(Undated) - It has been a hugely successful deer hunting season in Ohio with hunters taking over 190,000 of the animals.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says Ohio hunters have harvested 188,853 deer during the 2012-2013 hunting season. During the 2012 four-day muzzleloader season, 19,459 deer were harvested.

The big number is still a decline of about one percent from the same time period last year, but there is still time. Ohio’s second four-day muzzleloader season begins Saturday, January 5. Archery season continues through February 3.

Hunters must still report their deer harvest, but they are no longer required to take their deer to a check station for physical inspection. Hunters have three options to complete the automated game check:

-Online at wildohio.com.

-By telephone at 877-TAG-ITOH (824-4864). This option is only available to people required to have a deer permit to hunt deer.

-At all license agents. A list of these agents can be found at wildohio.com or by calling 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543).

Hunters are encouraged to donate any extra venison to organizations assisting Ohioans in need. ODNR Division of Wildlife is collaborating with Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry to help pay for the processing of donated venison.