Gallia | 3 | three-deer | – | 2,956 | 3,293 | 555 | District 4 |
| Geauga | 3 | three-deer | – | 3,215 | 2,790 | 874 | District 3 |
| Greene | 3 | three-deer | – | 1,076 | 1,043 | 283 | District 5 |
| Guernsey | 3 | three-deer | – | 4,804 | 5,762 | 953 | District 4 |
| Hamilton | 4 | four-deer | – | 1,058 | 1,229 | 290 | District 5 |
| Hancock | 3 | three-deer outside the DSA; six-deer in DSA townships | Townships | 2,345 | 2,127 | 428 | District 2 |
| Hardin | 6 | DSA (six-deer) | Whole county | 2,053 | 1,938 | 528 | District 2 |
| Harrison | 3 | three-deer | – | 4,959 | 4,841 | 1,017 | District 3 |
| Henry | 3 | three-deer | – | 1,181 | 1,109 | 174 | District 2 |
| Highland | 3 | three-deer | – | 3,389 | 3,381 | 642 | District 5 |
| Hocking | 2 | two-deer | – | 2,643 | 2,929 | 496 | District 4 |
| Holmes | 3 | three-deer | – | 5,717 | 5,684 | 1,683 | District 3 |
| Huron | 3 | three-deer | – | 3,520 | 3,308 | 618 | District 2 |
| Jackson | 2 | two-deer | – | 2,643 | 2,962 | 625 | District 4 |
| Jefferson | 3 | three-deer | – | 3,691 | 3,601 | 738 | District 3 |
| Knox | 3 | three-deer | – | 6,704 | 6,730 | 1,440 | District 1 |
| Lake | 3 | three-deer | – | 1,245 | 1,123 | 417 | District 3 |
| Lawrence | 2 | two-deer | – | 1,682 | 1,955 | 363 | District 4 |
| Licking | 3 | three-deer | – | 5,770 | 5,754 | 1,337 | District 1 |
| Logan | 3 | three-deer | – | 2,712 | 2,673 | 537 | District 1 |
| Lorain | 3 | three-deer | – | 2,799 | 3,040 | 650 | District 3 |
| Lucas | 4 | four-deer | – | 965 | 895 | 232 | District 2 |
| Madison | 3 | three-deer | – | 767 | 804 | 154 | District 1 |
| Mahoning | 3 | three-deer | – | 2,768 | 2,537 | 865 | District 3 |
| Marion | 6 | DSA (six-deer) | Whole county | 1,384 | 1,289 | 417 | District 1 |
| Medina | 3 | three-deer | – | 3,133 | 3,000 | 867 | District 3 |
| Meigs | 2 | two-deer (max. 1 antlerless) | – | 1,060 | 3,614 | 361 | District 4 |
| Mercer | 3 | three-deer | – | 1,432 | 1,307 | 255 | District 5 |
| Miami | 3 | three-deer | – | 1,090 | 1,074 | 249 | District 5 |
| Monroe | 3 | three-deer | – | 2,195 | 3,224 | 374 | District 4 |
| Montgomery | 3 | three-deer | – | 980 | 884 | 261 | District 5 |
| Morgan | 2 | two-deer | – | 1,529 | 3,890 | 333 | District 4 |
| Morrow | 3 | three-deer outside the DSA; six-deer in DSA townships | Townships | 2,767 | 2,446 | 583 | District 1 |
| Muskingum | 3 | three-deer | – | 6,283 | 6,269 | 1,349 | District 4 |
| Noble | 3 | three-deer | – | 2,260 | 3,690 | 513 | District 4 |
| Ottawa | 3 | three-deer | – | 851 | 821 | 196 | District 2 |
| Paulding | 3 | three-deer | – | 1,286 | 1,062 | 220 | District 2 |
| Perry | 3 | three-deer | – | 2,989 | 3,179 | 565 | District 4 |
| Pickaway | 3 | three-deer | – | 1,153 | 1,181 | 216 | District 1 |
| Pike | 3 | three-deer | – | 2,156 | 2,193 | 453 | District 4 |
| Portage | 3 | three-deer | – | 3,498 | 3,059 | 949 | District 3 |
| Preble | 3 | three-deer | – | 1,354 | 1,225 | 278 | District 5 |
| Putnam | 3 | three-deer | – | 1,376 | 1,242 | 313 | District 2 |
