Shotgun Ammo Guide

Shotguns are among the most versatile firearms available. With that versatility, a vast and confusing market exists for ammunition. There are thousands of types of shotgun shells, all with different projectiles and powders to give you an edge in whatever task you and your trusty shotgun are trying to accomplish. If you are a beginner to the shotgun world, let’s take a minute and figure out how in the heck we’re supposed to pick out the right ammo.

Gauge

When shopping for shotgun ammo, the first step is to find the right gauge. The industry measures most shotguns in gauges instead of calibers. You would expect that 12 gauge means some sort of linear measurement, but it isn’t. A 12 gauge means that you can make 12 balls of equal size out of a pound of lead and they will each fit the diameter of the barrel precisely. This is why a 20 gauge is smaller than a 12. This originated when you made your own ammunition and you bought lead by the pound. A notable exception is the .410, which is a very small shotgun measured by its bore size. If we measured the .410 by gauge, it would be roughly equivalent to a 68 gauge.

Chamber length

Once you have your gauge figured out, its time to look at inches. In the case of 12 gauge shotguns, chambers generally come in 2-¾, 3 and 3-½-inch chamber lengths. It is very important that you only fire shells that are the length of, or shorter than your corresponding chamber length. For instance, you can safely fire a 2-¾-inch shell out of a 3-½-inch chamber, but not the other way around. If the shell is too long, you will create too much chamber pressure and you could damage the firearm or more importantly, yourself. However, always check your firearm’s manual to make sure what length of shell it will take. If you don’t know, then just stick with the chamber length you know you have and there won’t be any worries.

Shot Size

Using the proper shot size is very important. You will be much more effective at the sport if you know your way around the various shot sizes. The larger the number, the smaller the individual pellets. Generally, the smaller the pellets, the more there are. For example, a No. 8 dove load will have tiny .09-inch pellets, while a No. 4 turkey load will have fewer pellets, but with .13-inch diameters. Buckshot follows a similar patter, meaning the higher the number, the smaller the individual pellets. No. 3 buckshot pellets measure .25 inches, while 00 or double-aught buckshot measures in at a huge .33-inch per pellet. For hunters, the following chart illustrates proper shot size for various game animals.

Game	Lead/Tungsten	Steel
Pheasant	4 to 6	2 to 3
Turkey	4 to 6	2 to 3
Quail, dove,	7½ to 8
Rabbit	6 to 7½
Squirrel	6
Geese	BB to 2	TT to 1
Ducks, low	4 to 6	2 to 4
Ducks, high	2 to 4	BB to 2

Slugs and sabots

A slug is usually a single projectile fired from a shotgun. It can either be dense and heavy for hunting and combat, or light and less lethal for law enforcement applications. Slugs also offer a way to hunt in areas that outlaw traditional rifle hunting. Most slugs are effective at ranges inside 100 yards, and their weight delivers a large amount of kinetic energy to the target. Newer saboted slugs are metallic projectiles supported by a plastic sabot, which engages the rifling in a rifled shotgun barrel and imparts a ballistic spin onto the projectile. This differentiates them from traditional slugs, which do not typically benefit from a rifled barrel.

Materials used

Lead is still the most common material for shotgun pellets. However, at the beginning of the 21st century, ammo manufacturers began producing lead-free shotshell ammunition loaded with steel, bismuth, or tungsten. The alternative materials are non-toxic and used in various types of hunting, especially waterfowl. If you have an older shotgun, stick with lead. The hardness of non-toxic materials can damage your firearm. Make sure you know your state’s hunting laws before using any type of lead or non-toxic material. Different areas have different requirements and you don’t want to break any hunting laws.

Read and join the discussion on Shotgun Ammo Guide at OutdoorHub.com.

Browining Adds 725 Feather 12 ga Model

For 2013 Browning is adding a new 725 Feather 12 ga. model to the Citori line-up. The Citori 725 Feather combines a lightweight alloy receiver with a durable steel breech face and hinge pin for added strength. With a 28” barrel length, the 725 Feather weighs just 6 pounds 9 ounces.

The low-profile receiver design of the Citori 725 Feather features a silver nitride finish and accented, high relief engraving. The Fire Lite Mechanical Trigger system offers a light pull and, unlike an inertia trigger, does not need recoil to set up the next shot. The stock and forearm are made from Grade II/III walnut with a rich gloss oil finish.

