With the recent close of the deer hunting season, the North Royalton numbers are in. With this season’s end, North Royalton Chief of Police, Keith Tarase, reported the 2022-23 season’s update to Council at a recent Council Safety Committee meeting. The Ohio Deer Hunting Season for 2022-23, for archery started on September 24, 2022 and concluded on February 5, 2023, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, “white-tailed deer are Ohio’s most popular game animal. The 2022-23 deer hunting dates are similar to last season. As in years past, only one antlered deer may be harvested, regardless of where or how it is taken, and a hunter cannot exceed a county bag limit.” Although bag limits were increased last season in eighteen Ohio counties in order to slow herd growth, Cuyahoga County was not included. The Ohio Wildlife Council is an eight-member board that approves all Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife proposed rules and regulations.
“In 2021 (the North Royalton program) was changed to one doe before getting a buck,” according to North Royalton Police Chief Keith Tarase. “In 2022, I removed the restriction of requiring a doe. It had been reported that more bucks had been observed than doe. It has been recommended to me to continue with no requirement for 2023 but I have not made a decision on that yet.” In March of 2020, the North Royalton City Council unanimously adopted legislation that reduced the Municipal Deer Damage Control Permit fee in half. Previously, the fee was $150 and thought by many to be too high, prohibiting hunters to participate in the program. There has been discussion between some members of Council to further reduce the cost, but it remains at the current level, as Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz said that it needs to cover the actual cost of offering the program.
Since the passage of the original ordinances that permit the bow hunting of the white-tailed deer within the city limits several years ago, the number of white-tailed deer has been slowly, but steadily declining. This season, a total of 82 deer were taken. Overall, the numbers have been decreasing over the past few years, with 115 deer taken last year and 153 taken the previous year. The number of hunting permits that were taken was slightly higher than last year, with 111 permits pulled, versus the 92 issued for last year’s season. The following is the breakdown of deer taken by hunting: Ward 1, 36, compared to 53 last year; Ward 2, 10, compared to 9; Ward 3, 4, compared to 3 last year; Ward 4, 2, compared to 12; Ward 5, 11, compared to 13 last year; Ward 6, 18, compared to 25, according to Tarase. The total number of does that were harvested were 53 and the total number of bucks harvested was 29.
Those interested in participating in the bow hunting of white-tailed deer program for the 2023-24 season can apply to the City now through August 15. Those applying for a nuisance permit can do so now until the beginning of bow hunting deer season next year. For information about the North Royalton program, you can visit the City’s website at www.northroyalton.org The Municipal Deer Control Permit Packet is located under the Important Information section.
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer