Ohio hunters just crushed it, checking in 232,142 white-tailed deer during the 2025-26 season—the seventh-highest total on record. That’s not just a flex for buck chasers; it’s a testament to the state’s thriving deer herd and the unyielding dedication of its firearm-toting sportsmen and women who keep traditions alive amid urban sprawl and regulatory tweaks. Partnering with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, and Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, they turned 136 of those deer into 5,328 pounds of venison donated straight to food banks. In a world where Big Government loves to paint hunters as villains, this is pure heroism: self-reliant Americans wielding their Second Amendment rights to harvest, process, and provide nutrient-dense protein to those in need, bypassing bloated welfare systems.

Dig deeper, and this story screams 2A victory. Record-near totals mean Ohio’s pro-gun policies—minimal restrictions on modern sporting rifles, ample public land access, and straightforward concealed carry reciprocity—are fueling participation. Contrast that with blue-state deer declines tied to anti-hunting hysteria and ammo taxes; here, armed citizens are ecosystem stewards, culling overpopulated herds that wreck crops and cause highway carnage (Ohio logs thousands of deer-vehicle collisions yearly). The donation angle? It’s 2A in action: law-abiding gun owners feeding communities while flipping the script on gun-grabbers who ignore how firearms enable charity at scale. No AR-15 bans needed—just patriots with scopes and coolers.

Looking ahead, this bodes well for 2A resilience. As anti-gun forces push assault weapon bans post-election, Ohio’s success underscores why hunters vote red: their rights sustain wildlife management and food security. Expect copycat programs nationwide, proving armed citizens aren’t the problem—they’re the solution. Gear up, Second Amendment defenders; seasons like this remind us why we fight.