To ensure a consistent shot pattern, the 725 Feather includes the Vector Pro lengthened forcing cones and Invector-DS choke tubes. For reduced felt recoil, it is fitted with an Inflex II recoil pad. The Browning 725 Feather is chambered for 3” shells and is available in 26” or 28” barrel lengths. Suggested Retail, $2,649.99.

Read and join the discussion on Browining Adds 725 Feather 12 ga Model at OutdoorHub.com.

Post-season Shotgun Care Tips

The season came and went. The fowl is in the freezer (hopefully) and maybe that one special bird is at the taxidermist getting prepared into a beautiful mount. You’ve got the gear stowed back in the closet and the shotgun is safely tucked away. You’re done with waterfowl hunting for the year.

But, did you take care of your shotgun? After the season is over, take care of your gun now to avoid problems later. There are a few things you can do to make sure your trusty gun is ready for another season.

Clean it

Give it a thorough cleaning, making sure to clean the bore and use the right kind of tools for the job. I like to use Tipton bore rods. They ride on ball-bearing drives so they are easy to use. Hoppe’s BoreSnakes are also awesome tools for cleaning. I use them in the field during the season and after the season is over, they make cleaning the bore a snap.

I wipe down all of the exposed metal surfaces of the gun with a good cloth and nice oil. There are a lot of good oils and cleaning solvents out there, but it’s hard to beat Hoppe’s stuff. Plus the smell just says guns to me. Maybe I’m just nostalgic. Hoppe’s, by the way, has been improved with a sweet synthetic blend that has all the advantages of newer synthetic cleaners, but it still smells like Hoppe’s No. 9.

If you’re using an semiautomatic shotgun, now is the time to strip it down and do a complete cleaning. I know some guns require several cleaning s throughout the year, but others don’t at the end of the season, all of my shotguns get a complete cleaning. Springs, ports, tubes, etc. all get a thorough exam for wear and damage.

And when you reassemble the shotgun, make sure you put the plug back in. One of my good buddies found out the hard way that thinking you have the plug in the gun and knowing are two very different and expensive things.

This is also a great time to make sure all the nuts and bolts are tight, and everything is where it should be. My guns don’t sit idle until next season, as I like to shoot at the range a lot. But if it did have something that sat for a while, it would be all too easy to forget that maybe I dropped the case on the last day of the hunt or something. Check everything now, just to be safe and give you less to worry about later.

Another really important step in the cleaning process is letting the gun sit in the warmth of the house for a while to make sure it gets dry. Condensation from cold weather can be a beast, getting rust-inducing moisture into parts of your gun you can’t see. Don’t be that guy.

One thing that will help is to not leave your gun in a case, sitting in the back of your closet all year. Even if you have a top of the line, weatherproof case that you’re certain will be perfect, this is a no-no. Let the gun breathe. Rust is the enemy. It’s even worse than a politician.

Keep a journal

You don’t have to be extensive about this, but it helps to know the temperature, range and weather conditions you shot your ducks in. Also, what ammo were you using? This will help you next season.

As you can guess, temperature affects metal and your gun is metal. If it’s cold, it’ll affect your gun and your future hunts. Was the temperature low? High? Was it windy? Keeping track of this kind of information will help you at the range the following season when you’re shooting a round or three and getting ready for another season chasing birds.

I also keep track of ammo. Sometimes ammunition manufacturers decide to stop producing a certain kind of ammo. It happened to me. I had one load that patterned awesome for ducks. I thought I had plenty of it, but was wrong. I was shocked and panicked when I learned they had discontinued it. Luckily there was a replacement that did well, but I was glad to have the information for a starting point.

It’s also good to take note of any setting or other modifications to the gun. If you have a shotgun with more than one barrel and you know you’re going to be using one for deer and other game, make sure you try to take note of where and how your slug barrel mounted to the receiver. It makes it easier to set it back up the following deer season.

Shoot it

The best thing I can tell you to do with your gun after season is to shoot it often. Shooting is fun and a great sport. Getting the gun out and shooting often not only makes you a better shot, but it keeps your muscle memory of the action of shooting fresh. I like to think of a shotgun as an extension of your body. Shooting often is just as much a part of off-season gun care as anything else you do.

Besides, shooting reminds you of the hunting season and makes those memories last just that much longer. How sweet is that? I, for one, love hunting and like to think that if I’m not hunting, I’m getting ready to hunt and therefore it is a year-round lifestyle, not just an occasional thing. Good hunting folks!

Read and join the discussion on Post-season Shotgun Care Tips at OutdoorHub.com.

