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COLUMBUS, OH -- As many as 500,000 hunters are expected to participate in this year^s statewide deer gun season that begins November 27, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
"We can expect to see the deer gun season harvest increase from last year^s total of 84,107 because the deer population is up this year by 10 to 15 percent. An expanded Deer Zone C, where hunters may take a limit of two deer, and favorable hunting conditions should also help increase the deer gun harvest to a level above 90,000 deer," said Mike Tonkovich, ODNR Division of Wildlife game biologist.
The deer gun season will be open seven days and close at sunset on December 3. Hunters may take a deer of either sex during the deer gun season, except in the 13-county Zone A, where a deer of either sex may be taken during the first two days of the season and an antlered buck only during the remaining five days. Zone A includes Ashtabula and Trumbull counties in northeast Ohio, and Wood, Henry, Hancock, Putnam, Paulding, Van Wert, Mercer, Auglaize, Shelby, Darke and Preble counties in northwest and western Ohio.
Hunters must visibly wear a vest, coat, jacket or coveralls that are either solid hunter orange or camouflage hunter orange in color. A hunter orange hat or cap no longer satisfies legal requirements of the deer gun season rules.
Legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Hunters may use a longbow, crossbow, a muzzleloading rifle at least .38 caliber or larger, a handgun with a five-inch minimum length limit using straight-walled cartridges of .357 caliber or larger, or a 10, 12, 16, 20, 28 or .410-gauge shotgun. Rifled barrels are permitted when using shotgun slug ammunition. It is unlawful to take a deer with a shotgun capable of holding more than three deer slugs unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler that can only be removed by disassembling the gun.
A deer permit is required in addition to a valid hunting license. The temporary deer tags no longer have adhesive backing where the sides can be wrapped and stuck together. The deer tag must now be separated from the deer permit and tied to the deer. All deer must be properly tagged before they are removed from the field for transport.
Hunting of all wild animals, except deer, waterfowl (in season), wild boar and coyote during daylight hours is prohibited during the statewide deer gun season November 27 through December 3.
Additional hunting regulations are contained in the 2000-2001 Hunting and Trapping Regulations digest. This free publication is available where hunting licenses are sold and from the Division of Wildlife by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.
Deer hunting contributes an estimated $200 million to Ohio^s economy 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.
Uploaded: 11/15/2000
Uploaded: 11/15/2000