Deer hunters take to the fields on first day

Canton Repository

CANTON

As daylight broke in a cornfield, Enos Hershberger aimed and fired his muzzleloader. The bullet struck the 70-pound deer, knocking it dead. “They were eating acorns,” the 16-year-old hunter recalled.

Another hunter, Mike Youngman, bagged his button buck near an oil well in Sugar Creek Township. He found his kill within 10 minutes of the hunt.

“This was an easy hunt today,” Youngman said.

Hershberger, Youngman and other hunters took to the fields Monday, as this year’s Ohio deer-gun season opened. The nine-day hunt runs through Sunday.

Deer-gun season resumes Dec. 18-19.

Officials from the Ohio Division of Wildlife expect about 420,000 hunters to participate in the hunt, and as many as 125,000 deer to be harvested by hunters.

Jamey Graham, a spokeswoman for the state’s wildlife division, said Ohio had a pre-season population of 750,000 white-tailed deer.

Hershberger delivered his kill to The Trading Post in Massillon, a check station, by horse-drawn wagon, making a one-hour trek from Tuscarawas Township.

He and his brother hunted with their father, and he spotted his target, walking in his direction, in a neighbor’s cornfield around 7:30 a.m.

“I don’t think you can make a better kill if they’re walking up to you,” the teen said.

By state law, permitted hunters must have their deer kills registered and tagged at check stations. There are six in Stark County.

Graham said, however, a property owner does not have to have a license or permit to hunt on his/her own land.

All other hunters must be licensed and have permits.

Youngman said his only complaint involved doe- only permit uses. He loves to hunt doe, which he said has better meat.

Graham said, however, a $15 doe-only permit can be used through the season in southern Ohio counties — just not in Stark County.

She said this restriction encourages hunters to flock to the southern counties, where the land is more rural, and hunters can pare down the larger population of deer.

Also, she said it’s safer.

Graham said the chance of someone getting hurt would increase in Stark if hunters could use the doe permit through the hunt.

How so?

She said this allowance would attract more hunters into Stark, which is less rural, and possibly into urban areas.