Farmers discuss deer damage, permits at Farm Bureau Coffee Talk

The Carroll County Farm Bureau hosted a Coffee Talk at Carroll County Coffee Company on Canton Road featuring Scott Cartwright, Carroll County state wildlife officer with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, as local farmers gathered to discuss concerns related to deer damage and crop loss.

Brad Luckey of the Carroll County Farm Bureau served as emcee for the event, which brought together more than 30 local farmers to share experiences and ask questions about wildlife management, permits and ongoing challenges impacting their operations.

Cartwright provided an overview of the state’s deer damage control permit program, explaining how farmers can apply and what to expect once approved. He said the program is designed to help address crop damage while balancing wildlife management efforts across the state.

“When you apply for that first permit, I have to come out and see the damage before I can issue it,” Cartwright said. “After that, if you apply every year, you don’t have to wait on me to come out. You just have to wait for me to approve it.”

Cartwright encouraged farmers to apply early in the growing season so permits are in place when damage begins.

“As soon as you put crops in the ground, apply for that permit so it’s in your hand if and when you need it,” he said.

He added that permits typically begin with a set number of tags, with additional tags available if farmers demonstrate continued need.

Cartwright also outlined general timeframes for when permits are typically issued, noting that dates vary depending on the type of crop. For example, permits for corn are generally effective from April 15 through Aug. 15, while soybeans, a common crop locally, typically run from May 1 through Aug. 15, with some extending to Sept. 15 for double-crop or second plantings. Produce farms and garden crops generally follow similar seasonal timelines, while permits for orchards and trees planted for profit may be issued year-round.

Discussion during the event focused heavily on the impact of deer populations on local farms, with several attendees sharing concerns about crop loss, rising costs and the challenges of managing damage effectively.

“It’s getting to be a problem,” one farmer said. “You put all this money into a crop and then just stand there and watch them eat it.”

Several farmers also expressed frustration with the timing of permits, noting that damage can occur before approvals are in place.

Cartwright noted that from the state’s perspective, permit allocations can appear sufficient based on how many tags are used, though several farmers said the challenge is often finding people willing or available to use them.

Cartwright said the intent of the permits is not broad population control, but rather to deter deer from specific areas by targeting problem animals.

“If you can go out there every time you see deer and take one or two where the damage is occurring, that eventually registers as a danger zone to them,” he said.

Farmers also raised concerns about the availability of hunters willing to assist with damage control, noting that some hunters oppose farmers harvesting deer through permit programs, as well as increasing costs for non-resident hunting licenses and changing regulations.

Cartwright acknowledged those concerns and said adjustments at the local level, such as increasing initial permit allocations, may be possible, while larger changes would require action at the state level.

The discussion also touched on how deer populations are monitored, with Cartwright noting that methods include aerial surveys, field observations and harvest data.

Farm Bureau members discussed the possibility of working together to elevate concerns to state officials and seek additional review of current policies.

Farmers can apply for a deer damage control permit through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources at ohiodnr.gov/buy-and-apply/special-use-permits/nuisance-wildlife-permits/deer-damage-control. Applicants will need the address of the affected property as well as the names and birthdates of any shooters listed on the permit.