DeWine nominates Ohio DNR director; reaction both swift and positive

Perhaps something of an enigma to many sportsmen, the nominee to become the next director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is far from an unknown to those individuals whose careers are intertwined with the agency.

Governor-elect Mike DeWine did not even have to go far from his office as the current Ohio Attorney General to find his selection by naming Mary Mertz as his Natural Resources Director nominee. She is currently serving as DeWine’s First Assistant Attorney General, responsible for overseeing “both the legal and administrative operations of the (Attorney General’s) office,” her official bio says.

Mertz will need confirmation by the Ohio State Senate; a sure bet given that the Republicans handily control that assembly. Plus, Mertz has a long – and her supporters say – distinguished governmental calling.

And likely one that will almost certainly include being very protective of her boss. Her official bio says Mertz also served as then-Lieutenant Governor Mike DeWine’s Chief of Staff. In that role Mertz “focused on the administrative areas of criminal justice, law enforcement and substance abuse,” the bio says.

And during the then-Voinovich’s administration, Mertz “both developed the administrative agenda for and served as the Governor’s liaison to eight state agencies in the environmental, natural resources, and criminal justice areas,” the bio states.

Mertz also worked as Legislative Director for Congressman Bob McEwen, and in the Office of Legislative Affairs in The White House.

To those in the outdoors community who know Mertz, such credentials go a long way in explaining that she has the political and administrative professionalism to both support the Natural Resources Department as well as articulate DeWine’s marching orders for the agency as a whole as well its offspring.

What is unknown for now is Mertz’s hands-on knowledge – if any – about Ohio’s various outdoors pursuits.

“I crossed paths with her when I was Chief,” said Mike Budzik, retired chief of the Ohio Division of Wildlife and a member of the “Sportsmen for DeWine” political action group that formed to help the Attorney General move up the executive branch food chain.

“At that time she was Governor Voinovich’s environmental policy person. The issues were the dove statewide referendum and perch bag limit restrictions. In both of those issues our recommendations ended up being supported by the Administration.”

Budzik says be believes that Mertz wilI bring a strong knowledge of what is sound environmental policy to the forefront of the Natural Resources Department.

In addition to her background she will be a player “working with the legislature regarding development of a more solid budget for all the Divisions within ODNR,” Budzik said.

Agreeing that Mertz champions a solid understanding of government policy as it relates to natural resources is Paul Palagyi, executive director for Lake Metroparks in Lake County.

During the Voinoich Administration, Palagyi worked side-by-side with Mertz as advisers to the-then governor. Each person also was employed later by DeWine before their paths diverged.

“Mary will make an exceptional Natural Resources director; she’s hard-working, smart and talented,” Palagyi said. “I believe Mary also has a passion for the issues, and her job will be to run the agency.”

Not to be forgotten, Palagyi says, is that he would expect Mertz will be loyal to DeWine, a prerequisite of any Natural Resources director in order to implement a governor’s agenda.

“The ODNR has a great staff of professionals, and I believe this will make a great team,” Palagyi says.

Hopeful as well is Heather Taylor-Miesle, executive director of the Ohio Environmental Council.

Taylor-Miesle congratuated Mertz on her nomination, noting the Natural Resources Department directorship plays a “critical role” that is entrusted “with the health of our state’s public lands, wildlife areas forests, and waters.”

And one that is essential in protecting Ohio’s natural legacy now and into the future, Taylor-Miesle says.

“The Council looks forward to working with Director Mertz, as we both advance efforts for healthier air, land, and water for all who call Ohio their home,” Taylor-Miesle said.

And effort to contact Mertz has been made but a response was not received at the time of publication This story could be updated should additional information become available.

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischk@Ameritech.net

Poor weather condemns Ohio's 2018 gun deer season as worst in many years

Plagued by poor weather for nearly its entire seven-day length, Ohio’s firearms deer-hunting season saw the lowest general gun season harvest since at least 2011.

In all for the season that ran November November 26 through December 2, deer hunters in Ohio recorded a kill of 60,557 animals. The comparable number since 2011 are: 2011 – 90,282; 2013 – 86,963; 2014 – 75,408; 2015 – 73,399; 2016 – 66,758; 2017 – 72,814.

Clint McCoy – the Ohio Division of Wildlife biologist in charge of the state’s deer management program - notes that the drop is most acutely seen in the day-to-day deer kill numbers; “harvest” in the parlance of biologists.

