From what I'm gathering, a lot of people are not aware that this weekend (Oct 12-13) is an early muzzleloader season in Ohio. This two day season is antlerless deer only, regardless if you are using a muzzleloader or bow.
Below is an email the ODNR is sending out.

Ohio Offers Antlerless-Only Deer Muzzleloader Hunt Oct. 12-13
No bucks may be harvested during this weekend

Ohio hunters have the opportunity to participate in a new antlerless-only deer muzzleloader season Oct. 12-13, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

It is legal to hunt antlerless deer statewide with a muzzleloader or bow during the two-day season. No bucks may be harvested regardless of hunting implement. Antlerless deer include deer without antlers and deer with antlers less than 3 inches in length. All hunters are required to wear a vest, coat, jacket or coveralls that are either solid hunter orange or camouflage hunter orange.

Hunters will be able to use antlerless permits and either-sex permits during the two-day season. Hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

This muzzleloader hunt encourages early antlerless harvest. Reducing the deer population early in the hunting season means that more resources will be available for the surviving herd later in the winter. Harvesting does early should make for a more intense rut by encouraging buck movement.

A new tagging procedure administered by the ODNR Division of Wildlife requires hunters to make their own game tag to attach to a deer. Game tags can be made of any material (cardboard, plastic, paper, etc.) as long as it contains the hunter's name, date, time and county of the kill. Go to the Deer Hunting Resources page at wildohio.com for more information on changes to the game check process.

All hunters must report their deer harvest using the automated game-check system. Hunters have three options to complete the game check:

• Online at ohiogamecheck.com;
• Call 877-TAG-ITOH (824-4864);
• Visit a license agent. A list of agents can be found at wildohio.com or by calling 800-WILDLIFE.

Game-check transactions are available online and by seven days a week, including holidays. Landowners exempt from purchasing a deer permit, and other people not required to purchase a deer permit, cannot use the 877-TAG-ITOH option.

The ODNR Division of Wildlife remains committed to properly managing Ohio's deer populations through a combination of regulatory and programmatic changes. Progress toward reducing locally abundant herds can be expected. Strides have been made to reduce deer herds in many counties closer to target levels.

Ohio hunters are encouraged to hunt more does this season to help the needy in their area. The ODNR Division of Wildlife is working with Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) to help pay for the processing of donated venison. Hunters who donate their deer to a food bank are not required to pay the processing cost as long as funding for the effort lasts. More information about this program can be found online at fhfh.org.

Deer hunting in Ohio continues to be a popular activity for many who enjoy the outdoors. Ohio hunters checked 218,910 deer during the 2012-2013 season. Ohio ranks fifth nationally in resident hunters and 11th in the number of jobs associated with hunting-related industries. Hunting has a more than $853 million economic impact in Ohio through the sale of equipment, fuel, food, lodging and more, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation's Hunting in America: An Economic Force for Conservation publication.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.

Thanks, Just checked my tags and I do need to make a separate to attach to the animal.

QuoteOriginally posted by Bowbldr:
Thanks, Just checked my tags and I do need to make a separate tag to attach to the animal.

You can also print these to carry with you..

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/9/pdf/deer%20harvest/DNR%208842,%20GAME%20TAG%202013.pdf

That made it easy..

thank you irishhacker...good info...

There will be a lot of nice bucks checked in Monday....;-)

I agree Rod..
We are making friendly bets here at work.
The average buck total for Ohio this year is 206 bucks killed per day.
So far, the guesses for Monday are 362 - 520 - and 618. lol

Yep, on the Monday buck kill...    


irishhacker - Put me down for 751...  

Where are you seeing those statistics?  Just trying to learn.  Would be cool to see.  Tks

ceme24 - I have stats somewhere, when a chance, will  post.

Deer kill is down 30% this year compared to last year.  The ODNR has the stats on their website comparing this year with last.  Still have 3 to 1 doe to buck kill.

I have to work this weekend anyway
I may have taken the smoke pole out for a freezer doe.
But I have to work and wil hit the woods Tues.
I agree that a lot of cheating will happen

QuoteOriginally posted by ceme24:
Where are you seeing those statistics?  Just trying to learn.  Would be cool to see.  Tks

Ohio DNR Deer Harvest Comparison

I hate this new hunt.  Doe only for muzzleloader is fine but for archery it is really dumb.

I hate this new hunt.  Doe only for muzzleloader is fine but for archery it is really dumb.

Come Monday, likely be some perturbed bowhunters when the buck they were hunting gets blasted over the weekend by a poaching smokepoler...

We've had a MZ doe only season for years here in PA.

That ends hunting "undisturbed deer with a bow" For 7 days, they stomp and tromp thru bedding areas, doing drives, and raising cane all over the state.  Sr's can use regular rifles.

Archers have to do some orange when moving and in a nearby tree (100 sq) but it changes so I'll have to check if I go out.

Deer are near frantic after a week of guns booming...at least you have a weekend only, but archers can still shoot buck here.  Or could, again, things change. I'll have to double check.

Then comes early small game, then regular small game and fall turkey coincide with archery.  Things get a bit frenetic in the woods after that early do MZ season!

And yet, we STILL see fawns with spots in early archery...so they're not all getting bred first estrus YET!

QuoteOriginally posted by Zbone:
Come Monday, likely be some perturbed bowhunters when the buck they were hunting gets blasted over the weekend by a poaching smokepoler...

That is an unfair statement, that would be like someone calling all trad. bowhunters poachers. I think the idea of a hunt like that during the archery season stinks but we need to respect others rights and their character, we have a youth gun hunt this weekend so the main thing is to be aware of others so there are no accidents.

My son and I will be in a blind with our bows.

Anyone that doesn't like this new season can always choose to sit it out or be in the woods.

If I sat home every time there was the potential for a poacher to ruin  my hunt, then I'd never get out.

Poachers are gonna poach, no matter the season.