COLUMBUS, OH - For the fourth straight year, Ohio bow hunters set a record harvest during the first six weeks of the state’s deer-archery season, taking 53,982 whitetails.

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife, this year’s early archery season harvest is 18 percent higher than last year’s record of 45,733 deer.

Bow hunting for deer is popular in Ohio. The season started in September and will continue through February 3.

Counties reporting the highest numbers of deer brought to check stations were Licking – 2,239; Tuscarawas – 2,202; Holmes – 2,185; Harrison – 1,561; Guernsey – 1,517; Ashtabula – 1,344; Trumbull – 1,303; Ashland – 1,237; Clermont – 1,134; and Knox – 1,101.

The statewide deer population was estimated to be 675,000 in early October. Approximately 300,000 bow hunters are expected to participate in the statewide deer-archery hunting season.

Last year, bow hunters harvested a total of 67,912 deer during the four-month Ohio archery season.

A detailed listing of deer-hunting rules can be found in the 2007-2008 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest that is available wherever licenses are sold, and online at ohiodnr.com/wildlife.

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For Further Information Contact:
Dave Risley, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(614) 265-6330
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Jane Beathard, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(614) 265-6860