Extra deer hunting weekend up for vote

Above, The Rantmeister with an Ohio buck

Ohio's deer kill was down about three percent during the 2005-06 hunting season, compared to the kill total for the previous year. Ohio's hunters killed 209,513 whitetails during the last hunting season, as opposed to 216,443 for the previous year.

The kill in the counties I hunt, Ashtabula and Lake counties, was down three percent and 21 percent, respectively, from the previous year. I've got to say I didn't notice any decline in the deer herd; if anything I saw more deer than in previous years - probably numbering into the hundreds.

Last year's kill was less than biologists wished, and so a proposal to add an additional weekend of deer gun season will come before the Ohio Wildlife Council for a vote April 5. This will be a welcome addition for many hunters, who lack opportunity during Ohio's abbreviated weeklong season. The additional weekend would be Dec. 16-17, two weeks after the regular Nov. 27 - Dec. 3 season. Archery season for deer will run Oct. 7 - Feb. 3. Muzzleloader season will be Dec. 27-30.