WhiteTail Deer Hunters Increase Kill on Opening Day of Gun Season

Ohio Department Natural Resources

COLUMBUS, OH --(Ammoland.com)- COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio hunters had near ideal weather for the opening day of deer-gun season. Hunters took 37,805 white-tailed deer on Monday, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

The deer-gun season remains open through Sunday, December 5, and then reopens for two days on Saturday and Sunday, December 18-19.

The preliminary figures from deer check stations throughout the state show an increase of 12.5 percent from last year’s opening day total of 33,607.

Counties reporting the highest numbers of deer checked on Monday included: Tuscarawas – 1,806; Coshocton – 1,536; Harrison – 1,439; Guernsey – 1,406; Holmes – 1,312; Licking – 1,259; Washington – 1,192; Ashtabula – 983; Muskingum – 930; and Athens – 886.

Combining the results of Monday’s harvest with those from the early muzzleloader season, the first six weeks of archery season and the recent youth deer-gun season, a preliminary total of 97,371 deer have been killed so far this deer hunting season. That number compares to 97,371 harvested last year at this time. In all, hunters took a total of 261,314 deer during all of last year’s hunting seasons.

Approximately 420,000 hunters are expected to participate in the statewide deer-gun season. Ohio’s deer population was estimated to be 750,000 prior to the start of the fall hunting seasons.

The white-tailed deer is the most popular game animal in Ohio, frequently pursued by generations of hunters. Ohio ranks 8th nationally in annual hunting-related sales and 10th in the number of jobs associated with the hunting-related industry. Each year, hunting has an $859 million economic impact in Ohio through the sale of equipment, fuel, food, lodging and more.

Division of Wildlife Chief Dave Graham challenges all deer hunters to make this year special for Ohio’s hungry by labeling Saturday, December 4, as Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) Day. Last year, hunters showed they cared by donating nearly 467,000 meals to Ohioans in need.

Hunters who give their deer to a food bank are not required to pay the processing cost as long as the deer are taken to a participating processor and funding for the effort lasts. Counties being served by this program can be found online at www.fhfh.org.

Hunters who wish to share their success can submit a photo of themselves and the deer they killed this year for publication on the Division of Wildlife’s Web page.

A detailed listing of deer-hunting rules is contained in the 2010-2011 Ohio Hunting Regulations, available wherever licenses are sold, and online at wildohio.com.

The 2010-2011 licenses will not be printed on weatherproof paper. Sportsmen and women should protect their licenses and permits from the elements by carrying them in a protective pouch or wallet.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR Web site at www.ohiodnr.com.

NOTE: THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE NUMBER OF DEER CHECKED AND TAGGED BY HUNTERS DURING THE FIRST DAY OF DEER-GUN HUNTING SEASON. THE NUMBER TAKEN DURING THE 2009 SEASON IS MARKED IN ( ): 2010 (2009)

Adams –502(481); Allen –90(118); Ashland –793(619); Ashtabula –983(836); Athens –886(925); Auglaize –87(80); Belmont –844(640); Brown –364(240); Butler –121(89); Carroll –680(691); Champaign –150 (232); Clark –100(87); Clermont –420(297); Clinton –191(186); Columbiana –851(628); Coshocton –1,536(1,353); Crawford –306(288); Cuyahoga –30(25); Darke –68(55); Defiance –425(293); Delaware –199(179); Erie –96(112); Fairfield –499(609); Fayette –37(74); Franklin –62(68); Fulton –188(123); Gallia –607(455); Geauga –268(188); Greene –64(63); Guernsey –1,406(1,284); Hamilton –99(72); Hancock –119(153); Hardin –198(169); Harrison –1,439(1,374); Henry –203(88); Highland –490(543); Hocking –703(793); Holmes –1,312(1,165); Huron –477(367); Jackson –720(776); Jefferson –774(767); Knox –700(761); Lake –83(63); Lawrence –406(320); Licking –1,259(1,182); Logan –333(255); Lorain –233(210); Lucas –72(76); Madison –55(42); Mahoning –307(238); Marion –114(96); Medina –200(146); Meigs –717(569); Mercer –98(79); Miami –37(35); Monroe –638(670); Montgomery –52(37); Morgan –610(579); Morrow –354 (260); Muskingum –930(799); Noble –741(745); Ottawa –19(12); Paulding –322(140); Perry –681(631); Pickaway –149(188); Pike –211(300); Portage –177(122); Preble –60(39); Putnam –242(196); Richland –449(404); Ross –734(638); Sandusky –43(67); Scioto –450(249); Seneca –341(255); Shelby –165(141); Stark –602(487); Summit –88(62); Trumbull –639(572); Tuscarawas –1,806(1,763); Union –165(125); Van Wert –125(55); Vinton –629(548); Warren –172(117); Washington –1,192(1,010); Wayne –285(220); Williams –364(253); Wood –138(99); Wyandot –231(167); TOTAL: 37,805(33,607)