Here, the opening day harvest was down to 35 percent from its three-year average for the day. Typically opening day accounts for 29.8 percent of the week’s total harvest but this year that statistic fell to 22 percent, McCoy says.

This downward trend began to correct itself through the first part of the week, only to reverse itself again by the week’s end, McCoy says.

“We’ve seen bad opening days before but usually we’ve been able to make it up through the rest of the week-long season,” McCoy said. “Not this year.”

On Tuesday, the kill for the day was up 7 ½ percent over its three-year average, while on Wednesday the harvest was up 32 percent over its three-year average for the day, McCoy says.

And Thursday saw its daily average climb a whopping 43 percent over its three-years average, too, says McCoy.

That when things tumbled off the cliff, says McCoy, as Friday’s harvest fell 12 1/2 percent from its three-year average for the day.

“Going into Friday, we had closed the season gap to within five percent of last year but that all-day rain on Saturday saw the harvest for the day down 50 percent from its three-year average, and Sunday was down down 26 percent from its three-year average for the day,” McCoy said.

The bottom line, says McCoy, the 2018 Ohio firearms deer-hunting season was without question, an anomaly.

All of which may be turn out to be a blessing in disguise for deer hunters looking to participate in the up-coming two-day, so-called “bonus” firearms deer-hunting season. This statewide season is set for December 15th and 16th.

“If we can get Mother Nature to cooperate with the weather, we should expect to see a pretty good two-day season,” McCoy said.

As for a look at this year’s gun deer season kill, only two of Ohio’s 88 counties registered gains over their respective 2017 firearms deer-hunting season total harvest numbers. And these are the adjacent counties of Lake and Geauga. The remaining 86 counties each saw declines.

Here are the unofficial county-by-county tallies for the just-concluded Ohio firearms deer-hunting season, held November 26^th through December 2^nd. The 2017 figures for each county is in parentheses: Adams: 955 (1,166); Allen: 250 (341); Ashland: 1,121 (1,363); Ashtabula: 2,022 (2,094); Athens: 1,322 (1,591); Auglaize: 268 (334); Belmont: 1,081 (1,239); Brown: 738 (1,029); Butler: 247 (352); Carroll: 1,449 (1,733); Champaign: 336 (431); Clark: 177 (197); Clermont: 548 (744); Clinton: 185 (303); Columbiana: 1,132 (1,338); Coshocton: 2,174 (2,576); Crawford: 496 (615); Cuyahoga: 39 (52); Darke: 215 (305); Defiance: 582 (745); Delaware: 352 (503); Erie: 222 (272); Fairfield: 618 (776); Fayette: 91 (140); Franklin: 141 (156); Fulton: 290 (322); Gallia: 1,145 (1,318); Geauga: 582 (538); Greene: 193 (229); Guernsey: 1,728 (2,014); Hamilton: 146 (191); Hancock: 403 (529); Hardin: 381 (529); Harrison: 1,285 (1,530); Henry: 258 (371); Highland: 802 (1,076); Hocking: 1,112 (1,370); Holmes: 1,286 (1,592); Huron: 860 (1,148); Jackson: 1,082 (1,230); Jefferson: 698 (832); Knox: 1,509 (1,965); Lake: 180 (163); Lawrence: 812 (907); Licking: 1,421 (1,789); Logan: 614 (754); Lorain: 628 (702); Lucas: 117 (119); Madison: 146 (186); Mahoning: 615 (649); Marion: 335 (432); Medina: 605 (620); Meigs: 1,233 (1,323); Mercer: 228 (310); Miami: 172 (251); Monroe: 1,100 (1,334); Montgomery: 122 (157); Morgan: 1,198 (1,459); Morrow: 547 (657); Muskingum: 1,917 (2,328); Noble: 1,264 (1,391); Ottawa: 111 (120); Paulding: 332 (446); Perry: 1,042 (1,278); Pickaway: 244 (342); Pike: 690 (761); Portage: 558 (560); Preble: 251 (300); Putnam: 230 (359); Richland: 1,137 (1,343); Ross: 937 (1,230); Sandusky: 216 (275); Scioto: 780 (898); Seneca: 733 (868); Shelby: 282 (394); Stark: 810 (881); Summit: 152 (159); Trumbull: 1,119 (1,250); Tuscarawas: 1,991 (2,335); Union: 281 (350); Van Wert: 175 (223); Vinton: 937 (1,234); Warren: 261 (313); Washington: 1,405 (1,572); Wayne: 696 (823); Williams: 543 (691); Wood: 273 (342); Wyandot: 596 (757). Total: 60,557 (72,814).

