Ohio Deer Season 2025 Kicks Off: What You Need to Know Before Hitting the Woods
The Season Starts Tomorrow
A frosty morning in Ohio as deer season 2025 begins — hunters across Washington County and beyond are gearing up for the early archery opener, while wildlife experts warn about EHD and shifting deer patterns.
Well folks, it’s that time again. The woods are about to fill up with camo, coffee thermoses, and more excuses for being late to work than an alarm clock factory on fire.
Ohio’s 2025 deer season kicks off tomorrow, Saturday, September 13, with the Early Archery opener in select management areas. That’s the warm-up round before the big statewide archery season starts September 27.
If you’re planning to be in the stand tomorrow, sharpen your broadheads and double-check your harness - it’s go time.
A Season Shaped by EHD
Now, before you start dreaming about wall hangers and venison chili, there’s a dark cloud hanging over this season: Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD).
EHD has been hitting southeastern Ohio hard, and Washington County is right in the mix. Deer are showing up dead near water, and if you’ve seen swollen heads, disoriented behavior, or carcasses that don’t add up - that’s likely EHD. Once symptoms set in, deer usually don’t last more than a day or two.
Here’s the wild part: we’ve been spotting these deer on our thermal drones even days after death, sometimes for months as they go through the long, messy stages of decomposition. So if you’re wondering if it’s bad around here, the answer is yes.
The good news? EHD isn’t a risk to humans. But it will thin herds and change how this season feels. Don’t be surprised if the deer numbers seem lower in some of your go-to spots.
Youth Season: Passing the Torch
There are still plenty of strong, healthy bucks across Ohio this season. Don’t let your harvest go to waste, if tracking runs cold, MOV Drone Workz can step in with thermal recovery. Call us anytime, even on standby, and we’ll help make sure your trophy comes home.”
In November, Ohio’s Youth Gun Season (Nov 22–23) gives the next generation their weekend in the woods. If you’re mentoring a young hunter, remember the basics:
Make it about the experience, not just the harvest.
Blaze orange is required - no exceptions.
Teach them to know their target and what’s beyond it.
Keep it warm, keep it safe, and keep it fun.
As one hunting expert put it: “Patience is the most important lesson. If a kid can sit still for five minutes without asking for snacks, you’re winning.”
MOV Drone Workz: Your Wingman in the Woods
Here’s where we come in. At MOV Drone Workz, we’re not just covering festivals and construction sites. We’re on call for hunters too.
We’ve spent the entire off-season tracking everything from small pets to large livestock, and in the process we’ve seen tens of thousands of deer across the Mid-Ohio Valley. Deer are by far the easiest to spot on thermal. In fact, if we can’t locate one within a 700-yard radius, odds are high that it survived.
Local dispatch from Reno, OH — 24/7 during deer season.
Washington County is our top priority.
Special discounts for first responders.
We’re heading into our third deer season helping hunters recover game with advanced thermal drones. Our pilots bring university-level training and work side-by-side with local first responders.
If you make a shot and the trail runs cold, don’t risk losing your trophy to coyotes, scavengers, or a restless night of wondering. Call us in — we can often find that deer’s heat signature long after you thought it was gone.
Think of us as your wingman in the woods. You pull the trigger. We help make sure you bring it home.
Final Word
So here’s the deal:
Sept 13 kicks off early archery in select areas.
Sept 27 brings statewide archery.
Keep your eyes open for EHD-hit deer. Report sick or dead sightings to ODNR.
Mentor the kids right this November, make it safe and memorable.
And if you’re in Washington County, know that MOV Drone Workz is right here in Reno, ready to fly.
Good luck out there. Hunt safe, hunt smart, and remember — even in a season that looks a little thin, there are still stories to be written in the woods.