Ohio Division of Wildlife

COLUMBUS, OH --(AmmoLand.com)- Ohio hunters had near ideal weather for the opening day of deer-gun season. Hunters took 33,607 white-tailed deer on Monday, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The deer-gun season remains open through Sunday, December 6, and then reopens for two days on Saturday and Sunday, December 19-20

The preliminary figures from deer check stations throughout the state show a slight increase of 1.7 percent from last year’s opening day total of 33,034.

Counties reporting the highest numbers of deer checked on Monday included Tuscarawas-1,763, Harrison-1,374, Coshocton-1,353, Guernsey-1,284, Licking-1,182, Holmes-1,165, Washington-1,010, Athens-925, Ashtabula-836, and Muskingum-799.

Combining the results of Monday’s harvest with those from the early muzzleloader season, the first six weeks of archery season and the recent youth deer-gun season, a preliminary total of 97,371 deer have been killed so far this deer hunting season. That number compares to 95,074 harvested last year at this time. In all, hunters took a total of 252,017 deer during all of last year’s hunting seasons.

Approximately 420,000 hunters are expected to participate in the statewide deer-gun season. Ohio’s deer population was estimated to be 650,000 prior to the start of the fall hunting seasons.

The white-tailed deer is the most popular game animal in Ohio, frequently pursued by generations of hunters. Ohio ranks 8th nationally in annual hunting-related sales and 10th in the number of jobs associated with the hunting-related industry. Each year, hunting has a $859 million economic impact in Ohio through the sale of equipment, fuel, food, lodging and more.

Division of Wildlife Chief Dave Graham challenges all deer hunters to make this year special for Ohio’s hungry by labeling Saturday, December 5, as Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) Day. Last year, hunters showed they cared by donating nearly 220,000 meals to Ohioans in need.

Hunters who give their deer to a food bank are not required to pay the processing cost as long as the deer are taken to a participating processor and funding for the effort lasts. Counties being served by this program can be found online at www.fhfh.org.

Hunters who wish to share their success can submit a photo of themselves and the deer they killed this year for publication on the Division of Wildlife’s Web page.

A detailed listing of deer-hunting rules is contained in the 2009-2010 Ohio Hunting Regulations, available wherever licenses are sold, and online at wildohio.com.

The 2009-2010 licenses will not be printed on weatherproof paper. Sportsmen and women should protect their licenses and permits from the elements by carrying them in a protective pouch or wallet.

