COLUMBUS, OH -- Hunters set a new harvest record of 22,513 deer during last week's statewide primitive deer hunting season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The season was open in all 88 Ohio counties from December 27 - 30.
Last week's preliminary total of 22,513 represents an increase of 4,115, or 22.3 percent over last seasons record-breaking preliminary total of 18, 398. Prior to that, the best primitive deer season had occurred in 1997 with a harvest of 15, 289.
Counties reporting the highest number of deer checked during last weeks primitive deer season included Harrison - 864; Washington - 819; Guernsey - 818; Monroe - 816; and Athens - 809.
Also referred to as the muzzleloader, or black powder deer season, hunters were able to use muzzleloading rifles of .38 caliber or larger, muzzleloading shotguns using a single ball, crossbows, or longbows. An estimated 90 percent of the deer taken during the primitive season are by hunters using muzzleloaders.
The statewide archery deer hunting season remains open through January 31.
Adams - 249 (152); Allen - 77 (67); Ashland - 295 (276); Ashtabula - 201 (199); Athens - 809 (717); Auglaize - 41 (35); Belmont - 719 (657); Brown - 228 (170); Butler - 116 (105); Carroll - 345 (304); Champaign - 100 (97); Clark - 67 (56); Clermont - 301 (229); Clinton - 76 (56); Columbiana - 249 (246); Coshocton - 646 (511); Crawford - 70 (70); Cuyahoga - 8 (27); Darke - 51 (68); Defiance - 46 (55); Delaware - 125 (160); Erie - 50 (43); Fairfield - 302 (283); Fayette - 31 (25); Franklin - 99 (82); Fulton - 18 (12); Gallia - 583 (462); Geauga - 184 (141); Greene - 66 (42); Guernsey - 818 (601); Hamilton - 146 (131); Hancock - 66 (42); Hardin - 56 (51); Harrison - 864 (533); Henry - 27 (32); Highland - 286 (212); Hocking - 422 (359); Holmes - 469 (353); Huron - 122 (114); Jackson - 785 (551); Jefferson - 778 (723); Knox - 440 (272); Lake - 119 (103); Lawrence - 459 (305); Licking - 602 (557); Logan - 133 (98); Lorain - 176 (143); Lucas - 55 (135); Madison - 39 (26); Mahoning - 96 (104); Marion - 35 (32); Medina - 55 (91); Meigs - 695 (459); Mercer - 42 (59); Miami - 12 (15); Monroe - 816 (581); Montgomery - 36 (70); Morgan - 493 (322); Morrow - 106 (63); Muskingum - 697 (577); Noble - 448 (312); Ottawa - 40 (30); Paulding - 70 (51); Perry - 553 (474); Pickaway - 163 (160); Pike - 243 (153); Portage - 152 (195); Preble - 67 (73); Putnam - 56 (73); Richland - 210 (115); Ross - 611 (421); Sandusky - 38 (38); Scioto - 341 (232); Seneca - 82 (111); Shelby - 72 (95); Stark - 284 (230); Summit - 104 (81); Trumbull - 263 (356); Tuscarawas - 791 (621); Union - 69 (80); Van Wert - 15 (28); Vinton - 414 (305); Warren - 169 (132); Washington - 819 (665); Wayne - 136 (100); Williams - 77 (74); Wood - 40 (56); Wyandot - 89 (76).
For Further Information Contact:
Vicki Mountz, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(614) 265-6300
-or-
Andy Ware, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6882