Local

15,469 white-tailed deer bagged in Ohio’s extra hunting weekend

By Staff report
Mississippi deer hunter James Keel of Hernando harvested a mature buck that was the size of a large dog.
Mississippi deer hunter James Keel of Hernando harvested a mature buck that was the size of a large dog. Special to the Mississippi Clarion Ledger

Hunters across Ohio bagged 15,469 white-tailed deer during the extra weekend of deer gun hunting on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 16-17, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

During the gun weekend, hunters checked 4,408 bucks (29 percent of the harvest), 9,130 does (59%), and 1,639 button bucks (11%). Bucks with shed antlers and bucks with antlers less than 3 inches long accounted for 1% of the harvest, or 292 deer.

The top three counties in this extra weekend of deer gun hunting were Coshocton (534 deer checked), Tuscarawas (505), and Ashtabula (470). Mahoning County reported 152 deer taken, while Trumbull County showed hunters bagged 279 deer during the extra gun session.

In the regular week of deer gun hunting that occurred from Nov. 27 through Dec. 3, 2023, hunters in Ohio bagged 70,118 deer, according to the ODNR figures. Again the top three counties were Coshocton (2,441), Tuscarawas (2,260), Ashtabula (2,189). During the regular gun season, Mahoning County hunters bagged 621 deer, while Trumbull County hunters ‘harvested’ 1,446 deer.

Ohio has a reputation as an excellent deer hunting state. There have been 402,389 deer permits issued this season as of Dec. 17. Out-of-state hunters from Pennsylvania (7,373 licenses sold), Michigan (5,104), West Virginia (3,699), North Carolina (3,239), New York (2,942), and other states boost local economies as they travel to Ohio for a chance at harvesting a Buckeye State whitetail.

Hunters still looking to bag a deer can take part in the ongoing archery season, which continues until Feb. 4.

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