COLUMBUS, OH -- Young hunters across
Ohio took 5,208 deer on Saturday and
Sunday, November 22-23, during the
state's first-ever youth deer-gun
hunting season, according to the Ohio
Department of Natural Resources (ODNR)
Division of Wildlife.
"We are pleased
so many youngsters got out to hunt last
weekend and that so many were
successful. Hopefully, this season will
be the start of a long-running tradition
for many families across the state,"
said Steven A. Gray, chief of the ODNR
Division of Wildlife.
Counties reporting the greatest
number of deer killed during the season
were Tuscarawas with 222; Ashland with
184; Coshocton with 152; Licking with
147; and Ross and Harrison with 146
each.
The youth deer-gun season was open
statewide on both private and public
land. Hunters could take one deer of
either sex, in accordance with existing
bag and deer-zone limits. Shotguns,
muzzleloaders, handguns and bows were
legal. All participants were required to
wear hunter orange, possess a valid Ohio
hunting license and special deer permit,
and be accompanied by a non-hunting
adult.
The youth deer-gun season is one of
four special youth-only dates designed
to promote the sport of hunting among
young Ohioans. Special days are also set
aside for upland game, wild turkey, and
waterfowl hunting opportunities for
young people age 17 and under.
Youngsters and all other hunters will
have another chance at taking a
whitetail during next week's statewide
deer-gun season, which will run Monday
through Sunday, December 1-7.
Details on youth hunting seasons and
Ohio's other deer hunting seasons can be
found in the
2003-2004 Hunting and Trapping
Regulations Digest, available where
licenses are sold. It can also be viewed
online at ohiodnr.com .
