Hunters took 20,659 deer during Ohio's four-day muzzleloader season, Dec. 27-30, with Tuscarawas County again leading the state with 934 deer checked.

Last year, a preliminary total of 21,473 deer was taken during muzzleloader season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

Counties reporting the highest number of deer checked during the muzzleloader season included: Tuscarawas-934, Washington-774, Harrison-764, Licking-688, Meigs-613, Coshocton-598, Guernsey-565, Belmont-539, Monroe-533 and Holmes-528.

A total of 239,549 deer have been harvested so far this season when combining the adult and youth gun seasons, early and statewide muzzleloader seasons, and the first nine weeks of the archery season. Hunters took a total of 232,854 deer during all of last year's hunting seasons.

Hunters can continue to enjoy deer hunting through Feb. 1, 2009 as the archery season continues.

The following is a list of deer checked in and tagged by hunters during last week’s statewide Muzzleloader deer hunting season. The number taken during the 2007 season is marked in ( ): for example 2008 (2007):

Adams -305 (305); Allen -86 (96); Ashland -541 (511); Ashtabula -322 (359); Athens -511 (460); Auglaize -47 (63); Belmont -539 (507); Brown -352 (389); Butler -117 (125); Carroll -244 (284); Champaign -151 (148); Clark -88 (93); Clermont -316 (317); Clinton -103 (112); Columbiana -403 (469); Coshocton -598 (631); Crawford -156 (144); Cuyahoga -40 (31); Darke -46 (43); Defiance -92 (107); Delaware -124 (173); Erie -81(53); Fairfield -371 (374); Fayette -49 (44); Franklin -80 (48); Fulton -38 (37); Gallia -282 (435); Geauga -92 (112); Greene -60 (67); Guernsey -565 (697); Hamilton -116 (138); Hancock -82 (74); Hardin -75 (74); Harrison -764 (815); Henry -41 (26); Highland -353 (364); Hocking -376 (498) ; Holmes -528 (720); Huron -196 (207); Jackson -431 (391); Jefferson -457 (523); Knox -416(436); Lake -75 (59); Lawrence -288 (268); Licking -688 (763); Logan -152 (170); Lorain -180 (172); Lucas -72 (47); Madison -24 (33); Mahoning -136 (157); Marion -54 (51); Medina -157 (95); Meigs -613 (560); Mercer -22 (31); Miami -22 (18); Monroe -533 (481); Montgomery -55 (62); Morgan -294 (301); Morrow -199 (182); Muskingum -419 (401); Noble -446 (430); Ottawa -23 (40); Paulding -76 (48); Perry -351 (382); Pickaway -60 (148); Pike -207 (210); Portage -133 (120); Preble -86 (82); Putnam -96 (104); Richland -187 (226); Ross -413 (437); Sandusky -67 (40); Scioto -363 (313); Seneca -148 (164); Shelby -77 (122); Stark -339 (317); Summit -76 (101); Trumbull -272 (278); Tuscarawas -934 (971); Union -80 (98); Van Wert -69 (49); Vinton -201 (325); Warren -135 (145); Washington -774 (588); Wayne -171 (89); Williams -97 (86); Wood -63 (81); Wyandot -98 (128). Total -20,659 (21,473

Two nabbed

The first case in Ohio involving the new restitution value for white-tailed deer was brought against two men who pleaded guilty and were convicted of the illegal taking of white-tailed deer. They have been ordered to pay restitution of $12,988 according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

The Honorable Judge Thomas E. Bunch presided and assistant law director Michele Route prosecuted today over the first case in the State involving white-tailed deer restitution under Ohio's revised restitution law. The law went into effect March 2008 and allows the Ohio Division of Wildlife to seek an increased recovery value on all illegally harvested wildlife.

Cory A. Posey, 19, of South Salem has pled guilty to charges of taking a deer with a rifle, deterring an officer, taking a deer after hours, and taking more than one buck in a license year. Posey will pay $100 in fines, additional court costs, and $6,494 in restitution. He will serve 200 hours of community service, five years of community control and hunting privileges suspended for five years.

Kyle E. Kruger, 20, of Washington Court House has pled guilty to charges of spotlighting, deterring an officer, and aiding an individual in the unlawful taking of a wild animal. Kruger will pay $100 in fines, additional court costs, and $6,494 in restitution. He will serve 200 hours of community service, five years of community control and hunting privileges suspended for five years.

In addition to fines, restitution, license suspension and community service, the deer, firearms, and all other equipment used in the illegal activities were ordered forfeit. All venison was forfeited and will be donated to a local food pantry.

Note on Restitution: The recovery value for individual white-tailed deer is derived from the formula listed in 1531.201 of the Ohio Revised Code. The value is determined by measuring the antlers and using the following formula plus the value derived for wildlife. The formula for white tailed deer will be applied to all individuals whose gross score exceeds 125 Boone and Crockett (B&C) inches. The formula is: