Weather hampers 2007 deer-gun harvest

Ohio hunters took 103,195 white-tailed deer during the state’s popular, weeklong deer-gun season, which ran November 26 to December 2, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. In 2006, hunters killed a preliminary total of 111,672 deer during the same time period. Inclement weather on the opening and closing days of the season hampered hunters’ efforts.

Counties reporting the highest numbers of deer brought to Ohio check stations last week included Tuscarawas- 4,266, Guernsey- 3,765, Harrison- 3,389, Athens- 3,268, Licking- 3,265, Coshocton- 3,227, Washington- 3,067, Holmes- 3,026, Noble- 2,498, Jefferson- 2,493.

A total of 167,965 deer have been harvested so far this season when combining the adult and youth gun seasons, early muzzleloader season and the first six weeks of the archery season. That compares to a total of 166,534 killed last year during the same time period. Hunters took a total of 237,316 deer during all of last year’s hunting seasons.

...Hunters still have a weekend of deer-gun hunting, December 15-16, and nine weeks of archery hunting in Ohio. Archery season remains open until February 3. The statewide muzzleloader deer-hunting season will be held December 27-30.

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