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Final number are in....

Schu72

Well-Known Member
3,864
113
Streetsboro
COLUMBUS, OH – Deer-archery season ended Sunday, Feb. 2, bringing all deer hunting seasons to a close. Ohio hunters checked 191,459 white-tailed deer during the 2013-2014 hunting season for all implements.

Hunters checked 218,910 deer during the 2012-2103 hunting season. This expected decline in the deer hunter harvest comes following several years of liberal bag limits and deer regulations, which helped bring Ohio’s white-tailed deer population closer to target levels.

“This year’s white-tailed deer harvest indicates we are on target to maintain a high-quality deer herd,” said Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife Chief Scott Zody. “Ohio remains one of the best deer hunting states in the nation.”

The ODNR Division of Wildlife remains committed to properly managing Ohio’s deer populations through a combination of regulatory and programmatic changes. The goal of Ohio’s Deer Management Program is to provide a deer population that maximizes recreational opportunities, while minimizing conflicts with landowners and motorists. This ensures that Ohio’s deer herd is maintained at a level that is both acceptable to most, and biologically sound.

Until recently, the populations in nearly all of Ohio’s counties were above their target numbers. In the last few years, through increased harvests, dramatic strides have been made in many counties to bring those populations closer toward their goal. Once a county’s deer population is near goal, harvest regulations are adjusted to maintain the population near that goal.

The Ohio counties that reported the most checked deer for all implements during the 2013-2014 season: Coshocton (6,270), Tuscarawas (5,774), Licking (5,711), Muskingum (5,547), Guernsey (5,307), Ashtabula (4,981), Harrison (4,533), Knox (4,529), Carroll (4,203) and Athens (4,053). Coshocton County also reported the most deer harvested in 2012-2013 (7,413).

Hunters continue to utilize various methods to report deer kills. Since the deer season began on Sept. 28, 2013, 47 percent of hunters phoned in their report, 32 percent reported online, 11 percent traveled to a license agent’s location, and 10 percent used the new mobile-friendly website.

Ohio's first modern day deer-gun season opened in 1943 in three counties, and hunters checked 168 deer. Deer hunting was allowed in all 88 counties in 1956, and hunters harvested 3,911 deer during the one-week season.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.

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Editor’s Note: A list of all white-tailed deer checked by hunters during Ohio’s 2013-2014 hunting season is shown below. The first number following the county’s name shows the harvest numbers for 2013-2014, and the 2012-2013 numbers are in parentheses.

Adams: 3,849 (4,111); Allen: 1,057 (1,110); Ashland: 2,931 (3,149); Ashtabula: 4,981 (4,974); Athens: 4,053 (4,387); Auglaize: 789 (986); Belmont: 3,953 (4,731); Brown: 2,526 (2,933); Butler: 1,503 (1,498); Carroll: 4,203 (4,825); Champaign: 1,243 (1,453); Clark: 779 (862); Clermont: 2,830 (3,141); Clinton: 883 (1,007); Columbiana: 3,669 (3,893); Coshocton: 6,270 (7,413); Crawford: 1,033 (1,236); Cuyahoga: 681 (713); Darke: 589 (1,004); Defiance: 1,576 (1,911); Delaware: 1,516 (1,901); Erie: 760 (719); Fairfield: 2,245 (2,608); Fayette: 292 (302); Franklin: 719 (879); Fulton: 859 (980); Gallia: 2,899 (3,370); Geauga: 1,849 (2,131); Greene: 956 (1,105); Guernsey: 5,307 (6,151); Hamilton: 2,069 (2,175); Hancock: 908 (1,338); Hardin: 1,207 (1,306); Harrison: 4,533 (5,365); Henry: 642 (750); Highland: 2,714 (3,250); Hocking: 3,514 (4,206); Holmes: 3,958 (4,565); Huron: 2,139 (2,298); Jackson: 2,769 (3,440); Jefferson: 3,286 (4,161); Knox: 4,529 (5,288); Lake: 793 (1,004); Lawrence: 2,238 (2,672); Licking: 5,711 (6,928); Logan: 1,917 (2,094); Lorain: 2,342 (2,460); Lucas: 736 (677); Madison: 451 (452); Mahoning: 2,207 (2,034); Marion: 833 (901); Medina: 1,937 (1,978); Meigs: 3,336 (3,832); Mercer: 625 (804); Miami: 881 (961); Monroe: 2,623 (3,478); Montgomery: 687 (804); Morgan: 3,080 (3,597); Morrow: 1,549 (1,936); Muskingum: 5,547 (6,457); Noble: 3,091 (3,513); Ottawa: 402 (379); Paulding: 1,047 (1,194); Perry: 2,731 (3,477); Pickaway: 804 (1,044); Pike: 2,096 (2,262); Portage: 2,005 (2,280); Preble: 1,070 (1,205); Putnam: 687 (786); Richland: 3,242 (3,878); Ross: 3,087 (3,559); Sandusky: 773 (794); Scioto: 2,705 (2,821); Seneca: 1,641 (1,923); Shelby: 1,103 (1,294); Stark: 2,578 (2,597); Summit: 1,428 (1,417); Trumbull: 3,592 (3,553); Tuscarawas: 5,774 (6,813); Union: 826 (961); Van Wert: 491 (638); Vinton: 3,133 (3,395); Warren: 1,344 (1,605); Washington: 3,298 (4,091); Wayne: 1,908 (2,108); Williams: 1,903 (2,096); Wood: 729 (863) and Wyandot: 1,410 (1,670). Total: 191,459 (218,910).
 

