Extra Weekend

Although the week-long gun season in Ohio has come and gone, the extra hunting weekend is here!

If you missed your bag limit between November 30th and December 6th, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has included an extra weekend of gun hunting for you on December 19th and 20th! During gun week, and this extra weekend, you can legally hunt deer with a muzzleloader, handgun or shotgun from a half-hour before sunrise to sunset.

Why hunt deer you ask?

In Ohio, you have made the white-tailed deer the most popular game animal hunted. According to the ODNR, Ohio ranks nationally in annual hunting-related sales coming in at 8th place and you've earned them 10th in the number of jobs associated with the industry.

While hunting, you have also generated an economic impact on Ohio of around $859 million through the purchases of your equipment, fuel, food, lodging, permits and licenses. That's FANTASTIC!

As a hunter this season, you are encouraged to take more does using the reduced price antlerless deer permit and donate extra venison to organizations that assist Ohioans in need. When you donate your deer to a participating processor, you are not required to pay the processing costs.

If you're not aware of the state's deer zones and hunting regulations, pick up your free publication of the 2009-2010 Ohio Hunting & Trapping Regulations, available where ever your hunting licenses are sold, on the web at http://www.wildohio.com/ or by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.