Where are you and your buddies hunting? Like you mentioned before, down near Zanesville? I used to own a small farm down there(7 miles south of Zanesville) and many HUGE bucks were shot on, in and around my old property. A 209 inch non-typical was shot off that property 3 years ago.
Chester, To keep this tied into the original question; I have personally seen 150 class bucks, maybe bigger, down on Trivalley Wildlife area. 2 1/2 hour drive from Canton. I also agree with looking onto Saltfork State Park area. I used to fish and camp there as a kid. Ridiculous amounts of deer near the golf course!
All the above being said, I couldn't care less personally about trophy antlers. They are nice, but I love seeing any deer period! They all give me the shakes when they get close.
Posts: 2917 | From: Galion, Ohio | Registered: Aug 2006
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The Toledo area is very different than the area most of these guys are referencing. Both have plenty of farms that are fueling some of these big deer, but the Toledo area is flat as a board compared to the rolling hills around Zanesville. There are woodlots in the Toledo area and little large / dense woods as compared to the Zanesville / SE Ohio area.
There are still plenty of good hunting near Toledo but SE Ohio has a better reputation to be honest.
Personally, where I hunt, the population isn't what it was a few years ago but it's still good. The DNR has been very liberal with doe cull permits for farmers in the past 5 years or so. Significant numbers of does have been culled. This past season I was lucky to see half the deer I used to. That issue is one that you are starting to hear about here on very localized levels where the farmers get the permits and are very effective in using them. And/or maybe it's the coyote boom. Or both.
-------------------- Hill Country Bobcat 56" 48# and 40# 1972 Bear Grizzly. 58" 53#
TGMM Family of the Bow
"God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with.” - Billy Graham Posts: 1700 | From: Ohio | Registered: Dec 2009
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ceme24 is right about public land deer numbers. They are WAY down with the liberal limits and booming coyote population in many places. The golden rule of going where other people are not willing to travel pays well. It is a lot of work, but the deer are there if you have the ability/will to walk distances.
Posts: 2917 | From: Galion, Ohio | Registered: Aug 2006
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Well, I'm not against driving a few hours to go to a good place to hunt. I'm definitely not against hiking in an area. I think last year bow hunting for elk we hiked 10-12 miles.
-------------------- Wes Wallace Mentor 64" 55@28 2nd set of limbs 60" 50@28
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I just wanted to say that I have not been replying much, but I have been looking at the places that you have been talking about. Once I have a better idea of timeframe I will be asking more specific questions. Thanks again for the help.
-------------------- Ask me about CTO. Posts: 972 | From: Richmond, Texas | Registered: Jul 2007
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I am also from Canton lived there my entire life. 6 years ago moved to Navarre which is 10 minutes on the South side right off 21. Chester, if they live in Canal Fulton they are in some prime area. There are MANY big bucks roaming all around Canal Fulton and the Massillon area. There is plenty of public land within close driving as others have mentioned but once he is here long enough to just ask a few people he will get some private land.
-------------------- "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; teach that man to fish and he will eat for a life time" Posts: 417 | From: OHIO | Registered: Apr 2010
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itty bitty deer near Zanesville...................
-------------------- Bowhunting is "KILL and EAT" not "Catch and Release".....Semper Fi! Posts: 1188 | From: Zville OH | Registered: Feb 2008
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Deer? Wha? Nah - those are all in MI. Ohio has only ticks and coyotes and things. ;-)
Posts: 2007 | From: Columbus, Ohio | Registered: Aug 2007
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I will be going back to MI and OH to hunt 2013 also. Brother inlaw in down near columbus and my father is up in williamston MI. Very reasonable deer tags.
-------------------- Micah 6:8 ...and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your GOD. Posts: 1200 | From: Graham, WA | Registered: Dec 2007
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Ohio has incredible private and public land available. Look up Leatherneck and I bet he will point you in the right direction as well.
-------------------- Join a credible hunting organization, participate in it, and take a kid hunting. Member: U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, NWTF, Oregon Hunter's Assn., Oregon Bow Hunters and Oregon Foundation for Blacktailed Deer. Posts: 672 | From: Oregon | Registered: Mar 2008
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I have worked with the owner of a site called My hunting land. This is a very cool site which will help you find public hunting lands in areas. Ohio is one of them that they have updated. Take a minute and check it out and you should be able to find some decent areas.
-------------------- "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; teach that man to fish and he will eat for a life time" Posts: 417 | From: OHIO | Registered: Apr 2010
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