Deer hunters in Ohio made great use of generally favorable weather and a woods-full of whitetails to kill more animals during the recent two-day “bonus” gun season than what’s been seen during a three-year average.

In all, 15,203 deer were taken during the December 19th and 2th hunt. That compares to the three-year average of 12,461 animals. The Ohio Division of Wildlife is now employing a three-year average statistic as a more meaningful metric that when it used a previous year’s number.

And in analyzing the bonus season’s numbers Wildlife Division officials unearthed some interesting points. Officials also offered speculation as to what it all may mean for the up-coming statewide muzzle-loading season set for January 2nd through 5th.

“The harvest was better than average, and you’d have to go back to 2011 before seeing a bonus gun season where hunters did as well as this one,” said John “Clint” McCoy, the Wildlife Division’s chief deer management biologist.

“We were predicting an increase in the harvest as we saw an uptick of more deer on the landscape. And there was snow at least on Saturday for a lot of Ohio. That helped.”

McCoy says too that while an examination of the county-by-county deer kill does not point to a universal acknowledgment, the data does show that in more than a few counties where the deer kill was up during the recent seven-day general firearms deer-hunting season it was down during the bonus season.

Or the reverse was seen, McCoy said.

“For example,” McCoy said, “in Lawrence County the deer harvest during the seven-day season was down 20 percent but up during the bonus season.”

McCoy said that situation was also the case the several other southeast Ohio counties. Among them being Athens, Hocking, Meigs, and Washington.

“Washington really stands out,” McCoy said.

Yet in several northwest Ohio counties just the opposite was seen, McCoy said.

“I guess it would be somewhat predictable that when you have fewer deer and thus fewer hunters who were all ready success than the harvest would be down, too,” McCoy said.

In terms of what all this may translate into for the up-coming muzzle-loader season, McCoy says that when fused with the bonus season the two dovetail with a combined deer kill of around 25,000 animals.

Each tend to “balance the other out,” so when one has a higher deer kill the other will likely have a lower deer kill, McCoy also says.

“If that thinking holds true we could see a deer harvest of around 10,000 animals for the statewide muzzle-loading season, though the weather always plays a role,” McCoy said.

Here is a county-by-county list of all deer checked by hunters during the 2020 two-day deer-gun hunting season. The first number following the county’s name shows the harvest numbers for 2020, and the three-year average of deer taken in 2017, 2018, 2019 is in parentheses.

Adams: 214 (168); Allen: 75 (75); Ashland: 331 (276); Ashtabula: 572 (460); Athens: 250 (203); Auglaize: 74 (64); Belmont: 247 (222); Brown: 189 (156); Butler: 108 (71); Carroll: 422 (336); Champaign: 106 (78); Clark: 54 (40); Clermont: 178 (132); Clinton: 48 (54); Columbiana: 367 (281); Coshocton: 521 (399); Crawford: 94 (95); Cuyahoga: 13 (4); Darke: 51 (59); Defiance: 179 (168); Delaware: 88 (77); Erie: 60 (60); Fairfield: 166 (125); Fayette: 19 (21); Franklin: 39 (27); Fulton: 54 (55); Gallia: 189 (141); Geauga: 192 (118); Greene: 77 (52); Guernsey: 421 (268); Hamilton: 58 (37); Hancock: 102 (97); Hardin: 111 (122); Harrison: 369 (259); Henry: 50 (66); Highland: 213 (177); Hocking: 211 (163); Holmes: 355 (307); Huron: 222 (213); Jackson: 175 (180); Jefferson: 222 (148); Knox: 442 (328); Lake: 54 (38); Lawrence: 133 (86); Licking: 442 (299); Logan: 143 (164); Lorain: 184 (175); Lucas: 14 (21); Madison: 51 (44); Mahoning: 181 (144); Marion: 85 (74); Medina: 176 (150); Meigs: 281 (189); Mercer: 57 (57); Miami: 57 (52); Monroe: 201 (174); Montgomery: 48 (34); Morgan: 240 (157); Morrow: 125 (115); Muskingum: 364 (291); Noble: 247 (175); Ottawa: 42 (35); Paulding: 104 (107); Perry: 199 (168); Pickaway: 45 (54); Pike: 110 (103); Portage: 187 (158); Preble: 63 (83); Putnam: 52 (48); Richland: 292 (272); Ross: 212 (166); Sandusky: 64 (65); Scioto: 148 (150); Seneca: 158 (183); Shelby: 83 (78); Stark: 270 (219); Summit: 69 (43); Trumbull: 364 (299); Tuscarawas: 598 (400); Union: 56 (65); Van Wert: 40 (48); Vinton: 162 (151); Warren: 65 (66); Washington: 282 (190); Wayne: 192 (167); Williams: 154 (147); Wood: 69 (68); Wyandot: 112 (109). 2020 Total: 15,203 Three-Year Average Total: (12,461).

