FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 4, 2000

OHIO DEER GUN SEASON HARVEST INCREASES 15 PERCENT FROM 1999
ONE-WEEK SEASON AMONG SAFEST ON RECORD

COLUMBUS, OH -- Hunters harvested 96,290 deer during one of Ohio's safest deer gun seasons ever last week, according to preliminary figures released by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

The preliminary total was 15 percent, or 12,535 deer, above last year's preliminary deer gun season total of 83,755. The deer gun season was open November 27 through December 3.

The ODNR Division of Wildlife reports there were eleven deer hunting incidents that occurred last week among an estimated 500,000 deer hunters. Four of these incidents were self-inflicted. One fatality was recorded in Franklin County on opening day, November 27.

Last year, nine hunting incidents, including five that were self-inflicted, occurred during the deer gun season.

"The statistics speak for themselves in the fact that deer gun season and other hunting seasons are a safe and enjoyable experience for 99.99 percent of all participants. While any hunting incident is tragic, they are extremely rare," said Division of Wildlife Chief Mike Budzik.

The Division of Wildlife credits increased safety awareness among hunters and modified rules that have kept deer hunting among the safest of all outdoor recreational activities. Last year, the wildlife agency modified two deer hunting rules that require hunters to carry no more than three deer slugs in their shotguns and increased the amount of hunter orange clothing that hunters must wear.

"Deer hunting remains highly popular in Ohio and it does draw a lot of public attention for a one-week period in late November and early December. The fact we now have so few hunting incidents among so many hunters is a credit to our efforts in continuing to promote hunter safety and awareness," said Budzik.

Last week's deer gun season offered good conditions that provided excellent hunting opportunities. Regulations this year allowed hunters to take a second deer in more counties that have a high deer abundance. The preliminary deer harvest figure of 96,290 last week easily came within preseason projections predicted by the Division of Wildlife.

Counties reporting the highest numbers of deer brought to Ohio check stations last week included Athens (3,823), Washington (3,475), Tuscarawas (3,396), Muskingum (3,268), Guernsey (3,203), Coshocton (3,048), Jackson (3,042), Ross (2,879), Gallia (2,835), Licking (2,822).

Preliminary Deer Gun Season Results With 2000 Totals Followed by (1999) Totals

Adams - 851 (669); Allen - 322 (240); Ashland - 1,217 (920); Ashtabula - 1,198 (836); Athens - 3,823 (4,126); Auglaize - 169 (136); Belmont - 2,316 (1,737); Brown - 868 (705); Butler - 360 (388); Carroll - 1,337 (945); Champaign - 581 (403); Clark - 361 (173); Clermont - 962 (910) Clinton - 373 (264); Columbiana - 1,160 (804); Coshocton - 3,048 (2,552); Crawford - 403 (294); Cuyahoga - 123 (340); Darke - 207 (195); Defiance - 391 (297); Delaware - 628 (693); Erie - 241 (142); Fairfield - 1,435 (1,418); Fayette - 240 (167); Franklin - 327 (299); Fulton - 249 (238); Gallia - 2,835 (3,092); Geauga - 874 (602); Greene - 276 (238); Guernsey - 3,203 (2,971) Hamilton - 393 (402); Hancock - 193 (183); Hardin - 334 (347); Harrison - 2,543 (1,747); Henry - 219 (154); Highland - 1,367 (931); Hocking - 2,357 (2,768); Holmes - 2,138 (1,450) Huron - 784 (546); Jackson - 3,042 (2,503); Jefferson - 2,479 (2,342); Knox - 1,552 (1,170); Lake - 375 (253); Lawrence - 2,037 (1,800); Licking - 2,822 (2,771); Logan - 524 (376); Lorain - 513 (325); Lucas - 307 (251); Madison - 184 (141); Mahoning - 564 (399); Marion - 270 (193); Medina - 421 (333); Meigs - 2,729 (3,081); Mercer - 165 (161); Miami - 127 (86); Monroe - 2,562 (2,109); Montgomery - 172 (204); Morgan - 1,967 (2,286); Morrow - 503 (649); Muskingum - 3,343 (3,139); Noble - 2,087 (2,482); Ottawa - 141 (78); Paulding - 295 (247); Perry - 2,527 (2,122); Pickaway - 931 (749); Pike - 1,293 (967); Portage - 656 (427); Preble - 212 (147); Putnam - 223 (155); Richland - 881 (554); Ross - 2,879 (2,164); Sandusky - 192 (166); Scioto - 1,247 (988); Seneca - 623 (448); Shelby - 384 (334); Stark - 884 (605); Summit - 229 (144); Trumbull - 909 (795); Tuscarawas - 3,396 (2,579); Union - 526 (315); Van Wert - 69 (55); Vinton - 2,289 (1,682); Warren - 519 (506); Washington - 3,475 (3,708); Wayne - 517 (282); Williams - 822 (676); Wood - 188 (140); Wyandot - 532 (346). Totals: 96,215 (83,755)

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For Further Information Contact:
John Wisse, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(614) 265-6539
-or-
Mike Tonkovich, ODNR Division of Wildlife