Ohio Deer Health

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Deer ‘Gun’ Hunting Season is a tradition that has been passed down for generations to keep the herd population in check.

But this year, many counties in Southeastern Ohio are experiencing smaller deer populations and reduced harvest numbers due to a virus. 

“It’s a known disease,” Ohio Division of Wildlife Muskingum County Officer Jeff Berry said. “EHD, Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease and it is caused by a midge that actually lays… lays eggs in a pool of water and the deer go there. You know because of the drought we had the last couple years, it’s been pretty dry. And they’ll go to get a drink there and midge bites them on the tongue.”

Berry noted that the infection causes the deer to be lethargic for about 3 days before succumbing to the disease. In response, the Ohio Wildlife Council has reduced the bag limits in Athens, Meigs, Morgan and Washington Counties.

“Muskingum County, you know we have a very large herd of deer,” Berry said. “All throughout the state, you know we do have a lot of deer. And when you have more deer, stuff like this… It’s kind of like nature taking control. We have EHD every year, sometimes it’s more moderate. They say that you know the deer can build immunity to it.”

Berry said that hunters in the affected counties will not likely see as many deer but Ohio has 88 counties and hunters are not restricted from travelling to hunt. In regards to venison safety, Berry says overnight frosts kill the midges that infect the deer and there have been several frosts during the past few weeks.