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A preliminary total of 230,400 deer were brought to Ohio's deer check stations during the 2007-08 hunting season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. In a month, all the data will be processed and a final deer kill number will be available.
The final number for deer killed in the 2006-07 season was 237,316.
"Even though the overall deer harvest number may be slightly lower that last year, the preliminary data suggest a greater percentage of does were killed this year," said David M. Graham, chief of the Division of Wildlife. "The reduced-cost antlerless permit encouraged more hunters to shoot does, which helps reduce Ohio's deer herd."
Counties reporting the highest number of deer checked during the season were: Tuscarawas - 9,473; Licking - 7,964; Holmes - 7,585; Guernsey - 7,416; Harrison - 7,164; Coshocton - 5,998; Athens - 5,747; Washington - 5,612; Ashland - 5,047; and Jefferson - 5,014.
The deer-gun season resulted in the greatest portion of the overall harvest with 103,195 deer taken. Archery hunters took a total of 77,234 deer. Deer killed during the early muzzleloader season (273), youth-gun season (10,515), the extra deer-gun weekend (17,710), and the statewide muzzleloader season (21,473) added to the overall total. Figures for the number of deer killed during special hunts are still being compiled.
Ohio ranks sixth nationally in annual hunting-related retail sales and fourth in the number of jobs associated with hunting-related industries. Each year, hunting has a $1.5 billion dollar economic impact in Ohio. Deer hunting accounts for 90 percent of all hunting that occurs in the state.
Venison is delicious and nutritious meat, low in fat and cholesterol. It is the number one wild game served by hunters in Ohio. Deer hunters also contribute thousands of pounds of venison to organizations that help feed less fortunate Ohioans through various special programs.
Ohio's first modern day deer-gun season opened in 1943 in three counties, where hunters killed 168 deer. In 1956, deer hunting was allowed in all 88 counties and hunters killed 3,911 deer during a one-week season.
Open houses will be held on Sunday, March 2 in each of the state's five wildlife districts to provide the public an opportunity to view and discuss proposed hunting and trapping regulations with state wildlife officials. Directions to the open houses can be obtained by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE or visiting wildohio.com on the Internet.
A statewide hearing on all the proposed rules will be held at 9 a.m., Thursday, March 6 at the wildlife division's Central Ohio District Office, located at 1500 Dublin Road in Columbus. After considering public input, the Ohio Wildlife Council will vote on the proposed rules and season dates during its April 2 meeting.
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