Jackalope

Dignitary Member
Staff member
38,841
260
13% decline in one year and "we're on target maintain a high-quality dear herd" blow it out your butt Scott and Tonk.

And keep in mind guys, there was an extra archery week this year right before gun season representing about 3,500 more animals killed in that week that didn't happen last year. Prior to that the archery numbers were down like 19%. That extra week before gun really helped to lower the percentage for this years archery season compared to last.
 
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bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
48,879
274
Appalachia
13% decline in one year and "we're on target maintain a high-quality dear herd" blow it out your butt Scott and Tonk.

And keep in mind guys, there was an extra archery week this year right before gun season representing about 3,500 more animals killed in that week that didn't happen last year. Prior to that the archery numbers were down like 19%. That extra week before gun really helped to lower the percentage for this years archery season compared to last.

Down 20% here. Sad. We are now killing one-half the deer we were just a few short years ago. The herd around here was decimated in SHORT order.
 

Hedgelj

Senior Member
Supporting Member
7,144
178
Mohicanish
13% decline in one year and "we're on target maintain a high-quality dear herd" blow it out your butt Scott and Tonk.

And keep in mind guys, there was an extra archery week this year right before gun season representing about 3,500 more animals killed in that week that didn't happen last year. Prior to that the archery numbers were down like 19%. That extra week before gun really helped to lower the percentage for this years archery season compared to last.

I was thinking of this scene when reading that release.

Watch "Animal House (7/10) Movie CLIP - Deltas on Trial (1978) HD" on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROxvT8KKdFw&feature=youtube_gdata_player
 

Kaiser878

Senior Member
2,633
97
ohio
I look at counties like van wert where chad lives and just can't believe a county only.killing 400 deer.
 

finelyshedded

You know what!!!
Supporting Member
31,855
260
SW Ohio
I think it's a sham and a shame to publicly acclaim that Ohio is still a great place to hunt! They are just trying to keep public interest up so the purchasing of licenses doesn't fall off. They encourage hunters to continue to hunt Ohio where, "an opportunity to even see a deer" in a week or two of hunting in MANY AREAS is quite a undertaking,IMO.....sad!!!
 

Jackalope

Dignitary Member
Staff member
38,841
260
Lowest deer harvest in Ohio since 2001.
26.72% harvest decline since 2009
2013 harvest is 7% lower than 2002 when first year Sunday hunting was allowed.
2013 harvest is 4% lower than 2003 when the first youth season was allowed.
2013 harvest is 19.4% lower than in 2006 when an extra 2 days of gun hunting was added.
 

5Cent

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
12,290
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North Central Ohio
Lowest deer harvest in Ohio since 2001.
26.72% harvest decline since 2009
2013 harvest is 7% lower than 2002 when first year Sunday hunting was allowed.
2013 harvest is 4% lower than 2003 when the first youth season was allowed.
2013 harvest is 19.4% lower than in 2006 when an extra 2 days of gun hunting was added.

Sums it up right there! The decline is so fast that I think we'll blow by 175K next year with the current regs repeated. The turnaround time is now, I keep hoping they do something, but sadly they won't.

Joe, can I share your numbers (I trust the math is right lol).
 

superstarrman

Junior Member
1
0
So basically when the harvest report is high then it's "a harvest success for Ohio" then when the numbers decrease by almost 28,000 then Its an expected success and we meant to do that. Really...really ODNR. I wonder if the State is looking at this Biological result and thinking "Oh crap, How much money is the state going to lose economically next year when we keep cutting down the chances of hunters harvesting deer?"
 