NOTE: The following is a list of the number of deer checked and tagged by hunters during the first day of deer-gun hunting season. The number taken during the 2008 season is marked in ( ): 2009 (2008)

Adams –481 (377); Allen –118 (130); Ashland –619 (577); Ashtabula –836 (1,089); Athens –925 (828); Auglaize –80 (102); Belmont –640 (612); Brown –240 (336); Butler –89 (55); Carroll –691 (625); Champaign –232 (193); Clark –87 (67); Clermont –297 (236); Clinton –186 (109); Columbiana –628 (722); Coshocton –1,353(1,307); Crawford –288 (265); Cuyahoga –25 (32); Darke –55(50); Defiance –293 (323); Delaware –179 (188); Erie –112 (82); Fairfield –609 (452); Fayette –74 (50); Franklin –68 (81); Fulton –123 (150); Gallia –455 (501); Geauga –188 (326); Greene –63 (54); Guernsey –1,284 (1,202); Hamilton –72 (40); Hancock –153 (83); Hardin –169 (133); Harrison –1,374 (1,286); Henry –88 (108); Highland –543 (409); Hocking –793 (683); Holmes –1,165 (1,088); Huron –367 (288); Jackson –776 (648); Jefferson –767 (771); Knox –761 (954); Lake –63 (113); Lawrence –320 (343); Licking –1,182 (1,134); Logan –255 (169); Lorain –210 (165); Lucas –76 (75); Madison –42 (53); Mahoning –238 (198); Marion –96 (74); Medina –146 (158); Meigs –569 (702); Mercer –79 (63); Miami –35 (38); Monroe –670 (672); Montgomery –37 (27); Morgan –579 (556); Morrow –260 (308); Muskingum –799 (670); Noble –745 (645); Ottawa –12 (9); Paulding –140 (139); Perry –631 (580); Pickaway –188 (161); Pike –300 (261); Portage –122 (164); Preble –39 (43); Putnam –196 (157); Richland –404 (364); Ross –638 (597); Sandusky –67 (54); Scioto –249 (380); Seneca –255 (242); Shelby –141 (123); Stark –487 (440); Summit –62 (79); Trumbull –572 (657); Tuscarawas –1,763 (1,821); Union –125 (125); Van Wert –55 (74); Vinton –548 (497); Warren –117 (102); Washington –1,010 (1,456); Wayne –220 (186); Williams –253 (264); Wood –99 (108); Wyandot –167 (176); TOTAL: 33,607 (33,034)

OpeningDay.Ducks.org

Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited – -(AmmoLand.com)- September has arrived and waterfowl hunters have a smile on their faces.

Duck numbers are up and opening day is drawing ever closer.

At Ducks Unlimited, we can’t wait any longer. Today is our “Opening Day” and we want to celebrate it with you!

Starting today, you can visit the First Flight: Opening Day Web site at openingday.ducks.org. Back by popular demand, this site is the premier online resource dedicated exclusively for serious duck hunters. There will be new content every day, so check it out to gear up, prepare, share information and take advantage of the ultimate waterfowl hunters’ resource.

There’s really too much to list, but below are just a few of the features you’ll find this year:

• DU’s Waterfowl Migration Map
• Hunting reports from across the United States & Canada
• Tips, tactics and strategies from the pros
• The latest waterfowl hunting gear and guns
• Blog entries from DU staff and partners
• E-cards, wallpaper and much more

We’re also excited to announce the first ever DU video contest. Be sure to take your camera to the blind this season and share your hunting experiences with other passionate waterfowlers. We want to see your tips, traditions and everything in between. Ten prizes will be awarded to finalists and the grand prize winner will receive a brand new Beretta Xtrema2 shotgun. Click here to watch a video for more contest information.

The First Flight: Opening Day experience is brought to you by Ducks Unlimited and our sponsors: Federal Premium, Realtree, LINE-X, Hevi-Shot, Beretta and Winchester Ammunition.

Opening day is coming. Get ready. Get excited. We’ll be with you every step of the way.

About:
With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization with more than 12 million acres conserved. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands − nature’s most productive ecosystem − and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres each year.

Ohio Division of Wildlife

COLUMBUS, OH - -(AmmoLand.com)- Ohio hunters harvested a preliminary total of 1,712 bearded wild turkeys on the first day of the spring turkey-hunting season, which is open statewide through May 17. Steady rain over most of the state kept the preliminary figure 39 percent below last year’s opening day harvest number of 2,768 turkeys, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

Top counties for wild turkeys killed were: Ashtabula-85; Guernsey-74; Knox-64; Clermont-59; Harrison-58; Jackson-43; Columbiana and Highland-41; Defiance-40; and Washington-39.

