Monday marks the start of the deer gun hunt season. Over the last few years, gun hunting has been on the decline, but Ohio wildlife officials expect that to change this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bow hunting has risen in popularity recently, but Brian Banbury of the Ohio Division of Wildlife says that he anticipates more gun hunters will be out this year, looking for socially distanced things to do with their families.
"We’re definitely seeing an uptick in hunting license sales and deer permits this year and we’ve seen an overall increase in outdoor-related activities," Banbury says. “Hunting, fishing and trapping, all those outdoor pursuits are a great thing to be involved with in these times because it is already by definition something that primarily is done socially distanced."
Banbury adds that hunting deer this season is a good way for families impacted by job losses to get food on the table.
“A deer tag is right around $30, it’s not that it’s free but we got a tremendous amount of meat for $30," he says. "Far more than what that $30 would have done for us at the grocery store.”
