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Ohio archers on hunt for deer

Photo by Breckin Wells Steve Pettebone, 67, of Marietta, checks out the archery gear at Magnum Get Your Shot On at 1259 Hartline Road in Whipple.

MARIETTA — Ohio’s white-tailed archery season began Saturday, with local hunters sighting their bows and preparing for a good hunting season which continues through Feb. 5.

“I look forward to hunting season all year long; to me it’s not just a season but a year-round game,” said Justin Mock, 24, of Pennsville. “As soon as the season ends it starts right back up with shed hunting to running cameras and getting food plots ready for the next year. It’s a 24/7, 365-day-a year adventure.”

Shane McGrew, 45, of McConnelsville, has been hunting for 36 years and is excited more than ever to pull out his bow and shoot his first arrow of the season.

“I look forward to hunting season as much as most women look forward to a long shopping trip,” said McGrew.

According to Jim Hill, Ohio Division of Wildlife District Four wildlife management supervisor, this year’s archery season will be a good one.

“We are projecting a slight increase in deer population this year,” said Hill. “That should result in an increase in harvest.”

In Washington County, hunters may kill no more than two deer, which has not changed since last year’s bag limit.

“Hunters are allowed to only harvest one antlered deer,” said Hill. “For instance, if they shoot buck, that means the other deer needs to be antlerless.”

Hill projects 150,000 hunters to take part in  this year’s archery season.

One of those hunters is Shane’s son, Ryan McGrew, 23, of Beverly. McGrew said he makes sure to put a lot of time and effort into the preparation before archery season begins.

“I make sure all of my equipment is on point,” he said. ” I make sure I have the right clothing and I do a lot of scouting in the woods to see what the animals are eating and where they are. I check to see what their pattern is like such as where they eat and sleep.”

As another step in preparation, hunters are invited to the city of Marietta’s second bow hunting test on Oct. 1 from 9-11 a.m. at Buckeye Park. A bow with practice tips is required to take the test.

While the whole season may be a good one, the weather for Saturday’s kickoff to archery season was near 90 degrees and for most hunters this can be a problem.

“When it’s hot the animals don’t like to move as much,” said McGrew, adding good hunting weather is ideally 50 to 60 degrees.

“Colder weather is a hunter’s dream,” he said.

While some hunters may view the weather as an issue, Mock doesn’t see it that way.

“I think the hot weather will have a small factor in the hunting season this year and it will push the deer to move later in the evening or earlier in the morning,” he said. “As far as keeping them from moving I don’t think it will affect them because no matter what they still have to eat.”

Even though the weather has started off warm, Hill said more hunters will participate as the season goes on.

“I don’t think it will be any different,” he said.  “Our weather in hunting improves as the season goes on. This is something that comes with the territory.”

Hill said they are expecting more than 150,000 deer to be checked this year. Last season, hunters in Ohio checked 152,444 deer and they harvested 148,821 in 2014.

For many hunters it’s not about the amount of deer that is harvested, but realizing the beauty of nature.

“I just love being in the outdoors and watching the world wake up all of God’s creations,” said Shane McGrew.

Mock said hunting has allowed him to de-stress from his everyday life.

“It’s a great stress reliever and it makes you feel so relaxed like the weight of the world is lifted off of your shoulders and nothing else matters,” he said.

Ryan McGrew said he has learned the true meaning of patience through hunting.

“Hunting can teach a lot of things such as patience, adrenaline rush control,” he said. “The peace and quiet is also nice.”

Hill said all hunters participating in any hunting season will need a hunting license and deer permit.

Hunting licenses and deer permits can be purchased through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife website. A resident annual hunting license costs $19 and a youth annual hunting license is $19. An adult deer permit is $24 and youth deer permit is $12.

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