Search
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 2, 2005

DEER HARVESTED
DURING 2004-2005
DEER HUNTING SEASON
Adams 2,683
Allen 798
Ashland 4,007
Ashtabula 3,854
Athens 5,915
Auglaize 626
Belmont 4,733
Brown 2,529
Butler 1,815
Carroll 3,103
Champaign 1,700
Clark 1,241
Clermont 3,161
Clinton 810
Columbiana 3,439
Coshocton 7,055
Crawford 1,395
Cuyahoga 447
Darke 640
Defiance 1,116
Delaware 2,284
Erie 716
Fairfield 3,593
Fayette 507
Franklin 1,115
Fulton 492
Gallia 3,587
Geauga 2,402
Greene 834
Guernsey 6,028
Hamilton 1,448
Hancock 745
Hardin 919
Harrison 6,021
Henry 324
Highland 3,110
Hocking 4,186
Holmes 5,930
Huron 2,090
Jackson 4,636
Jefferson 5,481
Knox 5,326
Lake 1,427
Lawrence 2,597
Licking 6,610
Logan 1,695
Lorain 2,293
Lucas 998
Madison 371
Mahoning 1,549
Marion 595
Medina 1,408
Meigs 5,034
Mercer 557
Miami 280
Monroe 4,260
Montgomery 685
Morgan 3,430
Morrow 1,714
Muskingum 5,779
Noble 4,221
Ottawa 242
Paulding 881
Perry 4,536
Pickaway 1,955
Pike 1,839
Portage 1,921
Preble 799
Putnam 924
Richland 2,213
Ross 4,831
Sandusky 564
Scioto 2,812
Seneca 1,593
Shelby 976
Stark 2,730
Summit 1,809
Trumbull 3,789
Tuscarawas 8,293
Union 1,444
Van Wert 344
Vinton 2,197
Warren 1,789
Washington 6,111
Wayne 1,358
Williams 1,801
Wood 734
Wyandot 1,316
Total 217,301

A RECORD NUMBER OF DEER TAKEN DURING
OHIO’S 2004-2005 DEER HUNTING SEASON

COLUMBUS, OH - Ohio hunters have set a new record, taking 217,301 deer during the 2004-2005 hunting season. Additional records were set during the muzzleloader, archery and youth hunting seasons, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

Counties reporting the highest number of deer checked during the year were: Tuscarawas - 8,293; Coshocton - 7,055; Licking - 6,610; Washington - 6,110; Guernsey - 6, 028; Harrison - 6, 021; Holmes - 5,930; Athens - 5,915; Muskingum - 5,779; and Jefferson - 5,481.

“Ohio’s deer herd is very important to our state,” said Steven A. Gray, chief of the Division of Wildlife. “Deer are enjoyed by many Ohioans who hunt deer or simply enjoy seeing these magnificent animals.”

From opening day of the deer-archery season in October, Ohio hunters were on a record- setting pace. Young hunters set a new mark in the second year of the state’s two-day youth deer-gun season with 6,673 deer killed.

During the four-day statewide muzzleloader season, hunters took a record 27,749 deer. Hunters also exceeded the record for deer taken during the archery season (October 2 to January 31) with 57,198. A total of 125,681 deer was killed during the popular one-week deer gun season.

A record trophy buck was recognized with Warren County bow hunter Brad Jerman shooting a buck that scored 201 1/8 in the typical (symmetrical antlers) category of the Buckeye Big Bucks Club. Jerman’s deer tied the score of a buck taken in 1986 in Clark County by William Kontras.

Deer hunting contributes an estimated $266 million to Ohio's economy each year and helps to support thousands of jobs. Venison is delicious and nutritious meat, low in fat and cholesterol. It is the number one wild game served by hunters in Ohio. Deer hunters also contribute thousands of pounds of venison to organizations that help feed less-fortunate Ohio residents through special programs.

-30-

For additional news online, check out the ODNR Press Room at Ohiodnr.com

For Further Information Contact:

Mike Tonkovich, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(740) 664-2745
-or-
Andrea Misko, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6882