Ohio bow hunters
November 20th, 2005 by Administrator
Ohio bow hunters enjoy success in 2005 season MARIETTA – Ohio bow hunters are harvesting deer at a record pace, taking nearly 42,000 deer during the first six weeks of the season.
This year’s early harvest exceeds last year’s record setting totals by about 1,000 deer.
Approximately 250,000 bow hunters are believed to be participating in Ohio’s statewide deer-archery hunting season that began Oct. 1 and continues through Jan. 31, 2006.
“This year’s deer hunting season is off to a great start,” said Steven Gray, chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, in a release issued Tuesday. “Good weather and Ohio’s well-deserved reputation for trophy bucks make the early months of the archery season a very desirable time to hunt deer in the Buckeye State.”
Counties reporting the highest number of deer brought to check stations were Holmes, with 1,710; Licking and Tuscarawas, 1,532; Coshocton, 1,324; and Knox, 1,025.
Washington County ranked 22nd with hunters taking 687 deer so far this season. It is 78 more deer taken in the county than last year at the same time.
Last year’s total bow hunting harvest topped 50,000 and represented about 25 percent of the nearly 200,000 deer taken statewide during all seasons.
“There’s no shortage of deer out there,” said bow hunter Tom Young, 44, of Beverly. “I haven’t filled any of my tags yet, but I’ve seen a lot around.”
The statewide deer population was estimated to be about 650,000 at the start of the season.
Just 10 years ago, only 10 percent to 12 percent of the deer taken in Ohio were harvested by bow hunters. A healthy deer herd and extended bag limits in some areas, including Washington County, mean another record harvest is being predicted.
“I think I’m like a lot of guys I like to be patient and hunt for horns until gun season,” Young said. “After gun season starts I’m usually not as picky.”
The statewide deer gun season is the week after Thanksgiving.
A special deer gun season for children under 18 is set for this weekend. Children who are licensed hunters and who are accompanied by a non-hunting licensed adult can take a deer with a gun this Saturday and Sunday
By BRAD BAUER