Tips for Buying a Used Shotgun

For many of us, our first shotgun was used. There’s nothing wrong with that. Buying an “experienced” gun can be a cost-effective move. Shotguns, like other firearms, differ from other products in that they can last for many years and be a solid, usable tool to pass along for generations.

To find the right used shotgun, you need to key in on three things: research, examination, and asking the right questions. If everything looks okay, there are three more things you should consider. Have the gun checked out by a gunsmith if possible. If you are at all suspicious, have your local police run a serial number check. Finally, insist on a bill of sale.

Do your research

Do as much research as you can. The internet and books, like the Standard Catalog of Firearms from Gun Digest, are great tools. You can use these tools to find out things like if the firearm is still manufactured and is the maker still in business. The availability of replacement parts, accessories, and/or service should also be a concern. A broken gun that is unfixable is now an expensive paperweight.

How old is the gun? Most modern firearms have long production lives. Knowing serial number ranges and differences in markings between old and new will give you an idea of the value. Look for styling differences such as stock designs, barrel lengths, caliber options, types of sights, and more. These can also help date the firearm.

Examine the firearm thoroughly

This is critical. There is so much abuse that firearms can take and you don’t want to buy one that has seen too much. Check the barrel, receiver, magazine, trigger assembly, and all metal parts for rust damage. Look for anything loose, broken, and worn or if any of the parts are missing. If you find anything wrong, let the seller know and then respectfully pass on the gun. Reputable dealers and sellers will be thankful for the info.

A full examination includes checking the bore and chamber for excessive wear, rust, or lead and copper build up. Nicks or dents in the muzzle can ruin the accuracy and create safety issues. Be sure to check for that, as well as any internal or external bulges in the barrel. Check the condition of the stock and look for signs of abuse such as dents or stains. If possible, examine underneath the stock as this is where real damage is often found.

You should also check to see if the anything has been modified and to what extent. Check if the serial numbers match and then see if the action functions smoothly. If possible strip the gun to look for rust, dirt, and the condition of the springs and firing pin. If the trigger or safety been modified or altered, make sure both work as intended. If not, walk away.

Ask the right questions

When you find a shotgun you are interested in, you need to ask the seller a number of questions. Armed with the knowledge from your inspection of the firearm, ask questions:

• Is the seller the original owner of the gun?
• When did seller purchase it and where was it bought?
• Why the owner is selling the firearm? This isn’t necessary if you’re buying a used gun at a store.
• Ask if there were any problems with the gun. If so, what was the problem, when did it occur and what was done to fix it?
• Are the original paperwork and owner’s manual available? If the seller does not have an owner’s manual, contact the manufacturer and ask for one. Manufacturers will usually supply one free of charge.

Often, you can learn a great deal about the gun’s history and its condition by talking to the seller about what he or she used the gun for, and when it was last used. This will give you an idea of how often it saw use, the conditions it was used under, and more. I know I have an old pump that you wouldn’t want. I beat that gun up, dragging it through the mud and sludge as I learned how to hunt ducks and geese. It doesn’t work well anymore and would be one to walk away from, that is, if I ever sold it. But that isn’t going to happen.

You should also ask roughly how many rounds were fired through the gun. You don’t want to pay top dollar for a gun that has had the barrel shot out of it or has an action that is as sloppy as my son’s handwriting.

Other things you should consider doing before you buy a used gun are:

• Ask a gunsmith to check the firearm over before you buy it. Most stores will have had a competent gunsmith look over all used firearms before they sell them if for nothing else than to reduce liability. Ask to see any records that this was done.
• If buying from a private party, you might have your local police run a check on the gun’s serial number just to be certain it is not stolen. If you’re going to do this, do so before you buy.
• If you are purchasing the gun from a private party, for your own protection, insist upon a signed bill of sale indicating the gun’s model and serial number, the seller’s name, address, phone number, and driver’s license number, if possible.

Buying online

With online gun brokers and auction houses becoming very popular, buying a firearm online is now fairly common. You still want to follow many of the same tips suggested above but it will be impossible to inspect the gun before purchase. If the gun is being shipped to you, insist upon having the ability to inspect and return the gun if it turns out to be less than advertised. The gun will have to go to a licensed federal firearms dealer and perhaps that is an opportunity to have the gun inspected professionally.

The bottom line

Used guns can be a great bargain as well as a way to own a little piece of history. Just make sure you follow the steps to making a smart, educated purchase so that you end up being completely satisfied with your new-to-you gun. If you know what to look for and the right questions to ask, buying a used shotgun can be easy.