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn

JFrischk@Ameritech.net

May take months to finish investigation of latest Ashtabula County fatal hunting incident

An on-going investigation being led by the Ohio Division of Wildlife is looking into the death of a 41-year-old Ashtabula County man who was shot in an apparent hunting-related incident.

On Sunday, November 25th – the day before the start of Ohio’s seven-day firearm deer-hunting season - Jared Micah Windler was struck by a shot allegedly fired when an unnamed friend was said to be hoisting via a rope a muzzleloading rifle into a tree stand, located about 15 to 20 feet from the ground at around 6 a.m. This, according to Ashtabula County Corner investigator Tom Despenes.

Allegedly, Windler, resident of Saybrook Township, was standing at the bottom of the tree when the hunting implement discharged as it was being pulled through branches, striking him on the left side of the forehead, killing the man instantly, Despenses said.

“We do not know who tied the gun to the rope,” Despenses said.

Windler was pronounced dead at 6:58 a.m. The incident occurred near North Bend Road and State Route 45, south of Interstate 90 in Saybrook Township.

P

resently, the matter is being investigated by a team of several experienced law enforcement officers with the Wildlife Division – an effort on their part that can take months.

Or in the case of the hunting-related fatality that occurred November 27th, 2017, it took until this past May before Darrell A. Shepard was indicted by the Ashtabula County Grand Jury in the accidental shooting death of Randy Gozzard, in nearby Monroe Township.

Shepard was due to be sentenced in Ashtabula County Court of Common Please on December 3rd but that date has been changed to January 10^th.

“We can speculate as to what happened, but all we can really say (now) is that there was another person at the scene,”said also Jerod Roof, supervisor for the Wildlife Division’s District Three (Northeast Ohio) Office in Akron.

Roof says such cases are highly involved and require meticulous attention to detail with at least five agency officers now working on the case; with additional review and input from other Wildlife Division experts almost certain.

That, plus support coming from other state as well as Ashtabula County officials such as the coroner's office and the prosecutors office.

It’s hardly the same as depicted on television crime shows where evidence is processed and a possible crime is solved in a matter of hours or a few days.

“We work closely with others, and this case could take a year or more,” said Roof. “The lab results alone could take six weeks,”

Despenes said the Cuyahoga County corner is contracted to perform autopsies for Ashtabula County, and a report from that agency could take up to four months. Once Ashtabula County receives the information it will be forwarded to the Division of Wildlife, Despenes said.

Roof said also that once the Wildlife Division has completed its work the agency will then turn the file over to the Ashtabula County Prosecutor who will make a final determination on whether to bring charges, if any, and of what kind.

“We are typically consulted by the prosecutor on matters we work on,” Roof said.

As for Windler, he leaves behind a wife, two daughters, three stepsons, his parents, and a sister.

Windler’s online obituary also says he was an avid hunter, angler and devoted Cleveland sports and NASCAR fan.

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn

JFrischk@Ameritech.net

Poor weather for Ohio's on-going gun deer season blamed for drag on to-date kill

An on-going poor weather-induced firearms deer-hunting season has thus far become a sea anchor on Ohio’s to-date white-tail kill.

As of the weekly reporting period ending November 27th, 97,939 deer have recorded as being taken. That is a 9,174 animal drop from the comparable November 28th, 2017 to-date deer kill of 107,113 animals.

Not expected to help matters much is the fact that for the remainder of this week’s seven-day firearms deer-hunting season lies ahead a forecast of continued poor weather. Everything from high winds to more snow to freezing rain – and coupled with rising temperatures - could conspire to keep the gun harvest below its 2017 total of 72,814 animals. (In 2016 that figure was 66,758 deer, by the way).

However, a possible bright note does exist. Clint McCoy – the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s lead deer management biologist – says that if the gun season’s deer kill does lag but the weather for up-coming two-day “bonus” gun season December 16th and 17th makes a turn for the better, than “we could see a quick recovery in the harvest.”

As it now stands, of Ohio’s 88 counties, only six have to-date increases when compared to their respective and comparable 2017 to-date numbers. These counties (with their 2017 to-date numbers in parentheses) are: Clark – 462 (413); Greene – 477 (443); Medina – 1,131 (1,099); Montgomery – 454 (441); Portage – 1,442 (1,324); and Van Wert – 280 (268).

