COLUMBUS, Ohio - If opening day numbers are any indication, hunters could have a banner week tracking down deer in Ohio, including here in the Valley.

According to the Ohio Division of Wildlife, hunters checked 19,359 white-tailed deer during the opening day of gun hunting season on Monday.  That’s 2,162 more deer than last year’s first day.

Ohio’s seven-day gun season is open until Sunday, Dec. 3, and a two-day gun season is open on Dec. 16-17.

The first-day numbers in the Valley followed the statewide trend:

Columbiana:

  • 2023 - 410
  • 2022 - 353

Mahoning:

  • 2023 - 164
  • 2022 - 142

Trumbull:

  • 2023 - 395
  • 2022 - 299

The top 11 counties for deer harvest on the opening day of the weeklong gun season were:

  • Coshocton (858)
  • Tuscarawas (712)
  • Muskingum (630)
  • Ashtabula (618)
  • Knox (587)
  • Carroll (573)
  • Guernsey (537)
  • Harrison (518)
  • Holmes (475)
  • Licking (437)
  • Ashland (437)

 Ohio’s seven-day gun season is open until Sunday, Dec. 3, and a two-day gun season is open on Dec. 16-17.