Adams County hunters reported killing 206 deer on opening day of deer-gun season, according to state officials.
That is up from 188 deer killed on the season’s opening day in 2018, according to figures released by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Ohio hunters in total reported 15,501 deer being killed on opening day. This is up from 13,651 in 2018.
State officials believe the change is due to weather. It was colder this year than last year, which tends to increase deer activity, according to a state spokesperson.
The top 10 counties for recorded kills were Coshocton (663), Ashtabula (601), Tuscarawas (557), Knox (544), Muskingum (511), Guernsey (426), Holmes (423), Licking (399), Harrison (385), and Carroll (377).
Deer-gun season runs through Sunday, Dec. 8, as well as Dec. 21-22. Deer-muzzleloader season is Jan. 4-7, while archery season began Sept. 28 and runs through Feb. 2.
In a statement, Ohio Division of Wildlife Chief Kendra Wecker reminded hunters to wear orange, and wished them a “great deer season!”