Among those counties seeing their respective 2018 to-date totals trail their respective 2017 numbers (with the latter in parentheses) are: Adams – 1,732 (1,989); Ashtabula – 2,729 (3,032); Brown – 1,290 (1,443); Fulton – 404 (456); Geauga – 1,052 (1,103); Guernsey – 2,346 (2,682); Hamilton – 984 (1,091); Hocking – 1,596 (1,891); Holmes – 2,316 (2,525); Jefferson – 951 (957); Knox – 2,436 (2,735); Lake – 480 (554); Licking – 2,626 (2,897); Lucas – 442 (466); Muskingum – 2,622 (3,081); Seneca – 974 (1,046); Trumbull – 2,088 (3,144); Tuscarawas – 2,853 (3,144); and Washington – 1,665 (1,842).

To-date in 2017, Ohio had four counties with at last three thousand deer as being reported killed each: Ashtabula – 3,032; Coshocton – 3,9023; Muskingum – 3,081; and Tuscarawas – 3,144. This year that number is only one, Coshocton County with 3,581.

Interestingly perhaps and in spite of the general downturn in the number of deer being taken thus far, the 2017 to-date roster featured 19 counties with fewer the five hundred animals each. This year that to-date figure stands at only 20 counties.

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischk@Ameritech.net

Poor Ohio gun deer opener contrasted against average fall turkey season kills

While it was just an average year for Ohio’s fall wild turkey hunters it was anything but for the opening day of the state’s seven-day firearms deer-hunting season.

The tally for the start of Ohio’s gun deer-hunting season, Monday, November 26^th, was striking in its huge – 39 percent – drop from its 2017 counterpart. On Monday, hunters killed 13,614 deer compared to the 22,366 animals shot during the 2017 gun deer season opener.

Not a single one of Ohio’s 88 counties recorded an opening day this year when stacked up against its 2017 counterpart. Some counties experienced drops in excess of 40 percent or more. And just one county – Lucas – saw an identical kill.

Clearly poor weather statewide caused grief for hunters who were forced to deal with rain, high winds, sleet, snow and everything else bad that Mother Nature could toss at them. The result was easily the slowest gun deer season opener since at least 2014.

The opening day deer kill numbers for the past five years were: 2014 (17,512); 2015 (22,256); 2016 (18,776); 2017 -(22,336); and 2018 (13,614).

“Although there are several factors that influence deer harvest, Monday’s weather undoubtedly impacted the number of deer that were killed,” said Wildlife Division spokesman John Windau.

“It is important to remember, though, that there is plenty of season left which will provide opportunities for hunters to take deer.”

Yet a fall in numbers was not in the cards for Ohio’s 11,000-plus fall wild turkey hunters. Hunters killed 1,117 wild turkeys, which is up slightly from the 1,053 birds taken during the 2017 season but markedly lower than the 2016 banner season when 2,168 birds were shot.

This year, the fall wild turkey hunting season was open in 70 counties from Oct. 13-Nov. 25, an increase of three counties and which yielded. This year, three counties were open during the fall turkey season for the first time and which combined yielded 22 of the statewide 1,117 bird total. 

Thirty-two of the 70 counties saw increases when compared to their respective 2017 numbers, five counties saw identical numbers, three counties were new, and the remaining counties experienced declines.

Also, the total fall turkey-hunting season kill for 2013 through 2017 was: 2013 (1,037); 2014 (1,239); 2015 (1,537); 2016 (2,168); and 2017 (1,060). By comparison, the spring 2018 turkey hunting season saw a total kill of 22,571 bearded birds only.

“I haven’t had the opportunity to look closely at the county-by-county harvest numbers to see if there were any regional changes but this year’s overall harvest is pretty consistent with what has been seen in recent years,” said Mark Wiley, the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s turkey management biologist.”

