COLUMBUS, OH-- Up to 500,000 hunters are expected to participate in this year's statewide deer gun season that begins November 26, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
With favorable hunting conditions and a deer population about seven percent higher than last year, I expect we will see 105,000 to 110,000 deer taken during this gun season, said Mike Reynolds, ODNR Division of Wildlife biologist.
Last year, gun hunters harvested 96,290 deer.
The deer gun season will be open seven days and close at sunset on December 2. Hunters may take a deer of either sex during the deer gun season, except in the 11-county Zone A, where a deer of either sex may be taken during the first two days of the season and an antlered buck only during the remaining five days. Zone A lies primarily in northwestern and western Ohio.
Hunters must visibly wear a vest, coat, jacket or coveralls that are either solid hunter orange or camouflage hunter orange. A hunter orange hat or cap alone no longer satisfies legal requirements during the deer gun season.
Legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Hunters may use a 10, 12, 16, 20, 28 or .410-gauge shotgun, a handgun with a five-inch minimum length using straight-walled cartridges of .357 caliber or larger, a muzzleloading rifle of at least .38 caliber or larger, a longbow or a crossbow. Rifled barrels are permitted when using shotgun slug ammunition.
It is unlawful to take a deer with a shotgun capable of holding more than three deer slugs unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler that can only be removed by disassembling the gun.
A deer permit is required in addition to a valid hunting license. Temporary deer tags no longer have adhesive backing. The deer tag must now be separated from the deer permit and tied to the deer. All deer must be properly tagged before they are removed from the field for transport to a check station.
Hunting of all wild animals except deer, waterfowl (in season), wild boar and coyote during daylight hours is prohibited during the statewide deer gun season November 26 through December 2.
Additional hunting regulations and maps of deer zones are contained in the 2001-2002 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest. This free publication is available where hunting licenses are sold and from the ODNR Division of Wildlife by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE or on the Internet at www.dnr.state.oh.us
Deer hunting contributes an estimated $200 million during the season to Ohio's economy and helps to support thousands of jobs. Deer hunters also contribute thousands of pounds of venison to community-based organizations that help feed less fortunate Ohio residents through special programs such as Safari Club International's Sportsmen Against Hunger program.