Deer hunters start season on high note

Staff and ODNR reports

COLUMBUS — Deer hunters — including those in Van Wert County — had a successful opening day, according to figures released by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Hunters checked 29,297 white-tailed deer this past Monday, November 26, the opening day of Ohio’s deer-gun season, according to the ODNR’s Division of Wildlife.

Monday’s total represents a 24.1 percent increase from 2011, when rain-soaked hunters harvested 23,600 deer.

Here in Van Wert County, a total of 76 deer were harvested by local hunters, an increase of 31 over the 45 deer taken last year. Neighboring counties also saw increases in the number of deer taken this year, compared to 2011. In fact, all five counties had higher deer harvesting figures than Van Wert.

Allen County hunters harvested 122 deer this year, compared to 67 in 2011; Auglaize County hunters took 107 deer, compared to 50 last year; 100 deer were harvested in Mercer County, compared to 51 in 2011; Paulding County hunters took 191 deer this year, compared to 128 last year; and a total of 108 deer were harvested in Putnam County, versus 46 in 2011.

Counties reporting the highest numbers of deer checked in 2012 include: Coshocton (1,199), Muskingum (1,102), Tuscarawas (1,091), Guernsey (858), Harrison (845), Knox (830), Ashtabula (816), Licking (805), Carroll (776) and Washington (747). The top three counties were unchanged from 2011.

The deer-gun season remains open through this Sunday, December 2. It will reopen for an additional two days, Saturday and Sunday, December 15-16. Approximately 420,000 hunters are expected to participate in this year’s season, including many out-of-state hunters. Find more information about deer hunting in Ohio’s 2012-2013 Hunting and Trapping Regulations or at wildohio.com.

The white-tailed deer is the most popular game animal in Ohio, frequently pursued by generations of hunters. Ohio ranks eighth nationally in annual hunting-related sales and 10th in the number of jobs associated with hunting-related industries. Hunting has an $859 million economic impact in Ohio through the sale of equipment, fuel, food, lodging and more.

Hunters are encouraged to donate any extra venison to organizations assisting Ohioans in need. ODNR Division of Wildlife is collaborating with Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) to help pay for the processing of donated venison. Hunters who donate deer are not required to pay the processing cost as long as the deer are taken to a participating processor. To see which counties are involved in this program, go to fhfh.org.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.com.