MARIETTA – Deer hunting means big business for Ohio. The total economic impact of hunting statewide is estimated at more than $853 million annually, according to a report from the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

“A lot of people don’t realize how much deer hunting contributes to the economy, as hunters purchase fuel, lodging, food, clothing, firearms and other hunting-related goods and services in the state,” said John Windau, wildlife communications specialist with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Nationally Ohio ranks 11th in the number of jobs associated with hunting-related industries that include bow, firearms and other hunting equipment manufacturing, retail sales, hotels, restaurants, service stations, and deer processing facilities.

Many local firms were experiencing increased business due to deer gun season that began Monday and runs through today.

“They’re a great bunch of people,” said Sherry Sampson, manager of the Lakeside Motel on Ohio 60 near Beverly, about the hunters who fill the motel’s rooms during hunting season each year.

“The bow hunters did really well this year, and the gun hunters haven’t done so well this week,” she said. “They start arriving here the week before gun season begins and fill up our rooms. The hunters probably stay at least three nights during the week, but some who come from as far away as Massachusetts, Vermont, North Carolina and Florida will stay for six or seven days.”

In Marietta, hotels like the Quality Inn on Pike Street also benefit during deer gun season.

“We sold at least 15 rooms to hunters on Sunday, and most stay from four days to a week,” said Alley Moore, front desk agent for the Quality Inn.

She noted the hunters also have lunch and evening meals at the Prime Steak and Seafood Restaurant next door to the hotel.

A change in the type of firearms permitted during this year’s deer gun season has had a definite impact on sales in the gun department at Bridgeport Equipment off Acme Street in Marietta.

“We do sell clothing, guns and ammunition, but the sale of straight-walled cartridge rifles is really booming this year,” said Mike Ward, manager in Bridgeport Equipment’s gun department.

That’s due to the state’s first-time-ever authorization for use of straight-walled rifles for the 2014 deer gun season.

“It’s created a big increase in gun sales over last year,” Ward said.

He noted although business always picks up around deer gun season, hunters begin buying guns and other equipment in anticipation of the state’s archery and gun seasons in August and September each year.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation also reports that Ohio ranks fifth in the nation for resident hunters, but non-resident hunters also contribute to the economic increase during deer season.

“We definitely get hunters from other areas of Ohio, but the chamber and convention and visitors bureau also receive calls from hunters who live outside the state,” said Charlotte Keim, executive director of the Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce.

She noted Washington County is located on the border with West Virginia, and many hunters from that state will purchase Ohio hunting licenses to hunt during deer season.

More than 400,000 hunters are expected to take to the field during this year’s hunting season in Ohio.

According to Ohio DNR, on Monday, the first day of this year’s deer gun season, the total number of reported deer kills was 17,512, compared to 22,619 last year.

In Washington County Monday’s deer harvest totaled 350, down from 2013 when 497 deer were taken on the first day of the season.