Here are the county-by-county 2018 opening day deer kill numbers (with their respective 2017 figures in parentheses): Adams: 187 (354); Allen: 45 (93); Ashland: 277 (432); Ashtabula: 488 (821); Athens: 281 (478); Auglaize: 60 (94); Belmont: 215 (362); Brown: 153 (292); Butler: 26 (85); Carroll: 339 (575); Champaign: 64 (121); Clark: 38 (56); Clermont: 63 (179); Clinton: 43 (84); Columbiana: 269 (453); Coshocton: 587 (924); Crawford: 112 (177); Cuyahoga: 11 (15); Darke: 50 (90); Defiance: 145 (252); Delaware: 72 (135); Erie: 41 (69); Fairfield: 126 (213); Fayette: 13 (32); Franklin: 29 (45); Fulton: 77 (101); Gallia: 237 (396); Geauga: 113 (146); Greene: 34 (48); Guernsey: 402 (657); Hamilton: 20 (34); Hancock: 79 (133); Hardin: 91 (139); Harrison: 285 (497); Henry: 59 (112); Highland: 183 (315); Hocking: 249 (426); Holmes: 386 (648); Huron: 204 (370); Jackson: 241 (358); Jefferson: 152 (244); Knox: 424 (705); Lake: 35 (54); Lawrence: 152 (262); Licking: 395 (577); Logan: 137 (219); Lorain: 130 (200); Lucas: 24 (24); Madison: 22 (40); Mahoning: 144 (209); Marion: 86 (122); Medina: 109 (153); Meigs: 229 (414); Mercer: 55 (86); Miami: 35 (72); Monroe: 220 (406); Montgomery: 19 (35); Morgan: 274 (434); Morrow: 120 (228); Muskingum: 489 (780); Noble: 283 (445); Ottawa: 15 (39); Paulding: 87 (129); Perry: 243 (359); Pickaway: 51 (96); Pike: 122 (199); Portage: 104 (142); Preble: 41 (74); Putnam: 59 (94); Richland: 261 (411); Ross: 186 (307); Sandusky: 48 (68); Scioto: 126 (206); Seneca: 141 (244); Shelby: 65 (119); Stark: 184 (248); Summit: 23 (29); Trumbull: 283 (487); Tuscarawas: 511 (768); Union: 56 (103); Van Wert: 43 (50); Vinton: 168 (322); Warren: 38 (62); Washington: 320 (476); Wayne: 184 (265); Williams: 150 (251); Wood: 43 (74); Wyandot: 134 (224).
Total: 13,614 (22,366).

Here are the county-by-county fall turkey harvest totals (with their respective 2017 figures in parentheses. An * designates a county that was open during the 2018 season, but was not open during the 2017 season): Adams: 11 (20); Allen : 8 (4); Ashland: 14 (15); Ashtabula: 39 (46); Athens: 20 (15); Belmont: 29 (23); Brown: 10 (9); Butler: 7 (6); Carroll: 20 (19); Champaign: 2 (3); Clermont: 13 (15); Columbiana: 16 (22); Coshocton: 52 (54); Crawford: 1 (3); Cuyahoga: 6 (2); Defiance: 14 (9); Delaware: 9 (11); Erie*: 6 (0); Fairfield: 12 (6); Fulton: 10 (6); Gallia: 32 (31); Geauga: 34 (16); Guernsey: 41 (31); Hamilton: 11 (11); Hancock*: 4 (0); Hardin: 2 (3); Harrison: 35 (28); Henry: 3 (3); Highland: 25 (25); Hocking: 20 (8); Holmes: 32 (26); Huron: 12 (5); Jackson: 21 (18); Jefferson: 8 (19); Knox: 18 (17); Lake: 9 (9); Lawrence: 19 (12); Licking: 25 (30); Logan: 10 (4); Lorain: 5 (16); Lucas*: 12 (0); Mahoning: 11 (11); Medina: 13 (17); Meigs: 19 (20); Monroe: 28 (22); Morgan: 28 (12); Morrow: 6 (19); Muskingum: 25 (20); Noble: 30 (19); Paulding: 2 (8); Perry: 17 (19); Pike: 18 (12); Portage: 18 (15); Preble: 9 (10); Putnam: 5 (8); Richland: 19 (28); Ross: 17 (13); Scioto: 25 (7); Seneca: 2 (9); Stark: 14 (25); Summit: 9 (13); Trumbull: 21 (28); Tuscarawas: 40 (25); Vinton: 11 (18); Warren: 4 (6); Washington: 19 (18); Wayne: 9 (8); Williams: 13 (25); Wyandot: 4 (5); Total: 1,117 (1,053).

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn

JFrischk@Ameritech.net

Ohio's exceptional youth-only deer gun season adds to to-date totals

What a difference one year - and nicer, more hunting-conducive weather - can do to an overall firearms deer-season kill.

