COLUMBUS, OH -- Bowhunters took 40,319 deer in Ohio during the first six weeks of the statewide deer-archery hunting season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. This preliminary figure is 13 percent more than the number harvested during the same time period last year when hunters killed a record 36,241 deer.
"Bowhunting is one of the fastest growing sports in the country,” said Steven A. Gray, chief of the Division of Wildlife. “Last year, Ohio archers hit a new high with more than 25 percent of the deer kill coming from the bowhunting season. This year looks as though it will produce even higher numbers.”
Counties reporting the highest numbers of deer brought to check stations included Licking (1,590), Holmes (1,471), Tuscarawas (1,393), Coshocton (1,203), and Trumbull (1,174).
The statewide deer population was estimated to be 700,000 in early October. Approximately 250,000 bowhunters are expected to participate in the statewide deer-archery hunting season that began October 2 and remains open through January 31, including Sundays and during the deer-gun season that runs November 29 through December 5.
Last year, bowhunters harvested a total of 50,564 deer during the four-month Ohio archery season.
A detailed listing of deer-hunting rules is contained in the 2004-2005 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest that is available where licenses are sold, or online at ohiodnr.com .