Local opening day deer harvest totals appear to have recovered Monday after a disappointing start to last year's gun season, wildlife officials said.
An estimated 300 deer were checked in Monday at The Pit Stop, traditionally one of the busiest check stations in Washington County. The business is located near the intersection of Interstate 77 and Ohio 821.
"Everyone seems much happier with the weather after all of last year's rain," said Mike Tonkovich, a wildlife biologist with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife. "I think we're going to be back up to what I would consider a typical year. Last year, we only had 173 deer on opening day. I expect to be back up around 300 today."
Rain held off Monday, but some hunters still complained of a stiff breeze that stuck around all day.
"It makes it harder to see anything moving or to hear anything," said Andy McCarty, 20, of Lower Salem, who was taking a break from hunting around noon Monday to get some lunch with his hunting party. "I would rather it be really cold and have a little snow. That gets the deer moving and makes them a lot easier to see."
According to the National Weather Service, there is a chance of snow Thursday night, but the middle of the week is expected to be cool and dry.
Ohio's statewide deer gun season runs through Sunday. Hunters statewide are expected to harvest 120,000 deer during the week. The state's deer herd was estimated at approximately 700,000 at the start of the season.
Monday's opening day totals could have been a little higher if Drew O'Brien, 21, of Lower Salem, had taken a little more time to sight in his gun. He said he missed three deer before quitting for lunch.
"Before I came here, I found a tree and got it sighted in," O'Brien said. "We're seeing deer though, so that's good."
Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks said there were few reports of problems associated with the opening day of gun season.
"We had a complaint of a group of hunters trespassing and another who parked along a roadway," Mincks said. "Wildlife officers are looking into the trespassing, which involved some hunters opening a gate and riding four-wheelers onto someone else's property."
Mincks said trespassing is a common complaint during the gun season. All hunters are required to have written permission to hunt or cross any woods they do not own.
Longtime hunter Tom Bogard, 50, of Marietta, said he didn't discriminate when he selected a deer to take early Monday.
"I only get one day off work, so I've got to get one down and in the freezer," said Bogard, who harvested a button buck.
Bogard said hunting is a tradition in his family.
"I started hunting about 33 years ago with my dad and his buddies," Bogard said. "Dad just couldn't make it this year, so I'm out with my brother, Rick. Actually, I left him out in the woods. He's still trying to get one. I'll pick him up tonight."