Lundy

Member
1,307
127
And keep in mind guys, there was an extra archery week this year right before gun season representing about 3,500 more animals killed in that week that didn't happen last year. Prior to that the archery numbers were down like 19%. That extra week before gun really helped to lower the percentage for this years archery season compared to last.


What extra week of bow right before gun, did someone add a extra week to November this year and not tell me???:)
 

Joel

Senior Member
3,049
113
Centerburg, Ohio
Since we're "closer to target population" or whatever does anyone think they will lower the bag limits next year or are they going to raise them because we didn't kill enough deer to suit them?

Harvest in my county (Knox) was down 759 deer from last year. I think right in my immediate area there is a pretty good population of deer and there is a ton of road kill deer on several miles of SR 3 close to here on a regular basis but obviously the population in this county as a whole is down.

A little off topic but I'm going to try to get into Coyote hunting soon where I deer hunt and I want to talk to the neighbor/farmer about his nuisance permits and try to talk him out of it for this coming year. I'll manage my own damn deers I guess.
 

Jackalope

Dignitary Member
Staff member
38,841
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What extra week of bow right before gun, did someone add a extra week to November this year and not tell me???:)

Still not getting it huh. Last year gun season was Nov 26th - 2nd. This year it was Dec 2nd - 8th. This means when comparing archery numbers prior to gun season (the most productive archery time) there was an extra week of archery hunting prior to gun season. Which accounted for a few thousand additional archery deer killed prior to gun season.

Gun season always start the Monday after Thanksgiving. Last year Thanksgiving was November 22. This year it was November 28. That added an extra week before gun season for archery numbers.

Comparing up to November 27th ( which is the last week a like for like comparison can be made by week) archery harvest for antlerless deer was down -9.7%.
 
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Lundy

Member
1,307
127
No, I get it just fine just don't agree that's all. When you start this week versus that week scenario to play the numbers to support you view it starts to sound a lot like acorn crops and bad weather.:)

There were exactly 128 archery season days in 2012/2103 season, there were also exactly 128 archery season days in 2013/2014 season.

Statewide archery harvest increased 2.9% during the 2013/2014 season, an increase in both buck and doe harvest was realized.

For the first time ever in the history of deer hunting in Ohio the statewide archery harvest exceeded the gun week season harvest total. If you are looking to cut back on the harvest even more to allow for a population rebound the new obvious choice is the archery season opportunity being reduced. Reduced hunter opportunity worked well to reduce the overall firearms harvest this year, should work just as well with archery season reductions going forward.
 

Hedgelj

Senior Member
Supporting Member
7,144
178
Mohicanish
Joe and Lundy

 

Jackalope

Dignitary Member
Staff member
38,841
260
No, I get it just fine just don't agree that's all. When you start this week versus that week scenario to play the numbers to support you view it starts to sound a lot like acorn crops and bad weather.:)

There were exactly 128 archery season days in 2012/2103 season, there were also exactly 128 archery season days in 2013/2014 season.

Statewide archery harvest increased 2.9% during the 2013/2014 season, an increase in both buck and doe harvest was realized.

For the first time ever in the history of deer hunting in Ohio the statewide archery harvest exceeded the gun week season harvest total. If you are looking to cut back on the harvest even more to allow for a population rebound the new obvious choice is the archery season opportunity being reduced. Reduced hunter opportunity worked well to reduce the overall firearms harvest this year, should work just as well with archery season reductions going forward.

Nobody is playing the numbers, facts are facts and you don't have to agree. While there were 128 archery days in both seasons. This year an extra 7 of those days were before gun season. Representing 3,882 more archery does able to be killed before gun. The fact remains that there was an entire extra week of archery season this year prior to gun season vs last year. A whole extra week of pre gun archery harvests factored in to the comparison. That extra 3,882 deer killed in that week allowed this years numbers to catch up to last years numbers. It skewed the data comparison by a week.

When comparing week to week number it most certainly matters. No doubt the seasons had the exact same total days. But 7 extra highly productive archery days were before gun season this year.

That's how you go from being -9.7% one week to only -1.3% the next. Something happened. What happened was 3,882 deer were killed this year in that week by archery hunters. A week that didn't exist last year because it was gun season. That same week last year only 370 were killed because it was gun week. This represents a 3,512 deer difference between the weeks. So while last year only 370 were killed that week. This year 3,882 were killed. That extra week of archery harvests allowed this years numbers to catch up and eliminate the gap.

Refusing to acknowledge the impact of that shift in statistical comparison is intellectually dishonest. So while you don't have to agree, it is what it is. Fact.
 
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