By Jim Irvine

Attorney and Buckeye Firearms Association Legislative Chair Ken Hanson has done a magnificent job
with the second edition of “The Ohio Guide to Firearms Laws.” This is the definitive book on Ohio’s firearms laws, including concealed carry. It is updated to reflect the changes HB347 made to Ohio’s laws, as well as some real
“Gotcha’s” that have come to light because of poor drafting of Ohio’s original concealed carry law.

It is written in simple enough terms that anyone can understand the issues, and it contains enough fine points that every instructor or attorney who instructs others on these rules should read it.

If you have a concealed carry license, or keep a gun in your home for protection, or ever transport your gun between your home and a range, club, hunting or a store, you need this book. The past few years have seen many people facing charges that would strip them of their rights to even own a gun. While no book is a substitute to competent legal advice, this one is the cheapest, easiest and most likely steps you
will take to avoid getting yourself into a spot where you need a good attorney to reclaim your life as you now know it.

The Columbus Dispatch's Dave Golowenski has written an article noting that Ohio's Wildlife division sees benefits of CHL-holders being able to tote a concealed handgun while hunting.

From the story:

While there is bound to be some honest disagreement on the matter, concealed-carry advocates figure the woods will be safer in coming years.

"A hunter should be able to carry a gun for self-defense," said Gerard Valentino, central Ohio chairman of the Buckeye Firearms Association and a Pickerington resident.

Whereas most successful hunters would agree that carrying a gun in the field isn’t a bad idea, the Ohio Division of Wildlife came to the conclusion after a year of consideration that, given Ohio law, under all circumstances personal protection should include a concealed firearm packed by someone with a permit to do so.

As a result, the division has asked the Ohio Wildlife Council to OK changes in regulations related to deer and turkey hunting that excluded the carrying of a second weapon if shotgun or bow were already in hand.

Click on 'Read More' for additional coverage.

237,316 deer harvested; tops previous record of 216,443 set in 2004

COLUMBUS, OH - Ohio deer hunters took a record 237,316 deer during the 2006-07 hunting season and for the third year in a row the harvest surpassed 200,000, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The total number of deer taken was 13 percent above last year's season total of 209,513.

"We are very satisfied with this year's record harvest," said Steven A. Gray, chief of the Division of Wildlife. "Ohio's deer management program is a model for the country. The challenge now becomes maintaining a healthy deer herd into the future."

Deer-gun season produced the greatest portion of the harvest, with 112,260 deer killed. The early muzzleloader season (336), special hunts at Ravenna and NASA (640), youth-gun season (8,315), the first-ever bonus deer-gun weekend (24,982), and the statewide muzzleloader season (22,871), accounted for the remainder.

Deer hunting contributes an estimated $266 million to Ohio's economy each year and helps to support thousands of jobs. Venison is delicious and nutritious meat, low in fat and cholesterol. It is the number one wild game served by hunters in Ohio. Deer hunters also contribute thousands of pounds of venison to organizations that help feed less-fortunate Ohio residents through special programs.

To see a list of the Ohio counties reporting the highest number of whitetails killed during the deer hunting season included, click here.