COLUMBUS, OH-- Hunters harvested 41,257 deer on opening day of the statewide deer gun season Monday, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
The preliminary figure obtained from deer check stations throughout the state represents an 18.3 percent increase from last year's opening day total of 34,866.
Counties reporting the highest numbers of deer brought to Ohio check stations on Monday included Athens (1,754), Muskingum (1,536), Coshocton (1,505), Guernsey (1,446), and Washington (1,442).
We were confident we would have a great opening day, said Mike Budzik, chief of ODNR's Division of Wildlife. Hunting license sales were steady last weekend so we knew plenty of Ohioans would be out in the field, especially with the excellent weather conditions. With such a successful opening day, I would not be surprised to see the gun season harvest exceed 100,000 deer if we have reasonable weather the remainder of the week.
Hunters took 96,290 during last years deer gun season.
Although some areas in Ohio saw heavy fog on the opening morning, much of the state had a cool and clear morning with very little wind. Rain is predicted for today through Thursday, but clear, cooler weather is forecast for Friday and Saturday.
The wildlife division said it received only one report of a hunting incident in which a hunter's gun barrel exploded due to an obstruction. The man was treated for minor injuries and released.