Read and join the discussion on Tips for Buying a Used Shotgun at OutdoorHub.com.

Georgia DNR Hosts Shotgun Patterning Days to Prep for Turkey Season

Give it a shot! Turkey season opens March 23. Are you ready?

The Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division and the Georgia State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) are hosting “Give It A Shot!,” shotgun patterning days in March. Choke tubes and ammunition options will be available to test with your shotgun.

Testing different types of choke tubes and ammunition is essential to developing the tightest pattern for your shotgun,” says Walter Lane, Wildlife Resources Division’s hunter development program manager.

“Successful turkey hunters pattern their shotgun before they take to the woods. These events will give hunters – from novices to the most seasoned — an opportunity to test out different products, talk with veteran turkey hunters, and interact with other sportsmen and women.”

“Give It A Shot!” dates are:

Saturday, March 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center Shooting Range (Jasper County) From Mansfield: South on GA Hwy 11 for 2.7 miles, left on Marben Farm Rd. Follow the signs.

Saturday, March 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wilson Shoals WMA Shooting Range (Banks County) From Gainesville: Take Hwy 365 North, 11 miles from exit 24. Turn right on Mud Creek Rd., go 1 mile and turn left on Old Cornelia Hwy. Go 0.1 mile and turn right on Yonah Rd. Go 2.1 miles and turn left on Grant Mill Rd. The range will be 1 mile on the right.

Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Flint Skeet and Trap Club Flint Skeet and Trap Club is located at 1319 Lily Pond Rd., Albany, GA 31701

Volunteers from Wildlife Resources and the NWTF will assist hunters during this event. Hunters should bring their own shotguns and can also bring ammunition or choke tubes of their own they would like to test. Paper targets will be provided.

“Give It A Shot!” is FREE, and participants are exempt from needing the Georgia Outdoor Recreational Pass (GORP) during the events. Children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Read and join the discussion on Georgia DNR Hosts Shotgun Patterning Days to Prep for Turkey Season at OutdoorHub.com.

Shotgun Life Announces “Contextual Advertising” as a Part of Complete Redesign

Contextual Advertising Automatically Pairs Ads With Editorial, Giving Direct Relevancy to Companies Reaching Affluent Wing and Clays Shooters

Shotgun Life (www.shotgunlife.com), the first online magazine dedicated to the best in wing and clays shooting, announced the industry’s first Contextual Advertising – a unique system that automatically matches a company’s products with quality editorial benefits.

Contextual Advertising lets companies run multiple ads on Shotgun Life, which are routinely matched with stories based on key words and other corresponding factors. For example, a shotshell manufacturer can run one ad for subgauge shells, another ad for waterfowl shells and yet a third for upland shells depending on the nature of the story. A gun case company can match their products with over/under, semi-automatic or side-by-side shotguns. Categories can also be established by gender, helping advertisers reach the 37% of Shotgun Life readers who are women.

Shotgun Life’s new Contextual Advertising complements its superior Search Engine Optimization (SEO), which is built into its Internet software platform. Since so many shooters now scour the Internet for information before making a buying decision, Shotgun Life’s SEO, combined with Contextual Advertising, educate potential customers beyond the ocean of “guns for sale” classifieds that proliferate the Internet. This powerful combination of Contextual Advertising and SEO effectively gives advertisers intelligent Internet exposure in-perpetuity.

“Having spent 15 years in Silicon Valley as a marketing and media-relations professional, the Shotgun Life team brings a wealth of related experience to the wing and clays shooting industry,” said Shotgun Life Publisher, Irwin Greenstein.

Shotgun Life’s Contextual Advertising and SEO campaigns are complemented by an aggressive social-marketing program that reaches some 50 affinity groups on Facebook, LinkedIn and blogs.

These new capabilities are complemented by a redesign that conveys a luxurious upscale image. The online magazine now features a leather backdrop, easy-to-read royal blue headlines, rotating lead stories and exciting new opportunities for streaming-media marketing.

Because of the underlying modular software platform, ads can be moved anywhere on Shotgun Life, and for a very modest premium companies can mix-and-match different ads throughout the online magazine.

Read and join the discussion on Shotgun Life Announces “Contextual Advertising” as a Part of Complete Redesign at OutdoorHub.com.

Dividing Time Between the Gridiron and a Tree Stand with Sean Considine

On Sunday, February 3, 2013, when the Baltimore Ravens come out of the tunnel to face the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII, one of the men to keep your eye on is number 37, Sean Considine. Considine, an avid outdoorsman who is on Mossy Oak’s Pro Staff, will be living the dream he’s had for most of his life and his entire football career.

