Good Weather Leads to Increase of Deer Killed

 The Ohio Department of Natural Resources said good weather led to an increase in the amount of deer killed by hunters this past season. 

ODNR reported that hunters checked in over 188,000 white tailed deer from the opening of archery season in the fall. That’s up over 13,500 from the 2014-2015 season. 

Coshocton (5,700) and Licking (5,365) Counties produced the most tagged deer. This comes as the state lowered bag limits and eliminated anterless permit use in most counties. 

The State said until recently deer populations in nearly all Ohio’s counties were well above the wildlife agency’s goal. In the past few years, the population in most counties has been brought down to near the goals.

Officials said hunting is the best and most effective management tool for maintaining Ohio’s healthy deer population.

Ohio ranks fifth nationally in resident hunters and 11th in the number of jobs associated with hunting-related industries.

Hunting has a more than $853 million economic impact in Ohio through the sale of equipment, fuel, food, lodging and more, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s Hunting in America: An Economic Force for Conservation publication.