By Jeffrey L. Frischkorn

JFrischk@Ameritech.net

JFrischk4@gmail.com

Update of Ohio Wildlife officer shot while on duty rewritten throughout

 

In the aftermath of the shooting December 20 of Ohio Division of Wildlife agent Kevin Behr fragmentary bits and pieces of information have surfaced.

However, none have actually been verified by the Clinton County (Ohio) Sheriffs Office, which is the lead agency in the investigation. Until they are these expressions must be considered speculation.

Behr remains hospitalized in Cincinnati. Individuals desiring the send a get well card to him and comments of support for his family can be sent to the Wildlife Division’s District 5 (D-5) Office at: 1076 Old Springfield Pike, Xenia OH 45385.

Behr’s Wildlife Division’s comrades have developed a funding program to help Behr’s family with associated costs.

Donations may be made at any 5/3 Bank: Kevin J Behr Benefit Account, Routing #042202196 Account #xxxxxx2403.

Or by check, payable to: Ohio Wildlife Officer Lodge 143, denoting Kevin Behr in the memo and mailed to: Tim Rourke P.O. Box 4333, Sidney, Ohio 45365

The solicitation for assistance comes from the The State of Ohio Unit 2 Association, which is comprised of 5 Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) lodges.

On its web site the Unit 2 Association says this of Behr and the incident:

“Kevin Behr started his career with the Ohio Division of Wildlife as a Wildlife Area Technician in 1993. He became a Wildlife Officer assigned to Warren County in 1996 and shortly after transferred to Adams County.

“After a few years, he was promoted to Wildlife Investigator covering southwest Ohio.

“Wildlife Investigator Kevin Behr was injured December 20, 2020 after being shot by a suspect while on assignment in Clinton County, Ohio. He is in serious, but stable condition in the ICU and has already undergone multiple surgeries.

 “Our thoughts are with him, his wife Kathy, and his three children. We are hopeful for a swift and complete recovery.

 “The road will be long though. Ohio Wildlife Lodge 143 has organized a fundraiser for Kevin and his family to assist them during the challenging times ahead. Please help us reach and exceed our goal.

​“The Behr family is extremely thankful for everyone that has reached out and they continue to ask for your prayers.

​“Special thanks to Cincinnati FOP and The Shield for their immediate assistance.”

The official Clinton County Sheriffs Office release on the subject begins with:

“On December 20, 2020 approximately 4:00 pm the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Communication Center advising that a Wildlife Officer had been shot and needed assistance.

“Wildlife Officer’s and Natural Resource Officer’s working in the area responded for assistance as well as Officers from the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol.

“Wildlife Officers were investigating a deer poaching complaint in the area Macedonia Road and Martinsville Road when the shooting occurred. Wildlife Investigator Kevin Behr, a 25- year veteran of the Division, sustained a gunshot wound during this investigation.

“Three suspects were taken into custody shortly after the incident...”

By Jeffrey L. Frischkorn

Jfrischk@Ameritech.net

JFrischk4@gmail.com

Ohio Wildlife officer shot during December 20 deer-poaching investigation; suspect arrested (UPDATED 12/21/2020)

 

(Note: Corrected the age of defendant Brian R. Liming as per update from the Clinton County (Ohio) Sheriffs Office, 12/21/2020.)

In a still evolving and fluid matter, three southwest Ohio individuals have been arrested in an alleged connection in the shooting of Ohio Division of Wildlife commissioned officer, Kevin Behr.

The Clinton County (Ohio) Sheriff’s Office said the incident is alleged to have occurred about 4 p.m., (Sunday), December 20^th. This was the last day of Ohio’s two-day, so-called “bonus” statewide firearms hunting season.

Following is the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office Media Release on the incident. More details are expected, perhaps by Monday, December 21^st.

The release reads:

“On December 20, 2020 approximately 4:00 pm the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Communication Center advising that a Wildlife Officer had been shot and needed assistance.

“Wildlife Officer’s and Natural Resource Officer’s working in the area responded for assistance as well as Officers from the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol.

“Wildlife Officers were investigating a deer poaching complaint in the area Macedonia Road and Martinsville Road when the shooting occurred. Wildlife Investigator Kevin Behr, a 25- year veteran of the Division, sustained a gunshot wound during this investigation.

