Ohio Hunting

[cspot]

I live in Gallia. One of properties I trap here doesn't turn hardly anyone away, it does get hunted alot though I don't know how much gets killed there as he's always complaining about deer and gets damage permits.

Wayne is some rough ground and very popular. If you can hunt prerut you'll have plenty of elbow room. Once November hits almost every pull off area is packed. That goes for most public land.

Ohio recently went to no does after gun season so numbers of does might be up a bit on public land

Yes that is another point. Ohio has somewhat recently went thru a deer herd reduction and in many areas especially public land there isn't a whole lot of deer. I know where I live in PA we have far more deer than where I hunt in Ohio. If you are someone who likes to see several deer then it may be rough on you. I was excited to see the new public land rules as well as I hope that helps out a bit.

 

[SNIPERBBB]

We've had a few years of EHD that hit harder in some areas than others, if it hit at all.

 

[jsthntn]

Thanks guys. I’m no expert but I will give it my best. I checked out that church camp info it looks likes it a week by week basis?? Right or no?? I’m really thinking that the public land is going to be the way to go. I am used to not seeing a bunch of deer so only seeing a deer or few a day is about normal. But I feel in Ohio that chance on the right one could be the next one to come by.

Are there any good websites to be able to look at national Forrest maps and then find it ok On X? Like to do a lil pre planning/scouting in the air conditioning

 

[SNIPERBBB]

Its weekly.

 

[jsthntn]

Ok. I’d love to have the funds to do that just for a week but I honestly would like to be able to go a few different times during the season.

Thanks for the info !!

 

[cspot]

Thanks guys. I’m no expert but I will give it my best. I checked out that church camp info it looks likes it a week by week basis?? Right or no?? I’m really thinking that the public land is going to be the way to go. I am used to not seeing a bunch of deer so only seeing a deer or few a day is about normal. But I feel in Ohio that chance on the right one could be the next one to come by.

Are there any good websites to be able to look at national Forrest maps and then find it ok On X? Like to do a lil pre planning/scouting in the air conditioning

You are definitely going to need ONX as the public/private land is checkboarded in alot of Ohio and it is difficult to tell what is public vs private. Ohio is an automatic fine if you don't have written permission from owner. I use Caltopo a good bit for aerial scouting on my computer. Also will use the OnX on my computer as well.

 

[shwacker]

I killed the one in my profile in Gallia on private on a late muzzleloader hunt, we sub-leases the land from the primary leaser to hunt just that week. It’s a 143 with a broke tine. Saw a few others in the 120 range that nobody sealed the deal on. We were only a couple ridges over from the public land. Wish I would have checked it out but didn’t have much spare time. They were mountains by Florida boy standards, others would say hilly but it was some fairly rough terrain right there. I would think the public offers some decent opportunity


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[jsthntn]

That’s a real nice buck. I think I need to take a trip and go check out some public just need to decide which county. So many choices :/

 

[SNIPERBBB]

I killed the one in my profile in Gallia on private on a late muzzleloader hunt, we sub-leases the land from the primary leaser to hunt just that week. It’s a 143 with a broke tine. Saw a few others in the 120 range that nobody sealed the deal on. We were only a couple ridges over from the public land. Wish I would have checked it out but didn’t have much spare time. They were mountains by Florida boy standards, others would say hilly but it was some fairly rough terrain right there. I would think the public offers some decent opportunity


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WNF or crown city? I suppose it could be Tycoon but it doesn't really have hills compared to those two. Never see many people bowhunting Tycoon at least not during the week unless they're all scared of the game warden who lives right beside the wildlife area. Seen some nice bucks there when I trap it.

 

[neonomad]

That’s a real nice buck. I think I need to take a trip and go check out some public just need to decide which county. So many choices :/

I’ll burn a spot here bc we’ve moved our deer camp haha... Forked Run campground in Reedsville is pretty nice. Now this is 7 years ago but my cousin saw a few nice bucks if you take the trail back into the woods from the top of the campground. If you just keep walking there’s a nice series of ridges above the lake there. One of a million options! Overall if you can find a nice campground surrounded by public land, with the shortest drive you can get away with, you’ll likely be able to find a decent piece. I’d digital scout and look for remote sections - although you don’t necessarily need to be remote it’s a lotta luck - and look for hunting beast type features like the leeward side of a ridge or finger. Maybe some clear cuts. Southern OH is full of a lot of similar terrain. If it were me I also might look for public land where the flatter agriculture sections meet the hills. If you look at a high level satellite view you can see the way that transition runs diagonally across the state.

