OH deer hunters have new game check system

MARIETTA, Ohio (AP) — Hunters taking part in Ohio's deer-gun season that opens Monday will no longer have to take their kills to a check station for a physical inspection, thanks to the state's new automated system for checking game.

  The automated system that went into effect earlier this year is the biggest change for this year's deer season, Lindsay Rist of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, said.

  She said the new system offers hunters three options for reporting their harvests, The Marietta Times reported.

  They can make the report through the Internet, by phone or by visiting a traditional licensing agent.

  Hunters have a full week to harvest whitetail deer after the deer-gun season opens statewide Monday, according to a Division of Wildlife news release. The upcoming season also again will include an extra weekend of gun hunting on December 17-18.

  The Division of Wildlife anticipates 115,000 to 125,000 deer will be killed during the nine-day season and about 420,000 hunters will participate. The pre-hunting season population has been estimated at 750,000 white-tailed deer.

  Hunters may take only one antlered deer, regardless of zone, hunting method or season, state officials have said. A deer permit is required in addition to a valid Ohio hunting license.

Any time a hunter is allowed to take more than one deer, they must purchase an additional permit.

  Ohio is divided into three deer hunting zones, and limits on the number of deer that can be taken vary according to the zone. The deer can be hunted with a legal muzzleloader, handgun or shotgun from one half-hour before sunrise to sunset through December 4 and December 17-18.

  The Division of Wildlife says Ohio ranks 8th nationally in annual hunting-related sales.

  One hunter in southeast Ohio began stocking up last week on ammunition and other hunting gear in an effort to beat the anticipated rush of hunters, the Times reported.

  "I've been here the weekend before gun season opens and it's a zoo," Mike Hamilton, 40, of Marietta, said while shopping at a Marietta-area store. "A lot of the things you want are sold out.

  "I've hunted ever since I was a kid and still get excited about going out and hunting the big one," Hamilton said.