COLUMBUS, OH -- Deer hunters still have a great opportunity to take a whitetail by participating in the statewide primitive deer season, December 27-30, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
A majority of hunters will carry muzzleloading rifles, but may also legally use muzzleloading shotguns, longbows and crossbows during the four-day season. Last year, hunters checked 22,088 deer during the statewide primitive season.
"Ohio hunters have been taking advantage of a variety of deer hunting opportunities this year - archery, the first-ever youth gun season, and the popular deer-gun week - to pursue the state's number one game animal," said Mike Tonkovich, a forest wildlife research biologist for ODNR's Division of Wildlife. "We want to remind hunters that the statewide primitive season provides them a great chance at bagging a deer."
Archery hunters took 36,241 deer during the first six weeks of the statewide archery season, which began October 4 and continues through January 31. The first-ever youth season, November 22 and 23, saw young hunters bag 5,208 deer. Hunters checked 116,004 deer during the statewide deer gun season held December 1- 7. Another 177 deer were taken during the special bucks-only primitive deer season held October 20-25 on the Shawnee, Salt Fork, and Wolf Creek wildlife areas.
Prior to hunting season, Ohio's deer population was estimated at 681,000. The ODNR Division of Wildlife expects as many as 160,000 hunters will hunt deer during the primitive season.
Ohio is divided into three primary deer hunting zones. A limit of one deer may be taken in Zone A or Zone R. Hunters may take a second deer in Zone B by purchasing an additional deer permit. Hunters may purchase up to four urban deer permits to take antlerless deer within Ohio's five urban deer zones.
Deer hunters must possess the proper permits, and regardless of zone, method of taking or season, hunters may take only one antlered deer.
Legal hunting hours during the statewide primitive deer season are a half-hour before sunrise to sunset. Deer must be checked by 8 p.m. of the day after harvest, except those killed on December 30, which must be brought to a deer check station by 8 p.m. that day.
Ohio's small game, furbearer and waterfowl seasons also will be open during the primitive season. Small game hunters and deer hunters must visibly wear a coat, jacket, vest or coveralls that are either solid hunter orange or camouflage hunter orange in color during the statewide primitive deer season.
Deer hunting contributes an estimated $266 million to Ohio's economy each year and helps to support thousands of jobs. Deer hunters also contribute thousands of pounds of venison to community-based organizations that help feed less fortunate Ohio residents through special programs such as Safari Club International's Sportsmen Against Hunger program.
Additional hunting regulations and maps of deer zones are contained in the 2003-2004 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest. This free publication is available where hunting licenses are sold and from the ODNR Division of Wildlife by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE or on the Internet at ohiodnr.com