Whitney Johnson, the Manager of Danville Outdoors, recently shared insights on the latest changes in hunting regulations, innovations is popular gear and tips for the upcoming fall deer season.
“It seems like the deer population is up this year,” Johnson told the Mount Vernon News. “Hunters are getting good trail cam pictures, and the excitement is higher compared to the last couple of years.”
An avid hunter herself, Johnson said she is preparing for the fall season with a focus on scouting.
“I hunt a little bit of everything, mostly deer and groundhogs,” she said. “Right now, I’m doing a lot of scouting. The main thing is to scout for deer.”
According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, for the 2024-25 deer hunting season, hunters can harvest one antlered deer, with hunting hours set from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
Deer season includes archery from Sept. 28 through Feb. 2, 2025, youth gun on Nov. 16-17, gun season from Dec. 2-8 and Dec. 21-22 and muzzleloader from Jan. 4-7, 2025.
Deer management permits are valid through Dec. 22, and bag limits have increased to three deer in six counties to manage herd growth.
Additionally, Chronic Wasting Disease surveillance areas have expanded and mandatory testing days for deer in these areas have been reduced, with testing required during specific periods.
For those new to hunting or seeking more information, Johnson highlighted the resources available through the ODNR.
“ODNR offers a lot of resources, including hunting classes and detailed information online. They have guides on public hunting areas, how to harvest a deer, and how to field dress it,” she said. Johnson said one notable change in the ODNR rules this year Danville Outdoors is tracking is the extension of antlerless tag usage.
“The biggest update is that antlerless tags, which used to expire before gun season, can now be used throughout the entire gun season,” Johnson explained. “It’s a nice benefit for hunters, and since these tags are cheaper, it’s a more cost-effective option. People should take advantage of this.”
During the 2023-24 deer hunting season, Ohio hunters checked in a total of 213,928 white-tailed deer, marking the highest harvest in over a decade.
The season included a record-breaking 100,951 deer taken during the archery season alone.
The top counties for deer harvest were Coshocton and Tuscarawas, with 7,740 and 7,023 deer checked, respectively.
Hunters utilized various tools, with crossbows and straight-walled cartridge rifles being the most popular, and the total harvest included 99,584 does, 92,051 antlered bucks and 18,973 button bucks.
As 2024-25 deer season quickly approaches Johnson emphasized Danville Outdoors commitment to assisting customers in finding the right products.
“We try to do our best to help people find the products they want, whether it's recommending the latest gear or advising on what other hunters are using,” she said. “We aim to get them started or help them find what they’re already using.”
When advising customers on rifle choices, Johnson noted the importance of considering the shooting range and location. “We usually ask about where they’ll be hunting and the range they need,” she said. “Some newer rifles may not be suitable for the most populated areas. It’s essential to choose the right equipment based on their specific needs rather than just picking the biggest option available.”
To assist in that effort, Danville Outdoors has a wide selection of hunting gear.
“We carry all the new deer rifles, calibers, and shotguns, as well as a full line of archery supplies and ammo,” Johnson said. “This year, the .400 Legend has become quite popular. It’s a new rifle caliber that’s somewhat of a hybrid between the .350 Legend and the .450 Bushmaster.”
The .400 Legend, which Johnson noted has been available for the last two years, is gaining traction despite a limited track record.
“Everyone seems to like it,” she said. “We didn’t have them much before last season, so they’ve only been around since after the last season. Nobody’s shot many deer with them yet.”