“I like to bowhunt more than I do shotgun hunt,” says Sean Considine, safety for the Baltimore Ravens. “In my state, we can’t hunt with rifles. I’ve been shooting a Mathews bow for the last few years, because that company makes a great bow.”

Since Considine also played football when he was young, he could get in more days hunting deer with a bow than he could with a shotgun. At a very early age, he started hunting with a bow to have more days to hunt whitetails.

“The Illinois State Football Championship is held on the opening day of shotgun hunting in Illinois,” according to Considine. ”I knew I’d have more days to hunt if I shot a bow, than if I hunted with a shotgun.” Considine had two passions that took place at the same time: football season and deer season. Not willing to give up either, he had to structure his schedule to find time for both.

The XLVII Super Bowl will have Considine’s undivided attention.

“This game will give both teams’ players the biggest stage they’ve ever performed on, since the Super Bowl will be seen around the world,” he says. “For us, as players, there’s a lot of hype, excitement and stress, leading up to coming out of the tunnel on Super Bowl Sunday, February 3. So, to deal with all this, I need to have a great deal of preparation for the game. I know that the better I prepare this week, the less stress I’ll have on game day. I want to know, before I come out of that tunnel, that I’ve done everything I possibly can do to give myself a chance to play in one of the greatest games of my career. I’m really looking forward to this opportunity. The Super Bowl, for me, as a small town kid, is a dream come true, and I can hardly wait to play.”

Sean Considine comes from humble roots and has put in a lot of hard work and moved from team to team in the NFL for over eight years. His job is to be the best football player he can be, especially this Sunday for the XLVII Super Bowl. Although he’s at the height of his profession in his football career, he still views himself as that small town, rural, country boy, who just wants to hunt and fish and play football.

One of the reasons that Considine is a member of the Mossy Oak Pro Staff is that through all his football career successes, he still views himself as an outdoorsman with a love of the land and the wildlife that lives on it, and the water and the fish that swim in it. He plows and plants for wildlife, and he enjoys the solitude of a deer stand, away from the crowds, the glamour, and the glitz, that will be this Sunday’s Super Bowl.

To learn more about Mossy Oak, go to www.mossyoak.com. Outdoor Hub will be publishing more articles detailing Considine’s outdoors background in the lead up to the Super Bowl–keep checking back for more.

Read and join the discussion on Dividing Time Between the Gridiron and a Tree Stand with Sean Considine at OutdoorHub.com.

RHINO Gun Cases Introduces Thunderbolt Series of Chokes in Mossy Oak Camo

RHINO Gun Cases Inc. is proud to introduce a new line of high end chokes, the Thunderbolt Series. The Thunderbolt Series offers Turkey Thug, Waterfowl, Dove/Pheasant and Predator. With 35 years of patented design, manufacturing and marketing on our other lines of chokes, RHINO has developed another superior choke design worthy of joining our product line.

RHINO’S Thunderbolt Series is designed around our patented port hole design. The holes are designed as wad strippers. This design allows the shot stream to develop and maintain itself with zero interruption and interference from the wad, therefore producing 33-percent more consistent and more uniform shot patterns than any other choke. The by-product of the porting reduces felt recoil by as much as 10-percent aiding in reduction of recoil in the 3″ and 3-1/2″ magnum shells where reduction of recoil is most necessary.

One of the unique features of the ported Thunderbolt design is the capability to handle all shot loads unlike any competitor’s ported chokes.

The Waterfowl and Dove/Pheasant series is offered both in early and late season restrictions. For more information, log on to www.rhinochokes.com or call 800-226-3613.

Read and join the discussion on RHINO Gun Cases Introduces Thunderbolt Series of Chokes in Mossy Oak Camo at OutdoorHub.com.

Final Iowa Deer Hunting Season Begins January 11

The final deer hunting season begins Jan. 11, in the 38 counties in southern and western Iowa where antlerless deer licenses are available.

Success during the January antlerless season depends on finding where deer are feeding and upon the weather. Cold weather will spur the deer to feed more heavily, so browse lines and food plots will be attractive. Although hunters may see fewer deer as numbers have declined, the season offers some excellent hunting opportunities.

Party hunting is legal and firearm hunters must wear blaze orange. Shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns, and bows are legal options in all open counties. Centerfire rifles (.24 caliber or larger) are legal in the 21 counties in the southern two tiers of the state.

