Ohio’s deer hunting season returns this weekend

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio’s deer hunters get extra time for pursuit this weekend.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says the state’s gun season will return Saturday and Sunday. Hunters can use a legal shotgun, muzzleloader or handgun to pursue white-tailed deer for a half-hour before sunrise to sunset.

The state says the extra weekend days were added in 2006 in response to hunters’ requests for more weekend hours.

Hunters can take only one antlered deer, regardless of zone, hunting method or season. A deer permit and valid Ohio hunting license are required.

Hunters must buy an additional permit to hunt more than one deer.

Wildlife officials say hunters harvested almost 87,000 deer during the traditional season, from Nov. 26 to Dec. 2. That week’s take was a 3.7 percent decrease from 2011.