“Three suspects were taken into custody shortly after the incident. Arrested were Brian R. Liming, (43) of Xenia, Oh. Liming is being held on charges of Weapons under disability, a Felony of the 3rd degree, No Deer Permit, a Misdemeanor of the 3 rd degree and Hunting without permission, a Misdemeanor of the 3rd degree.

“Thomas Davis, 35 of Jamestown, Ohio is being held on a charge of Aiding an Offender, a Misdemeanor of the 4^th degree.

“Brian Achtermann, 36 of Midland, Ohio is being held on a charge’s of; No Hunting License, a Misdemeanor of the 4^th degree and No Deer Permit, a Misdemeanor of the 3^rd degree.

“The investigation into this case is being handled by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and upon completion will be presented to the Clinton County Prosecutor’s Office for a determination of additional charges.

“Martinsville EMS as well as Wilmington EMS responded to provide medical assistance.

“Investigator Behr was airlifted from the scene and taken to a Trauma Center for injuries sustained during the shooting. Investigator Behr’s injuries while serious appear to be non-life threatening, he is currently in stable condition.

“We would ask for everyone to keep Investigator Behr and his family in their prayer’s during this difficult time.

“If anyone has additional information relating to this case, we would ask that they contact the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office Detective Division at 937-382-1611.”

Likewise, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources says that its close-knit community of officers and staff extended their collective concern, thoughts and prayers to Behr and his family.

“Kevin, a 25-year law enforcement veteran, was injured today after being shot by a suspect while on assignment in Clinton County.,” said the department’s chief of Communications, Sarah Wickham in a prepared statement.

“Ohio Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Officers and Investigators are commissioned state law enforcement officers with unique and challenging duties who serve bravely to preserve and protect Ohio’s state lands and wildlife resources.”

Wickham said also that the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation into Officer Behr’s shooting.

By Jeffrey L. Frischkorn

JFrischk@Ameritech.net

JFrischk4@gmail.com

 

(Mostly) good news regarding fate of receiving 2020 Fish Ohio pins

 

The long-delayed journey of the state’s 2020 Fish Ohio program pins is finally seeing daylight just as the sun rises on 2021.

Or not.

Launched 40 years ago the state’s Fish Ohio program annually attracts several thousand participants. Each of these individuals now can print out their own certificate but who are awarded a pin by the Ohio Division of Wildlife for their first submitted catch.

Anglers catching a qualifying member from one of 25 eligible species earn a Fish Ohio award, based on length only. And an angler catching a qualifying member from four or more eligible species earns a Master Angler title and an upgraded pin.

Of the 25 eligible species, five have separate Lake Erie and inland waters minimum length, too.

Recipients typically start receiving their pins beginning as soon as late winter or early spring.

However, a series of unfortunate events saw the pins – which cost about 40 cents each and were made in the Peoples Republic of China – sputter, stall and put the brakes on the program.

Blame COVID-19 which created problems with production and delivery from China of the pins. The situation grew worse as the year progressed as the hacking of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ web site also made submitting Fish Ohio application problematic.

Earlier in 2020, the Wildlife Division called the situation “fluid” with many “moving parts.”

Now, at long last, the fluidity appears to have jelled and those moving parts are functioning again without the grit to gum up the works. Well, maybe not entirely, anyway.

“We have been updated by the vendor that the Fish Ohio pins are produced, packaged, and have been setting on the dock ready to be picked up by the shipping company, (but) it appears that even the Fish Ohio pins are not immune to the shipping struggles that are currently being experienced,” said Brian Banbury, the Wildlife Division’s Executive Administrator for Information and Education

“We will get them processed and sent out to our successful anglers just as soon as we receive them.”

As for the tally of 2020 Fish Ohio applications, the number of entries thus far is 17,256. That compares to 16,196 total entries for all of 2019.

The Wildlife Division also issued 857 Master Angler awards in 2019.

“We do not have (yet) 2020 broken down for Master Angler,” said Brian Plasters, the Wildlife Division’s Publications Editor.

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn

JFrischk@Ameritech.net

JFrischk4@gmail.com

We all saw this coming: First case of CWD in a wild Ohio white-tail deer

Following is a release from the Ohio Division of Wildlife on the finding of chronic wasting disease in  a wild Ohio deer. The animal came from Wyandot County in west-central/northwest Ohio.

It should not come as too much of a surprise. The state - via its Department of Agriculture, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and - especially the Ohio General Assembly - has done an abysmal job of doubling down to keep this dreaded disease from entering Ohio and eventually expanding.

Chief among Ohio's failure is its hand-wringing on allowing the spread and establishment of captive deer herds for fun and for profit. Similar to the state legislature from stopping totally the trade in exotic animals of all kinds as pets.

