Buckeye Reporter

Hunters in Ohio recorded a total of 17,373 white-tailed deer during the state's additional weekend of deer gun hunting on December 21 and 22. This information was released by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.

In comparison, hunters tagged 15,470 deer during last year's gun weekend, with a three-year average standing at 13,417. During this additional gun weekend, hunters checked 4,491 antlered deer (26% of the total) and 12,882 antlerless deer (74%). The antlerless category includes does, button bucks, bucks with shed antlers, and bucks with antlers shorter than three inches.

The top counties for deer taken during this period were Ashtabula with 580; Coshocton with 574; Tuscarawas with 515; Knox with 491; Licking with 454; Richland with 447; Carroll with 429; Muskingum with 402; Harrison with 400; and Guernsey with 380.

Legal hunting equipment for the season includes specific shotguns, straight-walled cartridge rifles, muzzleloaders, handguns, and archery equipment. Since their legalization in 2014 for deer gun hunting purposes, straight-walled cartridge rifles have been popular among hunters.

During this period:

- Straight-walled cartridge rifles accounted for about two-thirds of the total harvest (11,413 deer).

- Shotguns were used for approximately one-fourth (4,723 deer).

- Muzzleloaders were responsible for around four percent (706 deer).

- Archery equipment was used in two percent of cases (433 deer).

- Handguns contributed to less than one percent (98 deer).

Across nine days of gun hunting and two youth season days this year, hunters have checked a total of 115,014 deer. Youth hunters alone checked in at a total of 10,449 on November 16 and November 17. The weeklong gun season saw a tally of approximately 87,192. Overall totals up to December's end include all methods since September's start amounting to an aggregate number reaching beyond previous years at over two hundred thousand checks.

As per state regulations: "Archery season continues until Sunday February second next year while muzzleloader opens early January." Post-December requirements also shift regarding permits needed by individuals partaking further into these activities within designated timelines shared previously via official channels like news releases provided regularly ensuring transparency maintained throughout said events occurring annually statewide consistently without fail every single time consecutively accordingly."