Deer kills up in Valley

Hunters in the Mahoning Valley were literally having a field day on the first day of deer gun in Ohio.

Despite the warm weather, Valley hunters bagged more deer this year than they did a year ago on opening day.

Deer kills in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties Monday totaled 1,838, compared to 1,765 a year ago, according to statistics provided by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Columbiana registered the largest rise in deer kills of the three counties with an increase of 64 deer this year compared to an increase of 36 in Mahoning County and a decrease of 27 in Trumbull.

Ohio had 2.4 percent more deer killed this year than a year ago on the opening day of deer gun season.