The Marietta Times is reporting that today's opening of deer gun season in the Buckeye State will bring some good news regarding the state's suffering economy.

From the story:

Susie Vance with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said the state is rated sixth among the top 10 or 12 states that receive the most economic impact from hunters and fishermen.

"Our state is really appealing to hunters from all over," she said. "We have a very healthy deer herd with no CWD (chronic wasting disease), and we have a four-month archery season, and have added an extra weekend to our deer gun season."

Vance added that although the state's hunting license sales had been declining over the last 10 to 20 years, those sales have increased by 5 percent this year.

Alan Babb, 46, of Rinard Mills was purchasing his hunting license and a deer tag at the Marietta Kmart on Pike Street Monday afternoon.

"I was laid off from my job as a contractor in June," Babb said. "So this license will help put food on our table this winter."

Kmart sales associate James Everson said he's heard the same story from many customers purchasing hunting licences this year.

"We're seeing more business this year," he said. "A lot of them just like to hunt, but some are hunting to feed their own families or to provide meat for others."

COLUMBUS, OH - Young hunters across Ohio again enjoyed success during the seventh annual Youth Deer-Gun Season, held Saturday and Sunday, November 21-22. Hunters age 17 and under killed 9,331 deer during the special two-day season, aimed at providing a high-quality hunting experience for younger Ohioans. Last year's youth hunt saw a deer harvest of 9,852.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife estimated 40,000 young hunters took to the state's fields and forests during the two-day season.