COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Hunters in Ohio killed over 63,000 deer during this year’s gun season, about 4.5% higher than last season, state officials said.
Hunters killed 63,493 deer during this year’s weeklong gun season, which ran from Dec. 2 to Dec. 8, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resource’s Division of Wildlife. A total of 60,752 deer were killed during the same period last year.
On the opening day of this year’s season 15,501 deer were killed, a 12% increase from opening day in 2018.
Mike Tonkovich, the agency’s deer program administrator, said in a news release that this year’s high numbers are partially due to “hunter friendly” fall weather.
Youth hunters killed 6,234 deer during their two-day gun season this year, which took place Nov. 23 to 24.
The deer gun season will have a two-day bonus weekend from Dec. 21 to 22. Deer muzzleloader season is Jan. 4 to 7.
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