How did Ohio’s young deer hunters do this past weekend?

CLEVELAND, Ohio – A little more than a week before the main deer season begins in Ohio, the youngest eagle eyes took to the woods for their special weekend.

Gun hunters age 17 and younger checked 9,759 deer over the Nov. 22-23 weekend, bagging close to their three-year average of 9,990. Firearms used were shotgun, straight-walled cartridge rifle, muzzleloader and handgun.

Of the total deer checked this past weekend, 5,224 were antlered and 4,535 were antlerless.

Hunters are required to check their bagged deer with the state. They can do so using a a mobile app called Hunt Fish OH, or several other methods.

The counties checking the most deer this past weekend were Coshocton, 319; Knox, 317; Tuscarawas, 274; Muskingum, 266; Holmes, 241; Carroll, 240; Ashland, 226; Licking, 215; Harrison, 210; and Ashtabula, 209.

Geauga County reported 83 checked deer, Medina County, 78, Lorain County 77, Lake County, 18, Summit County, 8, and Cuyahoga County, 4.

The countryside will be decidedly busier come Monday, Dec. 1, when gun hunters of all ages will get their chance. The seven-day gun season runs through Dec. 7, with a bonus weekend to be offered Dec. 20-21.

Muzzleloader season is scheduled for Jan. 3-6, and the archery season continues through Feb. 1.