Deer hunters good for local economy

| December 3, 2015

COSHOCTON – According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, Coshocton County is currently first in deer harvested this year with a total of 3,433 and as of Dec. 3, 1,478 have been taken by hunters just during gun season.

The success deer hunters have in Coshocton County doesn’t just make them happy. It also is good news for business owners like Del Smith from Roscoe Motor Inn.

“We were sold out for several nights in a row (during gun season) and I saw the same thing the first part of November with bow season,” he said. “This is an incredible time for me because it helps me get through the winter months when business dies down. I love the hunters.”

Smith said the hunters appreciate the cleanliness of his motel, the setup of it with the exterior doors and he often sees them enjoy his fire pit.

“They will come into the office and ask if I have any wood for a fire and then we will go out there and sit around and talk,” he said.

The hunters who stay with Smith come from all over.

“Some are from Ohio, but I’ve had them come from as far away as Vermont, Maryland and Maine and also come over from Pennsylvania and West Virginia,” he said. “A lot of the ones from Ohio are just here to get a deer, but a lot of the ones from out of state are here for the big bucks. I have a gentleman from Pennsylvania that comes every year and gets a pretty good size buck.”

Smith knows at least a few other guests had good luck this season too.

“I went out to check the mail and there was a Subaru Wagon with two bucks and a doe strapped to the top,” he said. “I should have taken a picture.”

Gun season runs Nov. 30-Dec. 6 and there also is an extra weekend scheduled for Dec. 28-29. However, hunters can harvest deer until Feb. 7, 2016 with their bow or hunt with a muzzleloader from Jan. 9-12.

“I’ve had hunters who didn’t get a deer book to come back with their bow or muzzleloader and several have already setup rooms for next year’s seasons,” Smith said.

For more on deer hunting season and where other counties rank, visit http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov.

josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com

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Category: People & Places

About the Author ()

I started my journalism career in 2002 with a daily newspaper chain. After various stops with them, I am happy to be back home! I graduated from Coshocton High School in 1998 and received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication in 2002 from Walsh University. I also earned several awards while working for daily papers, including being honored by Coshocton County’s veterans for the stories I wrote about them. I am honored and ready to once again shine a positive light on Coshocton County. I also am the proud mother of a little girl named Sophia!

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