It's currently White-tailed Deer Archery hunting season in Knox County, and the State has released a new set of regulations for the 2020-21 hunting season.
Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2020-2021 outlines the different seasons, regulations and equipment that can be used. The White-tailed Deer Archery season began on Sept. 26 and will run until Feb. 7, 2021. Within the overall White-tailed Deer hunting season are three other specific time frames: Youth Deer Gun from Nov. 21-22, 2020; Deer Gun from Nov. 30 - Dec. 6, 2020, and Dec. 19-20, 2020; and Deer Muzzleloader from Jan. 2-5, 2021.
During the Archery season, each county is restricted by a number of regulations. Knox County regulations allow each hunter up to three deer.
"A hunter may kill no more than three deer in a three-deer county during the 2020-2021 season," the regulations state for the three deer counties that Knox County falls under. "A hunter may use up to two either-sex permits and one deer management permit, or up to three either-sex permits." The regulations also allow for no more than one antlerless deer to be taken from public hunting land each license year.
This season, hunters are permitted to hunt 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, the regulations said. Hunters must also complete the game check process after the harvest of a deer and have the required permits.
"In addition to your valid Ohio hunting license, you must purchase an either-sex deer permit or a deer management permit to hunt deer in Ohio, unless exempted," the regulations state. "The either-sex deer permit is valid from Sept. 26, 2020, to Feb. 7, 2021. The deer management permit is valid from Sept. 26 to Nov. 29, 2020."
During the archery hunting season, hunters also must ensure their equipment abides by regulations. They can use a longbow or bow and it must have a minimum draw weight of 40 pounds.
"This includes compound bows and recurve bows," the regulations state. "The arrow tip needs a minimum of two cutting edges, which may be exposed or unexposed and a minimum 3/4-inch width. Expandable and mechanical broad heads are legal. Crossbow: The minimum draw weight is 75 pounds. The arrow tip needs a minimum of two cutting edges, which may be exposed or unexposed and a minimum 3/4-inch width. Expandable and mechanical broad heads are legal."
