Hunters took 20,659 deer during Ohio's four-day muzzleloader season, December 27-30, with Tuscarawas County again leading the state with 934 deer checked. Last year, a preliminary total of 21,473 deer was taken during muzzleloader season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

Two Bills Harming Sporting Dog Breeders Stopped

As 2008 drew to a close, the USSA added to its victories with two wins in Ohio. Two bills that represented threats to sporting dog breeders were stopped cold due to an intense lobbying and grassroots effort by the USSA.

COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio deer hunters have donated more than 33,550 pounds of venison to local food banks so far this deer season, according to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

The 33,550 pounds equals approximately 134,000 meals for needy Ohioans. Last year FHFH collected 20,902 pounds of venison through the entire year. With 17 of the 27 FHFH chapters reporting, 671 deer have been donated so far with plenty of deer hunting opportunity left in the 2008-09 season.

“The confluence of economic events over the past year have stressed charities to keep up as more people in crisis turn to our network for help. This partnership means our food pantries will receive the nutritious meat they so desperately need to feed their needy neighbors,” said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director of the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks.

Hunters just completed a weekend of deer-gun hunting, and thre are still six weeks of archery hunting in Ohio. Archery season remains open until February 1. The statewide muzzleloader deer-hunting season will be held December 27-30.

COLUMBUS, OH - Hunters killed 16,382 deer on December 20-21, during the weekend of gun hunting, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
The extra weekend of gun hunting was first offered in 2006 in response to hunters' request for additional weekend days to pursue white-tailed deer, the state's number one big game animal. In 2007, hunters took 17,710 deer during those two days, but icy conditions and an arctic wind was likely a deterrent factor for many hunters who still had tags to fill this year.

BFA volunteer Bob Harsanje (seated on right) joins
(from left) the ODNR's David Graham & Philip King,
Rep. Peter Ujvagi and others in the ribbon cutting

Buckeye Firearms Assocation volunteer Bob Harsanje and Vice Chairman Chad Baus were on hand recently as the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the development of the Mobility Impaired Hunting Access Area at Lake La Su An Wildlife Area near Montpelier in Williams County.

Remarks were given by ODNR Director Sean Logan, Rep. Peter Ujvagi (D), ODNR Federal Aide Coordinator Philip King, and ODNR, Division of Wildlife Chief David Graham. ODNR, Division of Wildlife District Manager John Daugherty served as Master of Ceremonies, and the Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation was offered by ODNR, Division of Wildlife Officer Thomas Kochert.

Skip Markland, Regional Director of the National Wildlife Turkey Federation, and representatives from Pheasants Forever, Williams County Chapter and were also among those in attendance.

This event came as a result of passage of Senate Bill 209, which addressed issues that Buckeye Firearms Association volunteer Bob Harsanje and Region Leader Larry S. Moore had been working on together for some time.

The Associated Press is reporting that there is common thread among the persons being issued pardons by President Bush: the important role firearms once played in their lives.

COLUMBUS, OH - Ohio hunters took 116,798 white-tailed deer during the state's popular, weeklong deer-gun season, which ran December 1 through 7, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. In 2007, hunters killed a preliminary total of 103,195 deer during the same time period.

A total of 178,838 deer have been harvested so far this season when combining the adult and youth gun seasons, early muzzleloader season, and the first six weeks of the archery season. That compares to a total of 167,965 killed last year during the same time period. Hunters took a total of 232,854 deer during all of last year's hunting seasons.

The statewide deer population was estimated to be 700,000 in late September, prior to the start of the hunting season. Approximately 400,000 hunters were expected to participate in the statewide deer-gun season.

Hunters still have a weekend of deer-gun hunting, December 20-21, and nine weeks of archery hunting in Ohio. Archery season remains open until February 1. The statewide muzzleloader deer-hunting season will be held December 27-30.

U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Sportsmen Alert!

Ohio hunters should be on high alert. The state House of Representatives, which is under intense pressure from animal rights groups and the media, is considering passing legislation creating a new state agency to regulate dog breeders and kennel owners.

The proponents claim House Bill 223 would only affect “puppy mills” but instead it would eliminate many sporting dog kennels through a tidal wave of fees, fines and red tape while instituting a statewide enforcement authority. The bill treats sporting dog kennels and abusive commercial breeders with the same iron fist. For a complete analysis of HB223 click here.

Additionally, the Senate is debating HB446, which would require that all rabies vaccines be administered by a veterinarian. This would drastically increase the cost of vaccinating dogs, by mandating additional vet visits. HB446 would also increase the minimum fees for registering dogs and kennels by 1000%.

These efforts are supported by the Humane Society of the United States and other animal rights/anti-hunting organizations. They are telling members of the legislature to pass these bills in December, just before newly elected legislators take office. This time period is referred to as lame duck session. Usually only emergency bills are passed during this timeframe.

Legislators must hear from Ohio sportsmen today regarding HB223 and HB446. They must be told how devastating these bills are and that there is no good reason to ram them through during lame duck session. These bills deserve a full and open debate prior to their passage.

Statewide harvest up 70 percent from 2007

COLUMBUS, OH - Ohio hunters were on the mark for opening day of the 2008 deer-gun season. Hunters took 33,034 white-tailed deer on Monday, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The deer-gun season remains open through Sunday, December 7, and then reopens for two days on Saturday and Sunday, December 20-21.

The preliminary figures from deer check stations throughout the state show a significant increase from last year's opening day total of 19,391. Monday's weather was breezy with intermittent rain or snow across the state, a stark contrast to opening day 2007 when hunters were hampered by heavy rain.

Counties reporting the highest numbers of deer checked on Monday included Tuscarawas-1,821, Washington-1,456, Coshocton-1,307, Harrison-1,286, Guernsey-1,202, Licking-1,134, Ashtabula-1,089, Holmes-1,088, Knox-954, and Athens-828.

By Larry S. Moore

I recently enjoyed an opportunity to film several segments for the ODNR Division of Wildlife “Wild Ohio” television show. The show appears on PBS stations across Ohio. The segments were filmed at the Spring Valley Wildlife Area Range in southern Greene County. Division of Wildlife District 5 Manager Todd Haines was the host for the segments. The topic was handgun hunting for deer in Ohio.

I was invited because Haines knew that I am an enthusiastic promoter of handgun hunting for deer. I switched to using a handgun during the deer gun week several years ago. I’ve been fortunate to take a couple of bucks, including one 10-point, and several doe with the handgun.