That detail includes Ohio’s recently held two-day youth-only firearms deer-hunting season. Whereas the 2017 youth gun season hunt was plagued by miserable weather, at least one day this year and for nearly the entire state saw much better hunting conditions.

All of which led to a boast in the two-day youth-only season kill from 4,958 animals in 2017 to 6,563 animals this year, the season having been held November 17th and 18th.

And the large volley fired by the youths contributed to a jump in the weekly to-date overall deer kill as well. In fact, only an election in Florida would see such a tightening of numbers; the overall to-date 2017 and 2018 deer kill statistics being that close.

Returning to the just-concluded youth-only firearms deer-hunting season, the 6,563 deer killed was the largest such number since the 2015 youth-only season hunt when 7,223 animals were taken by youngsters.

Going back to 2014, the youth-only deer kill numbers were 6,453; the 2015 figure again was 7,223; the 2016 number was 5,930; and the 2017 figure again was 4,958.

As for the county-by-county take during the 2018 youth-only season, we see that of Ohio’s 88 counties, 12 saw declines and three counties posted identical 2017 and 2018 youth-only season deer kills. The remaining 73 counties posted gains in 2018 over their 2017 youth-only gun season totals.

“Of all the deer seasons we have, the youth hunt is the most impacted by the weather. If it’s bad than the kids don’t go and the adults don’t take them,” said Clint McCoy, the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s lead deer management biologist.

McCoy did say that because the youth-only firearms hunt went so well that the numbers contributed to the uptick in the current weekly to-date deer kill figures.

However, those looking forward to the general firearms deer-hunting season need not worry that the youths shot off all of the state’s bucks and does.

“Spread out over the entire state, the youth hunt harvest really does not impact the general firearms deer season harvest results,” McCoy said.

That youth-only harvest results will stand on the shoulders of the to-date deer kill totals on the eve of Ohio’s general firearms season. And right now the overall to-date 2018 kill is mirroring the comparable 2017 to date figure.

So far and as of the November 20th 2018 weekly reporting period, 67,881 deer have been killed. For the comparable November 21st 2017 weekly reporting period that number was 67,291 animals, or only a 590 animal difference.

Between the November 13th, 2018 and the November 20th, 2018 reporting periods, Ohio’s deer hunters shot 13,573 animals, including those deer taken during the two-day/youth-only firearms season.

Now that we are in the all-implements phases of Ohio’s deer hunting seasons the numbers are combined as to what hunters are using to take their animals.

In looking at the statistics, of Ohio’s 88 counties, 49 of them posted gains when compared to their respective 2017 to-date numbers while three counties had identical figures. The remaining 36 counties posted declines.

Among those counties seeing increases (with their respective and comparable 2017 numbers in parentheses) were: Brown – 904 (899); Fairfield – 728 (696); Gallia – 854 (756); Hardin – 421 (393); Holmes – 1,635 (1,576); Jefferson – 602 (560); Knox – 1,673 (1,590); Medina – 877 (810); Mercer – 299 (257); Noble – 1,001 (958); Portage – 1,091 (920); Stark – 1,193 (1,137); Trumbull – 1,515 (1,470); and Wyandot – 502 (460).

Among those counties seeing decreases (with their respective and comparable 2017 numbers in parentheses) were: Adams – 1,289 (1,344); Ashtabula – 1,739 (1,769); Columbiana – 981 (1,013); Geauga – 759 (788); Guernsey – 1,454 (1,533); Harrison – 1,123 (1,165); Hocking – 1,041 (1,097); Lake – 398 (452); Licking – 1,890 (1,948); Marion – 272 (273); Muskingum – 1,641 (1,713); Tuscarawas – 1,867 (1,882); and Vinton – 936 (939).

The three counties with identical 2017 and 2018 to-date deer kill numbers were Allen – 406; Crawford 378; and Jackson – 1,098.

To date, 24 of Ohio’s 88 counties have reported deer kills of one-thousand animals or more each. The comparable 2017 figure was 23 counties.

