Photo by Mark Werner.

Once again, Ohio hunters crushed 2006's deer-harvest record with a total kill exceeding 237,000 deer. With an estimated pre-hunt population of 650,000 deer, Ohio is on track for another record-breaking harvest.

Read on to learn how each part of state looks this year and get predictions from the Ohio Division of Wildlife's leading biologists.

No one can argue that Ohio's deer herd and the upcoming 2007 deer season will provide more opportunity to harvest deer than ever before. During the 2006-07 season, hunters took a record 237,316 deer.

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife, the harvest surpassed 200,000 for the third year in a row. The total number of deer taken was 13 percent above last year's season total of 209,513.

"We are very satisfied with this year's record harvest," said Steven A. Gray, recent retired chief of the Division of Wildlife. "Ohio's deer management program is a model for the country. The challenge now becomes maintaining a healthy deer herd into the future."

The various opportunities available to hunters will provide Ohioans with one of the best deer seasons in history. The state's three deer-hunting zones remain in place, with the deer zones remaining identical to last year.

A three-deer limit (Zone C) will cover 38 central, south, southeastern and southwestern counties. The 30 mid-state counties of Zone B will have a two-deer limit, and the 20 northwestern counties of Zone A will have a one-deer limit.

A hunter may take only one buck in Ohio, regardless of zone, hunting method or season. Several programs are also returning to promote increased deer harvest, which the Division of Wildlife clearly supports. The Division estimates the deer herd at 650,000, slightly higher than last year's figure of 600,000 deer.

Initially, the bow season will open early on September 29th. Not only will this give archers more time afield, but will allow some to take advantage of late-summer feeding patterns. The southern Ohio monster "Schmucker Buck" was caught in a late-evening bean field that was still green before possibly changing his feeding pattern once the beans ripened to yellow.

Besides the early start to bow season, the division is promoting a key facet of quality deer management (QDM) -- the early harvesting of does. "Archery hunters can take additional antlerless deer September 29 to November 25 by purchasing additional antlerless deer permits," reports the wildlife staff. "Under the new regulation, hunters can take one additional antlerless deer in Zone A, up to two additional in Zone B and up to three additional in Zone C.

"Archery hunters will still be required to buy a regular deer permit before purchasing any antlerless deer permits. The antlerless permits -- formerly known as urban deer permits -- will also be valid for controlled deer hunts and for hunting deer in an urban unit. Antlerless deer permits will cost $15 each."

Last year's controversial two-day gun season in December, about which many had concerns, proved successful and will continue again this winter. Gun hunters will have the opportunity to fill their tags with the traditional deer-gun season opening Monday, Nov. 26 and running through Sunday, Dec. 2. And for the second year, hunters will have an additional weekend to hunt whitetails with a gun, Dec. 15 through 16.

If hunting with a muzzleloader is your passion, Ohio's statewide muzzleloader season will open on Thursday, Dec. 27, and run through Sunday, Dec. 30. Many of you take advantage of the early muzzleloader hunts that opens Monday, Oct. 22 through Saturday, Oct. 27 at Salt Fork, Shawnee and Wildcat Hollow.

These muzzleloader hunts are by special permit only, with a random drawing held prior to the season for a limited number of antlered and an unlimited number of antlerless permits. If you like being able to hunt without heavy pressure, look at the vastness of Shawnee State Forest. But be prepared for a physically challenging experience in the rugged hills of southern Ohio.

Listen to the advice from seasoned wildlife area managers and district wildlife management supervisors, as they recommend several prime areas to start your venture for an enjoyable hunt in Ohio.

DISTRICT ONE
Ohio's central district surrounding Columbus and its urban creep can yield some phenomenal deer hunting. You can not only benefit from the urban tags, but also take advantage of hunting the district's easternmost counties such as Knox and Licking that produce the highest yields annually in Central Ohio. Last year, Licking County topped 7,000 deer harvested, with most of them on private property. Opportunities to hunt public land are slim in District One, but a few areas come highly recommended.