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Muzzleloader results

Boone

*Supporting Member*
833
96
N.E. O-H-I-O
Ohio Hunters Harvest more than 13,000
Deer during Muzzleloader Season

COLUMBUS, OH – Hunting is the best and most effective management tool for maintaining Ohio’s healthy deer population. Hunters harvested 13,726 white-tailed deer during Ohio’s 2015 muzzleloader season, Jan. 2-5, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
Hunters have checked 167,013 deer so far in all 2014-2015 hunting seasons, compared to 182,861 at the same point last year. Hunters harvested 16,464 deer during the 2014 deer-muzzleloader season.
In the last few years, through increased deer harvests, dramatic strides have been made in many counties to approach acceptable populations. The effectiveness of these management efforts are reflected in the decreased number of deer checked this season. During the 2013-2014 hunting season, Ohio hunters checked 191,459 deer. Bag limits were reduced in 46 counties prior to the 2014-2015 deer hunting season, and antlerless permits were eliminated in 29 counties.
Counties reporting the highest number of checked deer during the 2014 muzzleloader season: Coshocton (553), Muskingum (445), Meigs (404), Guernsey (395), Belmont (393), Licking (390), Tuscarawas (363), Carroll (341), Washington (340) and Athens (335).
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.
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.
Find more information about deer hunting in the Ohio 2014-2015 Hunting and Trapping Regulations or at wildohio.gov. An updated deer harvest report is posted online each Wednesday. Archery season remains open through Sunday, Feb. 1.
Ohio’s first modern day deer-gun season opened in 1943 in three counties, and hunters harvested 168 deer. Deer hunting was allowed in all 88 counties in 1956, and hunters harvested 3,911 deer during that 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 white-tailed deer checked by hunters during the 2015 muzzleloader hunting season, Jan. 2-5, is shown below. The first number following the county’s name shows the harvest numbers for 2015, and the 2014 numbers are in parentheses.

Adams: 277 (296); Allen: 57 (46); Ashland: 253 (283); Ashtabula: 323 (313); Athens: 335 (485); Auglaize: 38 (41); Belmont: 393 (561); Brown: 245 (233); Butler: 85 (104); Carroll: 341 (458); Champaign: 85 (83); Clark: 33 (55); Clermont: 168 (153); Clinton: 64 (52); Columbiana: 206 (379); Coshocton: 553 (630); Crawford: 59 (53); Cuyahoga: 3 (1); Darke: 28 (22); Defiance: 97 (74); Delaware: 53 (101); Erie: 37 (27); Fairfield: 141 (192); Fayette: 20 (27); Franklin: 29 (31); Fulton: 23 (30); Gallia: 281 (283); Geauga: 94 (96); Greene: 48 (58); Guernsey: 395 (652); Hamilton: 40 (60); Hancock: 63 (42); Hardin: 99 (80); Harrison: 321 (513); Henry: 32 (16); Highland: 243 (254); Hocking: 284 (362); Holmes: 264 (336); Huron: 147 (150); Jackson: 249 (265); Jefferson: 266 (472); Knox: 311 (391); Lake: 30 (20); Lawrence: 173 (229); Licking: 390 (511); Logan: 128 (130); Lorain: 126 (142); Lucas: 23 (16); Madison: 31 (27); Mahoning: 141 (162); Marion: 45 (42); Medina: 114 (137); Meigs: 404 (425); Mercer: 29 (28); Miami: 37 (45); Monroe: 244 (278); Montgomery: 33 (24); Morgan: 316 (361); Morrow: 88 (90); Muskingum: 445 (593); Noble: 272 (341); Ottawa: 24 (17); Paulding: 62 (51); Perry: 229 (294); Pickaway: 77 (47); Pike: 180 (187); Portage: 81 (109); Preble: 55 (100); Putnam: 26 (22); Richland: 241 (227); Ross: 301 (287); Sandusky: 51 (43); Scioto: 199 (196); Seneca: 122 (98); Shelby: 60 (82); Stark: 167 (202); Summit: 30 (48); Trumbull: 234 (222); Tuscarawas: 363 (592); Union: 41 (57); Van Wert: 22 (25); Vinton: 243 (392); Warren: 65 (91); Washington: 340 (402); Wayne: 137 (140); Williams: 86 (69); Wood: 47 (34) and Wyandot: 91 (69). Total: 13,726 (16,464).
For more information, contact:
John Windau, ODNR Division of Wildlife
419-429-8359
Stephanie Leis, ODNR Office of Communications
614-265-6860
 

