Ohio's Youth Deer-Gun Hunting Season Set for November 19-20

COLUMBUS, OH - Ohio's youth deer-gun hunting season will be held Saturday and Sunday, November 19-20, according to the Ohio Department ofNatural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife.

The youth deer-gun season is open statewide to hunters 17 years old and younger. Plugged shotguns using slugs, muzzleloaders .38 caliber and larger, handguns .357 caliber or larger, and bows are legal. All participants must wear hunter orange, possess a valid Ohio hunting license and a $12 youth-deer permit, and must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult in the field.

Last year youth hunters killed 8,445 deer during the two-day season. The Division of Wildlife anticipates more than 60,000 youth hunters will participate in the upcoming hunt.

Youth hunters can commemorate their achievement with a First Harvest certificate available at wildohio.com. Upload a photo and type in the youth hunter's information and a certificate will be e-mailed within a few days to you for print.
Hunters can also share photos of their success in the field online by visiting wildohio.com and clicking on Photo Gallery. The photo submission process is easy and posted photos may be e-mailed to a friend.

All other regularly scheduled hunting seasons will continue during the two-day youth season. However, other hunters, including deer-archery hunters, are required to wear hunter orange during this period.

This year, Ohio's deer-gun season runs November 28 through December 4, and the weekend of December 17-18. Details regarding Ohio's various hunting seasons, including those exclusively for young hunters, can be found in the 2011-12 Ohio Hunting Regulations or by visiting wildohio.com.

The 2011-2012 licenses are not printed on weatherproof paper. Sportsmen and women need to protect their licenses and permits from the elements by carrying them in a protective pouch or wallet.

Youth hunters that want to donate venison to the needy can do so at no cost. The Division of Wildlife is collaborating with Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry to help pay for the processing of donated venison. All hunters who donate their deer to a food bank are not required to pay the processing cost as long as funding for the effort lasts. More information about this program can be found online at www.fhfh.org.