GALLIPOLIS — Ohio hunters bagged 114,633 white-tailed deer during the recent deer-gun season, but that is 2,165 less than the 2008 preliminary total, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

Tuscarawas County reported the highest number of deer bagged and tagged last week with hunters taking 5,901 animals to check stations in that area. That figure was up slightly from the 2008 county total of 5,862.

The rest of the “top 10” counties — with the 2009 figure listed first and the ‘08 number listed second — included Harrison (4,310-4,136), Guernsey (4,289-4,017), Licking (3,734-3,597), Coshocton (3,680-4,043), Washington (3,589-3,753), Holmes (3,265-3,138), Belmont (3,238-2,407), Athens (3,049-3,068) and Knox (3,046-3,067).

Hunters in Gallia and Meigs counties bagged fewer deer this season compared to 2008. In Gallia County, 1,766 deer were checked, down from last year’s total of 2,110. Meigs County hunters checked in 2,203 white tails this fall, compared to 2,465 during the 2008 deer-gun season.

The following are figures for some neighboring counties in southeastern Ohio — again with the 2009 figure listed first and the ‘08 figure listed second — Hocking (2,594-2,337), Jackson (2,577-2,159), Lawrence (1,510-1,570), Ross (2,355-2,340), Scioto (1,420-1,673) and Vinton (1,829-1,538).

According to ODNR, Ohio hunters have bagged a total of 178,397 during this hunting season, which includes the adult and youth gun seasons, early muzzleloader season and the first six weeks of archery season. That’s down slightly from last year’s total of 179,194. The total deer kill for all of last year’s hunting seasons was 252,017.

ODNR estimates indicated that the statewide deer population was 650,000 in late September just before hunting season opened. Some 420,000 hunters were expected to participate in the deer-gun season.

Area hunters have a few more chances to bag a big one during this hunting season, beginning with the upcoming deer-gun weekend hunt Dec. 19-20. The statewide muzzleloader season is scheduled Jan. 9-12, 2010, and the archery hunting season remains open until Feb. 7, 2010.

According to ODNR, the hunting contributes about $859 million dollars annually to Ohio’s economy. The state ranks eighth nationally in annual hunting-related sales and 10th in the number of jobs related to the hunting industry.