In Stark County, hunters killed 2,880 deer. Tuscarawas County was the second-top deer harvester, taking 5,722 deer in 2017. Ohio hunters harvested 186,247 deer during the 2017-18 season, according to the wildlife division's Ohio Deer Summary. Scott Peters, wildlife management supervisor for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, said wildlife officers don't estimate the deer population because it's not an exact count, but, "We know the deer herd has been growing." And, he said, "We're actually expecting an increased harvest this year." “Deer usually travel in groups this time of year, so if you see one, slow down and be prepared for other deer.” “Drivers are urged to be cautious, especially in areas where deer are known to cross as they travel to and from their feeding and bedding areas,” Ohio Division of Wildlife spokesman John Windau said in a prepared statement. Ohio ranked 20th nationwide for deer collisions. If you strike a deer, move to a safe place, turn on your hazard lights and report the accident.”Ī study by insurance company State Farm noted that Ohio drivers had a 1 in 134 chance of hitting a deer from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018. The study said the likelihood of a deer collision is down 4.7 percent from the previous year, despite an increase in licensed drivers. “If you see a deer in the roadway slow down but do not swerve. "Driving requires your full attention,” Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Interstate 77 runs through the county and there's plenty of forested areas for deer, especially in the southern portion of the county, said Jamey Emmert, spokeswoman for the Ohio Division of Wildlife regional office in Coventry Township. Overall last year, there were more than 18,400 such accidents, resulting in seven deaths and 804 injuries.Īs for why Stark is home to so many collisions, there are two main contributing factors. Last November, there were nearly 4,000 deer-related crashes on state roadways. November is the leading month for deer-vehicle accidents in Ohio because deer are on the move for mating season and preparing for the cold weather. She struck the vehicle driven by the older woman, who later died. The younger woman was driving west on Route 171 when she entered the eastbound lane to avoid a deer, according to a statement from the Carroll County Prosecutor’s Office. 8 death of a 61-year-old Magnolia-area woman in Carroll County. The crashes can be deadly.Įarlier this week a 28-year-old Carrollton woman was convicted of vehicular manslaughter for the Feb. Stark also led the state in 2016 with 510 crashes. The Ohio Department of Public Safety reported 501 deer-vehicle crashes last year in Stark - well above the second-highest total of 450 in Richland County. Motorists are more likely to collide with a deer in Stark than any other county in Ohio. Be wary of wildlife while driving through Stark County, especially this time of year.
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