In any event, here's the Wildlife Division's press announcement on the subject:

"The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife has identified a positive test for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a wild Ohio white-tailed deer in Wyandot County.  The Division of Wildlife is gathering additional details about the adult male deer taken by a hunter on private property.  Tissue samples were submitted for testing by a taxidermist and the positive test was identified after results were obtained on Thursday, December 10, 2020. 

 
"CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer and other similar species, including mule deer, elk, and moose. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no strong evidence that CWD is transmissible to humans. 
 
"The Division of Wildlife will implement its CWD response plan, which includes enhanced surveillance within a 10-mile radius of the CWD positive deer location in Wyandot County. Mandatory deer disease sample collection will occur on all remaining Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area controlled hunts. Hunters who harvest a deer in Wyandot County during the remaining deer hunting season, which closes on Sunday, February 7, 2021, will be contacted to obtain disease samples by Division of Wildlife staff.
 
"The Division of Wildlife has conducted routine surveillance for CWD since 2002, testing more than 25,000 deer without finding a CWD positive deer in the wild herd. CWD has previously been detected at captive deer breeding facilities in Ohio. Find more information about Ohio’s CWD surveillance at wildohio.gov.
 
"CWD has been detected in 26 states and four Canadian provinces. The disease was first discovered in the 1960s in the western U.S. More information about this disease is available at cwd-info.org.
 
"Hunters should take precautions when handling and processing any harvested deer. Hunters may have a harvested deer tested at the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for a small fee. Call (614) 728-6220 for more information."

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn

JFrischk@Ameritech.net

JFrischk4@gmai.lcom

Miserable weather installs a nearly 40-percent decline in Ohio's deer gun season's opening day kill

 

Horrible weather saw an approximately 40-percent decline in the number of deer taken during the statewide general general deer fire-arms hunting season.

In all, Ohio hunters checked 10,904 white-tailed deer during a snowy and rainy opening day of the gun hunting week, which was November 30th. Last year that figure was 14,513 animals while the three-year average is 17,145 deer on opening day, or a 40-percent drop.

The deer-gun season is open until Sunday, December 6th, with the oft-called “bonus” gun season being December 19th and 20th.

The top 10 counties for deer harvest on the opening day of the gun season include: Coshocton (356), Tuscarawas (352), Knox (336), Muskingum (328), Licking (308), Ashtabula (289), Carroll (279), Holmes (278), Guernsey (277), and Harrison (258). In 2019, Coshocton County also led the state on opening day with 664 deer taken.

Only eight of Ohio’s 88 counties posted gains; and all are located in the western part of the state.

A county list of all white-tailed deer checked by hunters during opening day of the 2020 deer-gun hunting season is shown below. The first number following the county’s name shows the deer kill numbers for opening day 2020, and the three-year average of deer taken on opening day in 2017, 2018, 2019 is in parentheses.

A three-year average provides a better overall comparison to this year’s harvest numbers, eliminating year-to-year variation because of weather, misaligned season dates, timing of the crop harvest, and other unavoidable factors.

Deer kill numbers are raw data and subject to change. These numbers may include controlled hunts. The counties are: Adams: 166 (249); Allen: 48 (74); Ashland: 218 (353); Ashtabula: 289 (637); Athens: 180 (357); Auglaize: 69 (76); Belmont: 184 (286); Brown: 181 (208); Butler: 64 (57); Carroll: 279 (430); Champaign: 76 (93); Clark: 23 (39); Clermont: 122 (118); Clinton: 38 (60); Columbiana: 215 (349); Coshocton: 356 (723); Crawford: 98 (137); Cuyahoga: 7 (12); Darke: 61 (65); Defiance: 209 (204); Delaware: 73 (102); Erie: 26 (54); Fairfield: 129 (154); Fayette: 18 (23); Franklin: 33 (32); Fulton: 79 (91); Gallia: 152 (282); Geauga: 77 (121); Greene: 26 (41); Guernsey: 277 (495); Hamilton: 12 (24); Hancock: 57 (101); Hardin: 109 (122); Harrison: 258 (389); Henry: 82 (96); Highland: 206 (230); Hocking: 179 (328); Holmes: 278 (485); Huron: 161 (282); Jackson: 132 (270); Jefferson: 141 (198); Knox: 336 (558); Lake: 18 (39); Lawrence: 103 (174); Licking: 308 (457); Logan: 135 (170); Lorain: 73 (150); Lucas: 27 (23); Madison: 25 (31); Mahoning: 88 (160); Marion: 57 (100); Medina: 64 (125); Meigs: 166 (295); Mercer: 63 (72); Miami: 29 (46); Monroe: 185 (285); Montgomery: 26 (29); Morgan: 181 (340); Morrow: 129 (156); Muskingum: 328 (592); Noble: 216 (325); Ottawa: 15 (26); Paulding: 136 (119); Perry: 170 (279); Pickaway: 27 (75); Pike: 98 (150); Portage: 88 (121); Preble: 39 (52); Putnam: 65 (76); Richland: 253 (325); Ross: 157 (233); Sandusky: 39 (53); Scioto: 89 (145); Seneca: 126 (189); Shelby: 55 (87); Stark: 119 (200); Summit: 13 (23); Trumbull: 213 (371); Tuscarawas: 352 (612); Union: 67 (72); Van Wert: 55 (45); Vinton: 97 (233); Warren: 51 (49); Washington: 171 (386); Wayne: 112 (208); Williams: 166 (203); Wood: 53 (62); Wyandot: 133 (180). 2020 Total: 10,904. Three-Year Average Total: (17,145).