| Richland | 3 | three-deer | – | 5,151 | 5,028 | 999 | District 2 |
| Ross | 3 | three-deer | – | 3,402 | 3,338 | 579 | District 4 |
| Sandusky | 3 | three-deer | – | 1,485 | 1,364 | 360 | District 2 |
| Scioto | 3 | three-deer | – | 2,576 | 2,512 | 620 | District 4 |
| Seneca | 3 | three-deer | – | 3,017 | 2,881 | 595 | District 2 |
| Shelby | 3 | three-deer | – | 1,562 | 1,485 | 315 | District 5 |
| Stark | 3 | three-deer | – | 4,466 | 4,114 | 1,133 | District 3 |
| Summit | 4 | four-deer | – | 1,922 | 1,823 | 721 | District 3 |
| Trumbull | 3 | three-deer | – | 5,324 | 4,852 | 1,724 | District 3 |
| Tuscarawas | 3 | three-deer | – | 7,623 | 7,373 | 1,778 | District 3 |
| Union | 3 | three-deer outside the DSA; six-deer in DSA townships | Townships | 1,401 | 1,372 | 292 | District 1 |
| Van Wert | 3 | three-deer | – | 968 | 953 | 173 | District 2 |
| Vinton | 2 | two-deer | – | 1,931 | 2,156 | 368 | District 4 |
| Warren | 3 | three-deer | – | 1,377 | 1,275 | 338 | District 5 |
| Washington | 2 | two-deer (max. 1 antlerless) | – | 783 | 4,492 | 309 | District 4 |
| Wayne | 3 | three-deer | – | 3,562 | 3,359 | 903 | District 3 |
| Williams | 3 | three-deer | – | 2,842 | 2,443 | 607 | District 2 |
| Wood | 3 | three-deer | – | 1,434 | 1,354 | 301 | District 2 |
| Wyandot | 6 | DSA (six-deer) | Whole county | 2,405 | 2,238 | 612 | District 2 |
Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 7, ODNR deer bag limit map, ODNR weekly deer harvest report, ODNR weekly deer harvest report and ODNR weekly deer harvest report; checked November 6, 2026.
Ohio deer limit groups by county
| Group | Deer | Counties | Which counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| two-deer (max. 1 antlerless) | 2 | 3 | Athens, Meigs, Washington |
| two-deer | 2 | 5 | Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Morgan, Vinton |
| three-deer | 3 | 66 | Adams, Ashland, Ashtabula, Auglaize, Belmont, Brown, Butler, Carroll, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Columbiana, Coshocton, Darke, Defiance, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette, Fulton, Gallia, Geauga, Greene, Guernsey, Harrison, Henry, Highland, Holmes, Huron, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Licking, Logan, Lorain, Madison, Mahoning, Medina, Mercer, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Muskingum, Noble, Ottawa, Paulding, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Portage, Preble, Putnam, Richland, Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Seneca, Shelby, Stark, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Van Wert, Warren, Wayne, Williams, Wood |
| four-deer | 4 | 5 | Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Lucas, Summit |
| Disease Surveillance Area (whole county) | 6 | 4 | Allen, Hardin, Marion, Wyandot |
The Disease Surveillance Area townships: Crawford: Bucyrus, Dallas, Holmes and Tod; Delaware: Marlboro, Troy and Oxford; Hancock: Delaware, Madison and Van Buren; Morrow: Westfield; Union: Claibourne and Jackson.
Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 7 and OAC 1501:31-19-03; checked November 6, 2026.
How the Ohio county deer limits work
- Statewide and county limits: County bag limit applies: 2 (maximum 1 antlerless) in Athens, Meigs and Washington; 2 in Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Morgan and Vinton; 3 in most counties; 4 in Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Lucas and Summit; 6 in the Disease Surveillance Area; Statewide limit 6 deer, only 1 antlered (antler 3 inches+); harvests in different counties may be combined up to 6; Max; 2 antlerless per license year from public hunting areas (exceptions listed); Controlled-hunt deer do not count (up to 6 more).
- Permits: Hunting license plus either-sex deer permit or deer management permit (antlerless only; valid statewide all season and on authorized controlled hunts), unless exempt; Deer management permits can be used throughout the deer season (new for 2026-27).
- Antlered deer: Antlered deer = at least one antler 3 inches or longer; antlerless = no antlers or antlers under 3 inches.
- Tagging and game check: Fill in permit or app before moving the deer; game check by noon the next day.
- Either-Sex deer permit, adult (resident): $31.20; Valid statewide September 26, 2026-February 7, 2027 (DSA from September 12); any season and controlled hunts; only 1 antlered deer per season.
- Either-Sex deer permit, adult (nonresident): $218.40; Valid statewide September 26, 2026-February 7, 2027 (DSA from September 12); any season and controlled hunts; only 1 antlered deer per season.
- Either-Sex deer permit, youth: $16.00; Valid statewide September 26, 2026-February 7, 2027 (DSA from September 12); any season and controlled hunts; only 1 antlered deer per season.
- Either-Sex deer permit, senior (resident): $12.00; Valid statewide September 26, 2026-February 7, 2027 (DSA from September 12); any season and controlled hunts; only 1 antlered deer per season.
- Deer management permit, adult and youth: $15.00; Antlerless deer only; valid statewide all season (September 26-February 7; DSA from September 12) and on authorized controlled hunts; private and public land.
Sources: 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 6 and 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, page 29; checked November 6, 2026.
Top Ohio deer counties for 2025-26
The ten counties with the most deer checked in 2025-26 were Coshocton, Tuscarawas, Ashtabula, Knox, Muskingum, Carroll, Licking, Holmes, Trumbull and Columbiana. None of them is a four-deer urban county; the big-city counties carry higher limits to manage suburban deer, while the eastern hill counties hold the most deer.
Sources: ODNR weekly deer harvest report; checked November 6, 2026.
White-tailed doe and two fawns at a wooded field edge, Cuyahoga County. Photo: Andrew Bardwell (CC BY-SA 2.0)
White-tailed deer standing alert in a spring meadow at Heath, Licking County. Photo: Ibagli (Public domain)
White-tailed fawn bedded down among green plants near Newark, Licking County. Photo: James St. John (CC BY 2.0)
Ohio Deer Bag Limits by County, asked and answered
Are deer from an Ohio controlled hunt counted against the county bag?
still 1 antlered per season).
Which Ohio ground carries the six-deer limit?
In the Disease Surveillance Area: all of Allen, Hardin, Marion and Wyandot and the listed townships of Crawford, Delaware, Hancock, Morrow and Union.
What is the most deer one Ohio hunter may tag across all counties?
Up to 6 statewide, only 1 antlered, and never more than the county limit in any one county: 2, 3, 4 or 6 depending on the county.
Is the Ohio deer management permit good from September to February?
Yes, new for 2026-27: deer management permits can be used throughout the deer season (new for 2026-27).
Where are the two-deer counties in the Ohio hills?
Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Morgan and Vinton; and Athens, Meigs and Washington, where only one of the two may be antlerless.
Which big-city Ohio counties allow four deer?
Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Lucas and Summit.
Other photos on this page: Andrew Bardwell (CC BY-SA 2.0); Ibagli (Public domain); James St. John (CC BY 2.0).