COLUMBUS, OH-- Excellent deer hunting opportunities still exist for hunters planning to participate in Ohio's statewide primitive weapons deer season December 27 - 30, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
A majority of hunters will be using muzzleloading rifles and shotguns, commonly referred to as blackpowder guns, but the primitive weapons season also includes longbows and crossbows.
Deer hunting is a great family tradition here in Ohio, said Mike Budzik, chief of ODNR's Division of Wildlife. And by scheduling the primitive weapons season at this time, we provide families a great opportunity to participate together in this challenging hunt.
Last year, hunters set a new record harvesting 18,398 deer during the statewide primitive weapons season.
A .38 caliber or larger muzzleloading rifle, or muzzleloading shotgun of 10, 12, 16, 20, 28, or .410 gauge using one ball per barrel are permitted during the special season.
Hunters may take either antlered or antlerless deer during the primitive season, but only one antlered deer (buck) may be taken per hunter, per year. Hunters who have taken a buck during one of the other deer hunting seasons may only take an antlerless deer.
Ohio hunters have so far had excellent hunting during earlier seasons. Bowhunters took 32,546 deer during the first six weeks of the statewide archery season that opened October 6 and runs through January 31. An additional 99,599 deer were taken during the statewide deer gun season held November 26 through December 2.
A full list of state hunting laws is available from the current state hunting regulations digest, which is available wherever hunting licenses are sold or online at the ODNR Internet site at www.dnr.state.oh.us