That is not consistent with what I have seen here in central Ohio. Public lands are always too crowded. The largest public access lands are the Mead Paper plant, I believe. We were out in a heavy fog, opening day at Mead a couple years ago. We had GPS to find our climber stands, and could barely tell we were still on our proper path. We walked in about 3 miles, and waited for the weather to lift. When we could finally see, I could see about a dozen orange wearing hunters in view and too close. I will not hunt the ground on public lands. Too many people and too many fields of fire.
"Ohio Hunters Harvest more than 182,000 Deer during 2016-2017 Season
2/7/2017 Division of Wildlife
COLUMBUS, OH - Hunters checked 182,169 white-tailed deer throughout Ohio’s 2016-2017 deer season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Last year, 188,329 deer were checked during the 2015-2016 season.
The ODNR Division of Wildlife remains committed to properly managing Ohio’s deer populations. The goal of Ohio’s Deer Management Program is to provide a deer population that maximizes recreational opportunities, while minimizing conflicts with landowners and motorists.
Deer hunting regulations over the past two seasons have been designed to allow for moderate herd growth throughout most of the state. Herd growth is achieved by reducing harvest and protecting female deer.
Hunting Popularity
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.
Find more information about deer hunting in the Ohio 2016-2017 Hunting and Trapping Regulations or at wildohio.gov
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."
http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/wildlif...han-182-000-deer-during-2016-2017-season