 

[shwacker]

WNF or crown city? I suppose it could be Tycoon but it doesn't really have hills compared to those two. Never see many people bowhunting Tycoon at least not during the week unless they're all scared of the game warden who lives right beside the wildlife area. Seen some nice bucks there when I trap it.

Almost bordering crown city


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[Buckkillr]

Athens county is absolutely great hunting during bow season. Another couple of options to not rule out, are Vinton Furnace and Zaleski.

I use to hunt zeleski alot over the years and was good, haven't been there in awhile but I went over to turkey hunt last month and was shocked how much clear cutting was done. Looks like a bunch was cut a few years ago so its a bush farm now and a bunch more was just cut again. I don't know what they were thinking doing all that, it'll be an absolute mess for years to come.

 

[Bombs&Bullets]

I use to hunt zeleski alot over the years and was good, haven't been there in awhile but I went over to turkey hunt last month and was shocked how much clear cutting was done. Looks like a bunch was cut a few years ago so its a bush farm now and a bunch more was just cut again. I don't know what they were thinking doing all that, it'll be an absolute mess for years to come.

I agree. I can also tell you and anyone interested, it makes the transition line hunting more predictable. If you can find a solid transition from that newly clear cut, or even the less recent clear cut into what hardwoods are left, gold mine. As everyone knows, deer are edge animals. Find the edge in Zaleski and you'll find the bigger deer. The issues I've ran into in WNF are the vastness of acorn crops. In a way, less food makes hunting the "food seekers" more predictable. Especially if you can make an educated guess on where they bed.

 

[Buckkillr]

I agree. I can also tell you and anyone interested, it makes the transition line hunting more predictable. If you can find a solid transition from that newly clear cut, or even the less recent clear cut into what hardwoods are left, gold mine. As everyone knows, deer are edge animals. Find the edge in Zaleski and you'll find the bigger deer. The issues I've ran into in WNF are the vastness of acorn crops. In a way, less food makes hunting the "food seekers" more predictable. Especially if you can make an educated guess on where they bed.

Is some areas you could do that but most is shut off to the public still

 

[jsthntn]

Do any of you know if the On X map layers will show the clear cut areas up there? I know I could look myself but without having been there to confirm them. I’d like to ensure they are somewhat accurate.

 

[shwacker]

Do any of you know if the On X map layers will show the clear cut areas up there? I know I could look myself but without having been there to confirm them. I’d like to ensure they are somewhat accurate.

I’m not sure how the reporting is on clear cuts. Some property with OnX will state the year it was cut. But I personally know of several cuts near my home and property I hunt in the Midwest that is not reported or at least OnX doesn’t highlight it as a cut.

You will obviously see the cuts when looking at aerial views assuming the mapping is up to date with the cutting. Not sure the year or map source OnX uses but I’ll google earth areas each year, their maps update pretty often and it will tell you the year of the current view and you can look at historical views


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[SNIPERBBB]

The satellite images are upto three years old, the current maps don't show any kind of activity from logging or burns recently. I beaver trapped zaleski two years ago and didn't remember seeing any logging unless it was on the northern end of zaleski.

 

[jsthntn]

I’m thinking I need to take a drive and check some stuff out. Make a list then plot some points. Thanks for the info guys!

 

[Buckkillr]

I’m thinking I need to take a drive and check some stuff out. Make a list then plot some points. Thanks for the info guys!

Looks like some of the area I'm referring to is on the Arial views but yeah no way of knowing without looking. Zeleski is a pretty big area, something like 20,000 acres, there's also Waterloo area. I'm not sure if it's included in zeleski numbers but is also fairly large.

 

[jsthntn]

Zeleski and Waterloo I’ll have to check those out.