MANSFIELD, Ohio – More than 1,200 white-tailed deer were harvested in Richland County during the state’s week-long gun season, according to an Ohio Department of Natural Resources report.
That figure represents an increase from last year’s numbers.
In all, 1,222 deer were tagged in the county from Nov. 30 through Dec. 6. In 2014, 1,159 deer were harvested in Richland County during the annual season.
ODNR Division of Wildlife spokesman John Windau said the rise in harvest numbers are a product of weather – not a rise in deer population.
“Last year’s weather was not very good, and this year’s was nearly ideal,” he said. “That’s what allowed the increase.”
Statewide, 73,399 deer were harvested through the week, a significant rise from 2014’s total of 65,484. There were 75,408 deer checked during Ohio’s gun season in 2013.
“It’s nice to have weather where people can get out and enjoy the resource and be outdoors,” Windau said. “Obviously, when we talk deer management, we’re looking at the entire season – September all the way through February – and that’s what we really look at. Not so much an individual week or weekend.”
According to the ODNR, to date hunters have checked 152,554 deer during the 2015 deer hunting seasons. Last year at this same time, hunters harvested a total of 148,821 deer.
Of Richland County’s gun season total, 425 were bucks, while 797 were doe.
Surrounding counties also showed a rise in harvest numbers this year: Ashland (1,232), Crawford (576) Knox (1,755), and Huron (1,006).
Until recently, deer populations in most of Ohio’s counties were “well above goal,” the ODNR reported. The agency also noted that in the last few years, because of increased antlerless deer harvests, most counties are now “at or near goal.”
“Therefore, to help stabilize deer populations, bag limits were reduced, and antlerless permit use has been eliminated in most counties for the 2015-2016 season,” the ODNR stated in a press release.
The Division of Wildlife is in the process of revising Ohio’s population goals and is asking hunters who received a survey sent out by the DOW to complete and return it as soon as possible to help set future goals.
Hunters for this year’s survey were randomly selected from the list who purchased a license and deer permit by Nov. 16, according to the release. Landowner surveys have already been completed, and hunter surveys were mailed last week.
“We encourage people to complete and return those surveys to represent their voice in representing the deer herd,” Windau said.
In addition to certain handguns, as well as shotguns and muzzleloaders, this year marked the second year the state allowed specific rifles that fire straight-wall cartridges during gun season.
Two days of deer-gun season remain and will take place Dec. 28 and 29. Muzzleloader season opens Jan. 9 and lasts through Jan. 12, while archery season remains open through Feb. 7.
Richland County Wildlife Officer Greg Wasilewski could not be reached for comment.