Last year, 81 percent of the 8,300 deer reported during the January antlerless season were does.  To avoid harvesting a shed-antlered buck, hunters should pass up shots at lone deer and wait for deer traveling in groups of does and fawns.

In late December and January, bucks may be found traveling together in bachelor groups of 2-4 animals, but these groups will usually consist of only adult deer. If a small group of adult deer contains even one antlered buck, then the group is typically all bucks. But, if the group contains fawns, it is likely composed of does and fawns. Patience and binoculars are especially useful for identifying the type of deer.

Hunters are encouraged to work with landowners to determine if deer are at desirable levels, and base decisions on how they use the remaining antlerless tags on local herd conditions to avoid over-harvesting deer where they hunt.

Hunters may observe the added effect of this year’s EHD outbreak as areas south of I-80 and in counties bordering the Missouri River had higher incidents of the disease. Counties open during the January antlerless season are within that region.

Hunting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Beginning Jan. 11, a 2013 hunting license and habitat fee will be required. The January antlerless season closes Jan. 20.

Deer must be reported using the harvest reporting system by midnight the day after the deer is tagged. Hunters’ accurately reporting their harvest is an important component of Iowa’s deer management program and future hunting opportunities.

Hunters may report their harvest at www.iowadnr.gov, by calling 1-800-771-4692 or at any license vendor. For hunters with internet access, reporting the harvest online is the easiest way to register the deer. Hunters preferring to donate their deer may do so through the Help Us Stop Hunger (HUSH) program, which provides needed meat to Iowans through the Food Bank of Iowa. Iowa has one of the largest programs in the nation.

Read and join the discussion on Final Iowa Deer Hunting Season Begins January 11 at OutdoorHub.com.

Ohio Offers Hunters Additional Weekend for Deer-gun Season

Ohio’s deer-gun season returns Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 15-16, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

Hunters can use a legal shotgun, muzzleloader or handgun to pursue white-tailed deer Dec. 15-16 from a half-hour before sunrise to sunset. The extra weekend days were added in 2006 in response to hunters’ requests for extended weekend hunting hours.

Ohio hunters and birdwatchers are reminded to be aware of one another as they pursue deer and birds on the shared weekend. Hunters need to remember that there may be other people — both hunters and non-hunters — in the woods. Birders are also reminded that hunters are allowed to hunt on private land where they have written permission. Deer hunters are required to wear a hunter orange vest, coat, jacket or coveralls in the field. Birders should consider wearing a hunter orange vest or hat during the deer-gun weekend for their own safety.

Hunters may take only one antlered deer, regardless of zone, hunting method or season. A deer permit is required in addition to a valid Ohio hunting license. Hunters must purchase an additional permit to hunt more than one deer. Hunters harvested 86,964 deer during the traditional deer-gun season, Nov. 26-Dec. 2.

Ohio is divided into three deer hunting zones. One deer may be harvested in Zone A (six counties) and two deer in Zone B (44 counties). Three deer may be harvested in Zone C (38 counties).

Those hunting in urban units and at Division of Wildlife-authorized controlled hunts will have a six-deer bag limit, and those deer do not count against the hunter’s zone bag limit.

The white-tailed deer is the most popular game animal in Ohio, frequently pursued by generations of hunters. Ohio ranks eighth nationally in annual hunting-related sales and 10th in the number of jobs associated with hunting-related industries. Hunting has an $859 million economic impact in Ohio through the sale of equipment, fuel, food, lodging and more.

More information about Ohio deer hunting can be found in the 2012-2013 Hunting and Trapping Regulations or at wildohio.com. Hunters can also share photos by clicking on the Photo Gallery tab online.

Hunters must still report their deer harvest, but they are no longer required to take their deer to a check station for physical inspection. Hunters have three options to complete the automated game check:

• Online at wildohio.com.
• By telephone at 877-TAG-ITOH (824-4864). This option is only available to people required to have a deer permit to hunt deer.
• At all license agents. A list of these agents can be found at wildohio.com or by calling 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543).

Hunters are encouraged to donate any extra venison to organizations assisting Ohioans in need. ODNR Division of Wildlife is collaborating with Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) to help pay for the processing of donated venison. Hunters who donate deer are not required to pay the processing cost as long as the deer are taken to a participating processor. To see which counties are involved in this program, go to fhfh.org.

Read and join the discussion on Ohio Offers Hunters Additional Weekend for Deer-gun Season at OutdoorHub.com.

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