Hunters are gearing up for another gun deer season which will run from Nov. 27 through Dec. 3 and Dec. 16-17, with youth deer gun season on Nov. 18-19.
Vanessa Eddington, a seasoned sales professional at Danville Outdoors with 16 years of experience, said hunters have been busy preparing.
“Everyone kind of has their own opinion of what they're looking for,” Eddington told the Mount Vernon News in regards to purchasing guns and ammunition for deer season.
“It varies from hunter to hunter. Everyone has different needs and different things. Some people want something a little bit bigger. Other people want something with a little less behind it. If you have certain injuries or can only do certain things, you just limit what you're able. So everyone's needs are just a little different.”
According to Eddington, two of the most popular calibers for deer hunting, especially in Ohio where certain regulations apply, are the .350 Legend and the .450 Bushmaster.
The state mandates the use of straight-walled cartridges, and both these options fit the bill.
“Those are two very good straight-walled cartridges. The .350 is a little bit smaller, more popular with younger hunters, kids a little less recoil behind it where the .450 is a good bit bigger. Both are very popular rounds,” Eddington said.
When it comes to preferred ammunition brands, Eddington highlights Winchester as among the most common. She emphasizes Winchester's reputation for producing high-quality ammo suitable for deer hunting.
Eddington said two new rounds – the .400 Legend and the .360 Buckhammer – are anticipated to bring fresh options to the hunting scene.
“We haven't seen either of those yet,” Eddington said. “We have them on order, but haven't gotten them in stock yet. But those are the two new and exciting things coming to deer hunting this year.”
For newcomers to hunting, Eddington suggests learning gun safety as a fundamental step. She notes that many beginners often accompany more experienced hunters to gain valuable insights.
“The most important thing is if you are going to start hunting any animal, deer hunting, especially because you usually figure calibers, you want to be safe and do it in a safe manner,” she said.
While Eddington hasn't embarked on her deer hunting journey this year, she emphasizes the importance of preparation.
“I'll shoot a couple of rounds through my rifle just to make sure I still have it sighted in good condition. Make sure I have a good, safe spot to hunt at. Talk to some of the other people that hunt the same areas. Just make sure we know who's going to be where and when but that's about it,” she said.
Eddington noted the significance of hunting for sustenance, expressing that knowing where one's food comes from is vital. For her, deer hunting contributes to a sense of ethical and sustainable practices that can be passed down through generations.
“This is how I feed myself for the year, getting a couple of deer in the freezer and that's how I eat for the year,” she said. “It says a lot knowing where your food comes from and being able to do it in an ethical manner, following the rules, making sure that there's plenty for my kids and their kids and for years to come.”
According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, during Gun Season and Youth Gun Season, hunters are permitted to use specific firearms, including shotguns of 10 gauge or smaller with one ball or rifled slug per barrel, muzzleloading rifles of .38 caliber or larger, and muzzleloading shotguns of 10 gauge or smaller with one ball per barrel.
Handguns with a 5-inch minimum length barrel using straight-walled cartridges of .357 caliber or larger are also allowed. Additionally, straight-walled cartridge rifles in calibers ranging from a minimum of .357 to a maximum of .50 are permitted.
Both shotguns and straight-walled cartridge rifles have a loading restriction, allowing no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined.
Deer, being the most popular game animal in the state, saw changes in bag limits across specific counties this year. Knox County is designated as a "Three Deer County” where hunters are allowed to utilize three either-sex permits, three deer management permits, or a combination of both to harvest a maximum of three deer.
This regulation provides hunters in Knox County with flexibility in selecting their permits while emphasizing the overall limit of three deer per hunter in this specific county.
Consistent with past regulations, hunters are allowed to harvest only one antlered deer, regardless of the location or method of hunting.
”Only one antlered deer may be taken during the 2023-24 season. An antlered deer has at least one antler 3 inches or longer in length,” the ODNR notes.
