News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 4, 2000

MIXED WEATHER PRODUCES GREAT PRIMITIVE WEAPONS DEER SEASON

COLUMBUS, OH -- Preliminary results from this year’s primitive weapons season for deer was the second highest on record, with hunters harvesting 12,462 deer across Ohio. The season, which ran from December 30 through January 3, surpassed last year's preliminary total by nearly 200, an increase of two percent.

Counties reporting the highest number of deer checked during the primitive weapons season included: Washington, 580; Athens, 532; Meigs, 428; Guernsey, 409; and Licking, 408; Muskingum, 398; Gallia, 357; Jackson, 334; Hocking, 318; and Jefferson, 314.

During Ohio’s primitive weapons season, also known as the blackpowder, or muzzleloader deer season, hunters were able to take a deer of either sex with muzzleloading rifles of .38 caliber or larger, muzzleloading shotguns using a single ball, crossbows, and longbows. More than 90 percent of the deer taken during the primitive season are bagged by hunters using muzzleloaders.

The deer gun season which ran for a week beginning the Monday after Thanksgiving resulted in 84,178 deer being taken, a six percent increase over last season. The archery season for deer continues through January 31.

Adams - 112 (108); Allen - 59 (44) ; Ashland - 211 (214); Ashtabula 228 (150); Athens 532 (514); Auglaize - 14 (24); Belmont - 218 (238); Brown - 143 (119); Butler - 76 (138); Carroll - 156 (143); Champaign - 92 (77); Clark - 62 (70); Clermont - 185 (229); Clinton - 46 (46); Columbiana - 158 (160); Coshocton - 238 (237); Crawford - 59 (63); Cuyahoga - 25 (36); Darke - 37 (52); Defiance - 30 (30); Delaware - 102 (190); Erie - 74 (41); Fairfield - 184 (153); Fayette - 27 (15); Franklin - 61 (110); Fulton - 19 (10); Gallia - 357 (408); Geauga - 183 (183); Greene - 53 (38); Guernsey - 409 (350); Hamilton - 92 (138); Hancock - 49 (40); Hardin - 60 (22); Harrison - 170 (215); Henry - 17 (24); Highland -155 (149); Hocking - 318 (296); Holmes - 196 (161); Huron - 100 (79); Jackson - 334 (369); Jefferson - 314 (321); Knox - 195 (163); Lake - 97 (70); Lawrence - 270 (331); Licking - 408 (260); Logan - 82 (66); Lorain - 111 (103); Lucas - 39 (49); Madison - 17 (24); Mahoning - 68 (108); Marion - 31 (19); Medina - 88 (61); Meigs - 428 (375); Mercer - 31 (21); Miami - 13 (20); Monroe - 298 (255); Montgomery - 69 (52); Morgan - 233 (272); Morrow - 81 (67); Muskingum - 398 (439); Noble - 227 (286); Ottawa - 34 (30); Paulding - 50 (42); Perry - 240 (257); Pickaway - 101 (74); Pike - 86 (121); Portage - 152 (136); Preble - 40 (35); Putnam - 42 (32); Richland - 91 (88); Ross - 290 (388); Sandusky - 53 (43); Scioto - 174 (238); Seneca - 77 (77); Shelby - 67 (49); Stark - 125 (122); Summit - 72 (67); Trumbull - 188 (162); Tuscarawas - 300 (273); Union - 52 (63); Van Wert - 10 (19); Vinton - 185 (215); Warren - 102 (95); Washington - 580 (497); Wayne - 52 (51); Williams - 52 (45); Wood - 38 (36); Wyandot - 70 (48).

For Further Information Contact:
Vicki Mountz, Division of Wildlife
(614) 265-6393