One of Ohio's most successful white-tailed deer hunting seasons concluded Sunday with 197,735 deer harvested, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

That total is the highest since 218,910 deer were taken during the 2012-2013 hunting season.

The final harvest totals represent all deer taken during archery, gun, muzzleloader, and youth hunting seasons that began Sept. 26, 2020.

An average of 180,921 deer were harvested during the last three years.

The top 10 counties for deer harvested during the 2020-2021 deer season include:

Coshocton (6,791), Tuscarawas (6,158), Ashtabula (5,662), Licking (5,549), Knox (5,247), Muskingum (5,172), Holmes (4,833), Guernsey (4,809), Carroll (4,123), and Trumbull (4,015).

Since September 2020, hunters harvested 94,691 deer with archery equipment, while 86,853 deer were taken with firearms during the weeklong and two-day gun seasons.

In addition, 9,708 deer were harvested with muzzleloaders.

Young hunters found success during the two-day youth season with 5,795 deer harvested.

"We are pleased to see an increased number of deer taken this season as Ohio's hunters spent more time in the woods during the fall and winter," said Division of Wildlife Chief Kendra Wecker. "Hunting provides a great connection to the outdoors as well as a direct link to a healthy and natural food source."