The ODNR Division of Wildlife estimates that more than 75,000 people will hunt turkeys during the four-week season. Legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon daily. Ohio’s wild turkey population was estimated at 200,000 prior to the start of the spring season.

A special youth-only hunt for hunters age 17 and younger was held statewide on Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19. Young hunters killed 1,814 birds statewide. Top reporting counties were: Ashtabula-66; Coshocton-61; Harrison-60; Richland-57; Ashland-55; Highland-54; Trumbull and Tuscarawas-53; and Monroe and Washington-52.  Last year, 1,838 birds were taken over the same two-day period.

Only bearded wild turkeys may be taken during the spring hunting season. A hunter is required to take a harvested turkey to an official check station for permanent tagging by 2 p.m. on the day of harvest. Hunters with the proper permits may take a limit of two bearded gobblers during the four-week season, but not more than one wild turkey per day.

Turkey hunters are reminded that licenses purchased now are also valid during the 2009 fall hunting season. The 2009-2010 licenses will not be printed on weatherproof paper. Sportsmen and women should protect their licenses and permits from the elements by carrying them in a protective pouch or wallet.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.

EDITORS NOTE: Below is a list of opening day wild turkey check station results, 2009 totals followed by (2009 totals):

Adams -27 (62); Allen -4 (7); Ashland -35 (41); Ashtabula -85 (134); Athens -31 (67); Auglaize -2 (10); Belmont -38 (60); Brown -26 (60); Butler -4 (11); Carroll -25 (37); Champaign -10 (20); Clark -2 (4); Clermont -59 (60); Clinton -5 (9); Columbiana -41 (53); Coshocton -37 (91); Crawford -8 (13); Cuyahoga – (0); Darke -5 (7); Defiance -40 (20); Delaware – 7 (9); Erie -8 (5); Fairfield -12 (20); Fayette -2 (3); Franklin -1 (1); Fulton -9 (6); Gallia -34 (35); Geauga -35 (77); Greene -3 (7); Guernsey -74 (87); Hamilton -13 (13); Hancock -1 (2); Hardin -5 (9); Harrison -58 (83); Henry -6 (3); Highland -41 (53); Hocking -23 (59); Holmes -22 (36); Huron -20 (41); Jackson -43 (73); Jefferson -19 (40); Knox -64 (62); Lake -11 (29); Lawrence -21 (39); Licking -37 (71); Logan -17(20); Lorain -18 (35); Lucas -9 (10); Madison -0 (0); Mahoning -25 (32); Marion -2 (2); Medina -8 (18); Meigs -33 (72); Mercer -1 (0); Miami -3 (2); Monroe -29 (54); Montgomery -2 (3); Morgan -23 (60); Morrow -31 (45); Muskingum -30 (66); Noble -23 (58); Ottawa -0 (2); Paulding -5 (16); Perry -19 (31); Pickaway -2 (1); Pike -20 (22); Portage -18 (30); Preble -9 (8); Putnam -8 (16); Richland -27 (36); Ross -27 (71); Sandusky -1 (0); Scioto -33 (24); Seneca -14 (25); Shelby -6 (7); Stark -26 (43); Summit -5 (9); Trumbull -38 (73); Tuscarawas -32 (78); Union -3 (6); Van Wert -4 (3); Vinton -18 (34); Warren -5 (12); Washington -39 (68); Wayne -13 (3); Williams -24 (37); Wood -2 (3); Wyandot – (4) Totals – 1,712 (2,768).

For further information, contact: Mike Reynolds, ODNR Division of Wildlife 740.589.9921 Vicki Ervin, ODNR Division of Wildlife 614.265.6325 Beth Ruth, ODNR Media Relations 614. 265. 6860 For additional news online, check out the ODNR Press Room at Ohiodnr.com