Deer-hunting totals in for opening day of gun week
Well, that was quite a bump. Ohio hunters nearly doubled last year’s first-day take during the statewide gun week by registering 21,754 whitetails Monday. That topped last year’s opening-day count of 10,905 by 10,849, an increase of 99.5 percent.
The 2020 numbers on a weatherplagued day were the most meager in decades, making for a rather low bar to overcome this time around. However, last week’s opening-day numbers also easily bested the three-year average of 13,349.
Many hunterscan recall a time not long ago when opening-day totals were even higher. The 2017 count, for example, totaled 22,366. The numbers were 33,304 in 2008, 33,607 in 2009 and 37,805 in 2010.
The gaudy totals occurred during arguably the peak years for deer hunting in Ohio. For the past decade, the Ohio Division of Wildlife has been working toward stabilizing the deer population at a level satisfying to hunters while keeping the number of nuisance deer in check.
Given less competition for food, relatively fewer deer tend to mean bigger deer, considered a plus by most hunters — except while dragging one out of the woods.
After last year’s weak start, hunters rebounded for a strong finish. By the 2020 gun week’s end, the count stood at 71,659 whitetails, surpassing both the 2019 totals and the three-year average.
Coshocton led all counties Monday with 850 deer checked, followed by Tuscarawas with 729, Ashtabula with 72 and Knox with 679.
Licking led central Ohio counties with 572 deer reported, followed by Fairfield with 240, Delaware with 139, Union 119, Pickaway 68, Madison 67 and Franklin 38.
Turkey haul
Ohio’s fall season turkey totals took a tumble from previous years.
During a hunt covering 70 counties that began Oct. 9 and ran through last Sunday, 694 wild turkeys were checked. That was down 369 birds, or 34.7 percent, from the 1,063 registered during autumn 2020.
The 2021 results also fell substantially from the average of 1,079 turkeys taken during the last three fall seasons.
Wild turkey numbers have been declining for a number of years, possibly because of a string of springs during which weather adversely affected the survival of newly hatched poults.
During fall, hunters are permitted to take a single bird of either sex. The spring limit has been two bearded birds for many years, but the limit this spring will be reduced to one as part of an effort to grow the flock.
Hunters purchased 7,470 fall permits, a decline of 1,958, or 20.8 percent, from the three-year average of 9,428.
Highland and Trumbull led open counties with 29 birds checked, followed by Columbiana with 27, and Ashtabula and Stark, both with 25.
Licking led central Ohio counties with 10, followed by Delaware with nine, Fairfield six and Franklin two. Union, Madison and Pickaway were not open counties.
Parting shots
Hunting for ducks, coots and mergansers resumes Dec. 11 in the South Zone, which includes most of central Ohio. … Hunting for snipe and doves recommences statewide Dec. 11 through Jan. 1, 2022. … Deer management permits are no longer valid for the current hunting year. … A single antlerless deer may be taken this season on most public hunting land. … Two more days of deer gun hunting are scheduled for Dec. 1819.
outdoors@dispatch.com