Ohio deer hunters took 40,254 deer Monday on opening day of the week-long 2004 deer-gun hunting season, the Ohio Division of Wildlife said.
The total, a preliminary figure, is down slightly from 43,052 deer taken a year ago, despite ideal hunting conditions and a record pre-season deer herd estimated at 700,000 animals statewide. Further figures will not be available until season-long totals are announced next week.
The season so far has been marred by one hunting fatality in Marion County on Tuesday. Trevor Beeney, 32, was killed when struck in the upper torso by a 12-gauge deer slug fired by another hunter during a deer drive in a six-member party. The division said the shooting remains under instigation.
Five other nonfatal shooting accidents also were noted, two of them self-inflicted. Four occurred Monday and one Tuesday, one each in Ashtabula, Preble, Tuscarawas, Gallia, and Hocking counties.
Some 400,000 hunters were expected afield during the season, which ends Sunday. The state wildlife division noted that out-of-state hunters increasingly are being attracted here because of the health and quality of Buckeye State deer. Nonresident hunting license sales are up 13 percent over 2003.
The top deer counties in the statewide opening day bag included Tuscarawas, 1,657 deer; Coshocton, 1,639; Guernsey, 1,506; Washington, 1,387; Muskingum, 1,370; Harrison, 1,289; Licking, 1,192; Holmes, 1,159; Jefferson, 1,121, and Knox, 1,118.
It is no surprise that most of the top counties lie in east-central Ohio, which for many years has formed the heart of the state's prime deer country.
State deer biologists were forecasting a bag of up to 145,000 deer for the gun season, which would be a record.
In northwest Ohio, the county deer totals, followed by the 2003 figure for comparison, include the following:
Allen 129/171; Defiance 238/194; Erie 92/74; Fulton 97/138; Hancock 111/142; Hardin 197/190; Henry 83/93; Huron 434/451; Lucas 88/115; Ottawa 24/35; Paulding 179/255; Putnam 138/179; Sandusky 61/67; Seneca 280/214; Van Wert 43/51; Williams 506/478; Wood 123/145, and Wyandot 235-268.
While the deer-gun opening tally was somewhat lower, the state wildlife division noted that the bags in both early archery and youth deer-gun seasons were above of 2003. When combined with opening day figures, 87,893 deer had been taken in 2004, compared to 84,501 a year ago.
With the increasing popularity of archery season, the addition of a youth-only deer-gun weekend, and a popular muzzleloading rifle or black powder season [Dec. 27 through 30], hunting pressure during deer-gun week seems to be somewhat less concentrated than it once was.
State wildlife biologists are forecasting a record all-seasons bag of around 220,000 deer. Archery season continues through Jan. 31.
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An Ohio-record pink salmon weighing 3.06 pounds and measuring 201/8 inches has been certified by the Outdoor Writers of Ohio, which oversees record fish in cooperation with the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
It is the first pink salmon to make it to the OWO record fish list. Andy Janoski of Chagrin Falls took the salmon while steelhead trout fishing Sept. 24 in Conneaut Creek in Ashtabula County. The salmon's identity was confirmed by the state's Fairport Harbor Fisheries Research Station.
For other details on the record fish program, contact Tom Cross, OWO record fish chairman, 1497 Cross Rd., Winchester, Ohio 45697 or call 937-386-2752.
DATEBOOK
Today: Toledo Trap and Skeet Club, 2-9 p.m., 3150 State Rt. 295, Berkey; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; call the club, 419-829-5101.
Today: Public trapshoot, 6-10 p.m., Dundee Sportsmen's Club, 2300 Plank Rd., Dundee, Mich., repeats Sunday noon-6 p.m.; call the club 734-529-3581.
Tonight: Public trap and skeet shooting, 6-11 p.m., Camp Perry Shooting Club, Camp Perry, State Rt. 2 west of Port Clinton, repeats Sunday noon-6 p.m., call the club, 419-635-2682.
Today: Trap and skeet shooting, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Monroe Rod and Gun Club, 6280 Lighthouse Rd., Monroe, Mich., call Jim Warren, 734-243-9774.
Tonight: Trapshoot, 6 p.m., Sandusky County Sportsmen's Club, State Route 600 east of Gibsonburg.
Tonight: Public trapshoot, 6-9 p.m., Ottawa County Conservation League, Martin-Moline Road, Martin; call Bob Reinbolt, 419-855-8409.
Tonight: Public trapshoot, 7-10 p.m. Progressive Fishing Association, 8050 Schadel Rd., Whitehouse; call the Mike Adcock, 419-897-8446.
Tomorrow and Monday: Public trapshoot, 6 p.m., Wolf Creek Sportsmen's Association, 349 Teachout Rd., north of State Rt. 2, Curtice; voice-activated traps now available; call Rick Ferguson, 419-836-5264.
Tomorrow: December flower hike, witch hazel, 5 p.m., Slipper Elm Trail, Rudolph, call the Wood County Park District, 419-353-1897; also, Saturday, clearing multiflora rose, volunteer stewardship, 10 a.m., William Henry Harrison Park, call the park district.
Saturday: Volunteers to help restore prairie, 10 a.m., Oak Openings Preserve Metropark, Buehner Center, call for reservations, 419-535-3057 extension 101; also, Wildwood kids program, ages 7 to 10, 1 p.m., Wildwood Preserve Metropark, Metz Visitor Center, call extension 101 for reservations; also, admiring winter firs, 1:30 p.m., Oak Openinings/Buehner, call extension 101 for reservations; also, twilight rendezvous, 4 p.m., Oak Openings/lodge parking lot.
Saturday: Tower shoot, Ringneck Ridge Hunt Club, 1818 Sandusky County Road 74, Gibsonburg, call Scott Danner, 419-637-2332.
Sunday: Bowshoot, Canvasback Gun Club, register 9:30-2 p.m., 3801 West Dunbar Rd. at Rainsville Road, Monroe, mich., 30 3-D targets, call the club, 734-241-2875.
First Published December 2, 2004, 11:46 a.m.