The county-by-county results for the two-day youth-only firearms deer-hunting season are:

Adams: 145 (106); Allen: 35 (21); Ashland: 133 (72); Ashtabula: 155 (115); Athens: 132 (97); Auglaize: 38 (20); Belmont: 135 (143); Brown: 84 (60); Butler: 36 (21); Carroll: 111 (135); Champaign: 53 (24); Clark: 26 (14); Clermont: 67 (33); Clinton: 39 (25); Columbiana: 84 (93); Coshocton: 287 (225); Crawford: 37 (37); Cuyahoga: 1 (0); Darke: 27 (24); Defiance: 67 (46); Delaware: 31 (17); Erie: 83 (71); Fairfield: 62 (60); Fayette: 14 (9); Franklin: 11 (11); Fulton: 18 (19); Gallia: 126 (76); Geauga: 42 (30); Greene: 29 (13); Guernsey: 154 (155); Hamilton: 12 (10); Hancock: 35 (34); Hardin: 42 (28); Harrison: 116 (119); Henry: 19 (22); Highland: 94 (97); Hocking: 84 (77); Holmes: 235 (125); Huron: 96 (59); Jackson: 117 (88); Jefferson: 82 (63); Knox: 185 (124); Lake: 12 (7); Lawrence: 78 (57); Licking: 145 (130); Logan: 90 (48); Lorain: 58 (39); Lucas: 10 (7); Madison: 28 (17); Mahoning: 56 (35); Marion: 22 (24); Medina: 43 (28); Meigs: 138 (104); Mercer: 22 (16); Miami: 32 (16); Monroe: 98 (84); Montgomery: 13 (5); Morgan: 144 (82); Morrow: 54 (32); Muskingum: 170 (164); Noble: 118 (75); Ottawa: 19 (19); Paulding: 42 (33); Perry: 85 (89); Pickaway: 28 (30); Pike: 91 (59); Portage: 29 (20); Preble: 47 (29); Putnam: 42 (27); Richland: 112 (71); Ross: 136 (138); Sandusky: 29 (9); Scioto: 98 (70); Seneca: 83 (68); Shelby: 45 (29); Stark: 79 (56); Summit: 14 (6); Trumbull: 96 (49); Tuscarawas: 223 (186); Union: 37 (26); Van Wert: 38 (14); Vinton: 92 (67); Warren: 34 (18); Washington: 117 (101); Wayne: 77 (54); Williams: 43 (26); Wood: 34 (25); Wyandot: 83 (51).
Total: 6,563 (4,958).

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischk@Ameritech.net

Burrr! Likely coldest-ever November 22nd Thanksgiving Day for Cleveland

With Thanksgiving Day a little more than 24 hours away, Northeast Ohioans looking to celebrate may have to do so cold turkey.

The forecast for the day is a wishbone-chilly 28 degrees for a high with Wednesday night’s projected low at a feather-ruffling 20 degrees. By all accounts it is expected to be one of the coldest Thanksgiving Days on record, and the coldest by far for a Thanksgiving Day falling on a November 22^nd.

If that be the case, let’s look at that record as compiled by the National Weather Service. Of course, honoring Thanksgiving Day is something similar to hitting a moving target: the event is not celebrated on the same date the way New Years, July 4th or Christmas are commemorated.

Thanksgiving is locked in the last Thursday in November. Thus, the earliest Thanksgiving can be anchored is November 20^th and the latest is November 30^th. That is a huge date swing at a time of year when both temperature and participation are meteorically highly variable.

In looking back through the Weather Service’s record books we see that since 1887, Thanksgiving Day has fallen on November 22^nd a total of 11 times, the last one occurring in 2013. On those 11 instances the coldest was in 1956 with a low temperature of 17 degrees and a high of 31 degrees.

So if the high does climb only to the projected 28 degree it will become the coldest November 22^nd Thanksgiving Day on record.

For November 22^nd, the normal (average) high is 48 degrees while the normal (average) low for the date is 35 degrees. The date’s record high was the 73 degrees checked off in 1934 with the date’s record low being the zero degrees, marked in 1880. (Yes, there is a difference between record highs-lows and statistics compiled for holidays).

Oh, the warmest Thanksgiving for the November 22^nd date was the 61 degrees which was recorded in 2012.

We also see that of the 11 November 22^nd Thanksgiving Days currently on the books, snow has fallen only twice though precipitation has arrived in one form or other six times.

Just for more Thanksgiving Day weather trivia, the warmest ever for the holiday was 70 degrees, which was recorded November 26^th, 1896. The coldest ever Thanksgiving Day was 7 degrees, which happened November 27^th 1930.

Also, the snowiest-ever Thanksgiving as recorded for Cleveland was the 0.9 inches that fell November 27^th, 2014.

Since 1887, precipitation in one form or another has fallen 81 times on Thanksgiving Day, or 62 percent of the time.

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischk@Ameritech.net