“Ohio is one of the few states that has been holding its own or is even up a little over some of the past few years,” said Todd Haines, district manager for southwest Ohio for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife.
Through Dec. 14, Ohio hunting license sales for 2010-11 were 3.37 percent down from 2009-10. But that doesn’t include sales that will pick up for the four-day muzzleloader season, which ended Tuesday, or continuing sales for archery season, which runs through Feb. 6.
In 2000, Ohio sold 391,370 hunting licenses and 386,733 deer permits. So far this season, 522,014 have been sold.
The Division of Wildlife estimates that more than 420,000 people annually participate in deer hunting, Ohio’s most popular season. In recent years, out-of-state hunters have increased, up 8 percent in 2010 over 2009.
“There’s no question, Ohio deer hunting is one of the best hunting bargains in the country,” said David Graham, former chief of the Division of Wildlife. “For what it costs for our nonresident license ($125), permits costing the same as for residents ($24 or $15) and the probability of seeing deer when they go out, it’s a very good deal.”
Trophy bucks
Graham agreed that hunters such as Mike Beatty of Xenia, Brad Jerman of Springboro, Brian Stephens of Clayton and others have had impact on Ohio and nonresident hunters. Their record-breaking bucks, taken in southwest Ohio, have appeared on the covers of national hunting magazines. That is almost like an invitation to hunt in Ohio where the large-antlered whitetails hang out.
“Another thing Ohio has going for it is that it’s a crossbow state,” said Evan English, owner of Olde English Outfitters in Miami County. “Some states still do not allow crossbows and that has to hurt the popularity of hunting in those states. But Ohio has allowed crossbows for many years and that helps more people take part in the long archery season each year.”
English said he has not seen any appreciable dip in hunting supply sales over the years.
Ohio ranks eighth nationally in annual hunting-related sales, 10th in the number of jobs associated with hunting. According to ODNR, there is an economic impact of $859 million each year in Ohio, brought about by the sale of equipment, lodging, fuel, food and more.
The Division of Wildlife has collected $23.16 million from the sale of licenses and permits this season (through Dec. 14). During the same period last year, revenue from the same sources was $23.34 million.
“I think the wildlife people have done a good job managing the deer herd in this state,” English added. “And they have liberalized the hunting regulations to allow hunters to take more than one deer.”
In fact, a hunter could legally take 18 deer (only one with antlers) in Ohio this season if he or she hunts in the right places at the right times.
Kids are hunting
Ohio also is one of the states that has passed the Families Afield law. That allows beginning hunters to obtain an apprentice license before taking hunter education and procuring a regular license. They must hunt with an experienced adult hunter. The idea, of course, is to recruit young hunters to replace many of older generations who have died or have given up hunting.
“It’s harder these days to get kids to go outside to do anything,” English said. “It’s easier for them to sit inside and play video games than to go out and learn to hunt.”
“One of the problems in all states is losing older hunters and not replacing them with enough young hunters,” Graham added.
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