News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

January 3, 2005

COLUMBUS, OH -- Hunters took 27,749 deer during the four-day muzzleloader season, which ran December 27-30, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. That number represents an 11 percent increase over the 2003 total.

“Over the past twenty years, the statewide muzzleloader season has consistently grown in popularity,” said Steven A. Gray, chief of the ODNR Division of Wildlife. “Despite the previous week’s severe ice and snow storm, hunters still took to the field and had great success.”

Counties reporting the highest number of deer checked during the muzzleloader season included Tuscarawas-1,114; Harrison-920; Coshocton-883; Jefferson-843; Athens-832; Guernsey-741; Knox-736; Meigs-692; Licking-684; Ashland-662.

Since Ohio's deer hunting seasons opened in early October, 201,270 deer have been killed across the state. Archery hunters took 40,966 deer during the first six weeks of the statewide archery season, which continues through January 31. In its second year, the youth season resulted in young hunters bagging 6,673 deer. Hunters checked 125,681 deer during the statewide deer-gun season. Another 201 deer were taken during the special bucks-only muzzleloader deer season on three specific areas.

EDITORS NOTE: THE CHART SHOWS DEER CHECKED AND TAGGED BY HUNTERS DURING LAST WEEK’S STATEWIDE MUZZLELOADER DEER HUNTING SEASON.