By Jeffrey L. Frischkorn

JFrischk@Ameritech.net

JFrischk4@gmail.com

Hitting the average bull's-eye with the 2020 Ohio fall wild turkey-hunting season

 

A statistically insignificant one percent is all that separates the 2020 Ohio fall wild turkey kill from its three-year average.

The state’s fall turkey season concluded November 29 and saw a kill of 1,063 birds; a minuscule one-percent drop from the three-year average of 1,078 birds.

Beginning this year, the Ohio Division of Wildlife is utilizing longer term averages than comparing with the immediate previous years tally, the argument being that averages more accurately project the realities of a season.

“We were actually closer to a typical fall turkey season than I had first expected. That’s a positive,” said Mark Wiley, the Wildlife Division’s biologist in charge of the state’s wild turkey management program.

Wiley said also that 6,149 fall turkey permits were sold in 2020. In 2019, that figure 7,590. Both numbers do exclude free permits.

“The fall season is a tricky one to assign a number to, we don’t always see a pattern, perhaps as much as owing to hunter activity as anything else,” Wiley said.

The 2020 fall wild turkey season was open in 70 counties from October 10 through November 29. In all, 17 counties posted gains over their three years average while 10 demonstrated identical tallies. The remaining counties showed declines.

The top 10 counties for wild turkeys taken during the fall season are included shown below. The first number following the county’s name shows the harvest numbers for 2020, and the three-year average of turkeys taken in 2017, 2018, and 2019 is in parentheses. Numbers are raw data and subject to change.

The open counties were: Adams: 16 (14); Allen: 6 (7); Ashland: 10 (15); Ashtabula: 52 (37); Athens: 24 (15); Belmont: 20 (24); Brown: 15 (10); Butler: 15 (10); Carroll: 19 (24); Champaign: 4 (4); Clermont: 27 (21); Columbiana: 19 (27); Coshocton: 37 (51); Crawford: 2 (4); Cuyahoga: 4 (4); Defiance: 8 (13); Delaware: 7 (10); Erie: 7 (7); Fairfield: 7 (8); Franklin: 3 (4); Fulton: 10 (11); Gallia: 26 (27); Geauga: 27 (25); Guernsey: 28 (34); Hamilton: 6 (10); Hancock: 5 (4); Hardin: 4 (4); Harrison: 23 (27); Henry: 4 (3); Highland: 24 (25); Hocking: 20 (14); Holmes: 26 (27); Huron: 9 (9); Jackson: 18 (18); Jefferson: 21 (17); Knox: 20 (20); Lake: 10 (8); Lawrence: 17 (12); Licking: 28 (26); Logan: 7 (7); Lorain: 8 (11); Lucas: 13 (12); Mahoning: 10 (13); Medina: 14 (15); Meigs: 22 (20); Monroe: 23 (22); Morgan: 10 (19); Morrow: 10 (11); Muskingum: 20 (20); Noble: 16 (24); Paulding: 3 (6); Perry: 15 (17); Pike: 12 (12); Portage: 14 (15); Preble: 7 (8); Putnam: 2 (5); Richland: 22 (23); Ross: 19 (16); Scioto: 14 (17); Seneca: 7 (6); Stark: 18 (19); Summit: 9 (12); Trumbull: 36 (25); Tuscarawas: 26 (35); Vinton: 20 (14); Warren: 10 (5); Washington: 25 (17); Wayne: 14 (8); Williams: 8 (20); Wyandot: 1 (4). 2020 Total: 1,063. Three-Year Average Total: 1,078.

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn

JFrischk@Ameritech.net

JFrischk4@gmail.com