Boone

*Supporting Member*
833
96
N.E. O-H-I-O
Geurnsey -39%, Harrison -37%, Jefferson -44%, Tusc -39%, as compared to last year, which had poor, very cold, weather too if I remember correctly.
 

OhioWhiteTails

Senior Member
Supporting Member
8,482
191
Flatlands
I was noticing that. However, where I hunt (NW) the numbers in those counties are all up... nearly every one. Granted we don't take near as many deer, and some counties are only up by 10 or so, however not a decrease like in the central and southern parts of the state.
 
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RedCloud

Super Moderator
Super Mod
17,381
193
North Central Ohio
Odnr taking a bashing on Facebook again after they posted the muzzy numbers!

Think I will wonder on their page and just type "BOO" and see what happens lmao. Remember a couple years ago when Tonk said he hasn't heard BOO from the hunters about deer sightings and numbers being down lol.
 

Bigslam51

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
25,778
127
Stark County
Think I will wonder on their page and just type "BOO" and see what happens lmao. Remember a couple years ago when Tonk said he hasn't heard BOO from the hunters about deer sightings and numbers being down lol.

It pisses me off that I can't voice my opinion on their public social media page.
 

Bigcountry40

Member
4,555
127
I am new and hate what the ODNR has done, but with the bad weather during gun and muzzle loader anyone else think numbers will be up next year.
 

antiqucycle

Junior Member
506
36
East Ohio
"antlerless permits were eliminated in 29 counties.", That statement shows how clueless certain employees at the DOW are.

Yes the weather last year was not fit for man nor beast but who wanted to hunt in pouring rain this year or 10 degrees on the last day. I have never seen so many coyotes on a daily basis, They outnumbered hunters this year. On Sunday, driving 60 miles to home, I saw a whopping two hunters wearing orange in the woods. People who had bad luck during gun season seeing deer, stayed home preferring to watch football.

No doubt unregulated leasing and outfitters have killed a lot of people's desires to find a place to hunt so they just stayed home.
 

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,721
248
Ohio
I was noticing that. However, where I hunt (NW) the numbers in those counties are all up... nearly every one. Granted we don't take near as many deer, and some counties are only up by 10 or so, however not a decrease like in the central and southern parts of the state.

I always take notice of the NW Ohio counties as well. +/- for a county that kills 4000/yr of 10 deer isn't a big difference. A +/-10 deer for Allen or Auglaize or VW county is a big difference. 25% increase or decrease for the season. lol
 

MK111

"Happy Hunting Grounds in the Sky"
Supporting Member
6,551
66
SW Ohio
It's the same down here in Butler County as we went from 104 to 85 that's almost 20% drop. From what I see it's surely isn't from the lack of deer it's the lack of hunters out hunting. Which is on the good side both ways. IMHO


I always take notice of the NW Ohio counties as well. +/- for a county that kills 4000/yr of 10 deer isn't a big difference. A +/-10 deer for Allen or Auglaize or VW county is a big difference. 25% increase or decrease for the season. lol
 

COB-TY

Retired to the happy hunting grounds above.
2,555
0
Ohio
13,000 deer. If half were pregnant and the average two fawns that's 13,000 + 13,000 = 26,000 more deer out of the herd. We are our own worst enemy.