Ohio deer-hunting numbers down

COLUMBUS (AP) — Officials with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said Ohio hunters checked 75,408 white-tailed deer during the gun season last week — down about 13 percent from last year. Hunters harvested 86,893 deer last gun season.

Coshocton County led the way for the highest number of deer taken, with 2,658. Other top counties were Muskingum (2,604), Tuscarawas (2,604), Guernsey (2,401) and Ashtabula (2,334).

Gun season is over, but hunters can hunt for deer this winter with bows and muzzleloaders. Archery season is open through Feb. 2. The muzzleloader season will run Jan. 4-7.

Hunters have taken a total of 162,720 deer so far this year, compared with 171,667 at the same time in 2012. That’s a 5 percent drop.