Ohio Bowhunter Observations

[Wildlife]

I just received the following email to participate once again in the annual 'ODNR 'Bowhunter Observations' survey.

I participated the past few seasons and it didn't take much of my time nor effort.

I believe the overall intent is to generate better hunting opportunities for all in the future.

Recalling listen to a an interview of Ohio's Deer Program Administrator, Mike Tonkovich, him stating that something like less than 20% of the total surveys sent out are returned completed.

You can hear it for yourself in a pod-cast within the following thread.

Ohio Huntsman Podcast: Muzzleloader Season - https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-82ykm-a46b63

I'm just curious, how many of you here participate in this survey?
_______________________________________

Dear Wildlife,

Nearly 3,000 Ohio bowhunters utilized our new online platform to report over 65,000 hours on stand and nearly 54,000 deer observations during the 2018 season. Since this information is so valuable for monitoring Ohio's wildlife, we are once again requesting help from bowhunters to record observations of certain animals seen while hunting this season. You can use the link at the end of this email to record when, where, how long you hunted, and the number of animals you see while bowhunting. Please review the following instructions for properly completing your survey:

1. SAVE THIS EMAIL. Each time you want to revisit your survey, you can use the link below to return to your most recent hunt entry.
2. DO NOT SHARE YOUR SURVEY LINK. You have been assigned a personalized survey link. Sharing this link will allow others to access your survey. Once a survey has been submitted using your survey link, you will not be able to revisit the survey to enter additional hunts. If you know someone that would like to participate, please contact me directly so that they can be added to the list.
3. RECORD ALL HUNTS, EVEN IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY SIGHTINGS TO REPORT. Recording only the hunts in which you observed animals will artificially inflate sighting rates. Please record date, hours, and county hunted for EVERY TRIP to the deer stand.
4. To maintain consistency, we ask that you only record your bowhunting trips that occur between September 28 and December 1.

I hope you will join us in the effort and that I can count on you to participate in this and future archery seasons. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by phone (614-265-6361) or email (Clint.McCoy@dnr.ohio.gov). Thank you for your cooperation, and I hope you have a safe and enjoyable hunting season this fall.

Good hunting,

Clint McCoy
Deer Biologist, ODNR Division of Wildlife
Follow this link to the Survey:
Take the Survey
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Welcome to the 2019 Bowhunter Observation Survey. This is essentially a hunting journal, where you continually update your information as the deer season progresses. The unique link contained in your email will allow you to pick up where you left off each time you need to record an additional hunt. To enhance accuracy, we recommend returning to the survey as soon as possible following each hunting trip. Here are three very important instructions for completing the survey:

1. Record the date, county, and number of hours hunted for EVERY HUNT even if you did not see any of the species listed.

2. Be sure to click "Save and Continue" at the bottom of each hunt entry to ensure your information is recorded.

3. Only record hunts that take place prior to the start of gun season (hunts that occur between Sept. 28 and Dec. 1).

Thank you for taking time to assist us in the management of Ohio's wildlife resources!

 

[Hunter II]

I got mine too. Here are results I received after last season.

STATEWIDE RESULTS
2,753 hunters recorded at least one hunt this past year. These hunters spent a little over 65,000 hours on stand and reported 53,870 deer observations - a statewide sighting rate of 0.83 deer per hour (or 1 deer sighting for every 1.2 hours hunted).

COUNTY-SPECIFIC SUMMARY
Delaware County:

• You recorded 50 hours on stand and 40 deer observations – a sighting rate of 0.8 deer per hour.
  • A total of 65 hunters contributed data for Delaware County, recording 957 hours on stand and 771 deer observations, resulting in a county-wide sighting rate of 0.81 deer per hour.

Monroe County:

• You recorded 34 hours on stand and 10 deer observations – a sighting rate of 0.29 deer per hour.
  • A total of 38 hunters contributed data for Monroe County, recording 718 hours on stand and 411 deer observations, resulting in a county-wide sighting rate of 0.57 deer per hour.