DMU Perry, Ohio

Transition zone between central Ohio farmland and Appalachian foothills; rolling hills in the south with clay soils, flatter fertile ground to the north. Much of the public land is reclaimed strip-mine terrain — Perry State Forest (~4,781 acres near New Lexington) is former coal country replanted in native hardwoods and pine plantations, providing dense edge cover. The county is bisected by the Muskingum River watershed with creek bottoms, woodlot edges, and crop fields creating classic farmland-fringe deer habitat.

Moderate overall. Public land sees light-to-moderate archery pressure and heavier gun season pressure during the December weeklong hunt. The county lacks the large contiguous public blocks that concentrate hunters in southeast Ohio; hunters are spread across smaller parcels. Less crowded than the Wayne National Forest corridors to the south, but private-land hunting competition for permission is growing. Not a destination county for out-of-state hunters.

Statewide bag limit applies: 6 deer total per season, no more than 1 antlered. Perry County bag limit: 3 deer (1 antlered + 2 antlerless). Deer management permits (antlerless) are valid statewide through late December. For 2025-26, antlerless limit on public land increased to 2 deer. No county-specific antlerless quota permits required — over-the-counter system. 2023-24 county harvest: ~2,804 deer (three-year avg 2,767).

Deer: Archery Sept 28 – Feb 2 (2024-25 dates); Youth Gun Nov 16-17; Gun Dec 2-8 and Dec 21-22; Muzzleloader Jan 4-7. All legal equipment allowed under statewide rules (straight-walled cartridges .357-.50 cal for gun season; muzzleloaders .38 cal or larger). Turkey: Spring season typically mid-April through May; fall archery season runs concurrently with deer archery. County timber cover supports a huntable resident turkey population. Small game (squirrel, rabbit) and furbearers also present on public and private land.

Best suited for DIY hunters comfortable knocking on doors for private land access — the farmland-timber edge habitat produces consistent deer numbers and occasional mature bucks. Perry State Forest offers a no-fee public option on reclaimed mining land with good early-season archery hunting before leaves drop. The county sits within a productive mid-state deer corridor between Licking and Morgan counties. Turkey hunting on the southern wooded ridges is underrated. Modest harvests relative to the big southeast Ohio counties but accessible hunting close to Columbus (90 minutes) makes it a viable weekend option.