Muzzleloader Deer Hunting Season Kicks Off Saturday

Muzzleloader deer hunting season begins this Saturday.

Licensed hunters may hunt deer and small game from a half hour before sunrise til sunset. So far, Ohioans have killed 228,000 deer this hunting season. That is 9,000 more than last year.

"If the trend continues we will see more than were taken last year, a total of roughly 21 thousand were taken during the muzzle loader season last year," says Ryan Fink, the Ag Specialist for Muskingum Soil and Water.

Fink says deer hunting is good for Ohio’s economy.

"It is good for the population it reduces the numbers, it is also good for the farmers, for the community as far as financial the money that comes into the county from hunters, it is just good for everyone," tells Fink.

If you are hunting this weekend you will need your permit with you at all times. Fink also encourages all hunters to donate killed deer to Farmer’s And Hunter’s Feeding the hungry.

Hunters can donate their venison to local processors, shier brothers, ritteberger meats and phillips processing are taking deer during this, no cost to the hunter, the meat is processed locally and then donated to food pantries around the county and surrounding areas

Hunters donated more than 100,000 pounds of venison statewide.