ohio public land

[sfh761]

I'm looking into Ohio public land deer hunting areas such as Conesville, Coshocton, plus Wayne National Forest. I'd like to hear input on deer populations and quality after the EHD outbreak a few years ago as well as recent hunting pressure. I've heard mixed reviews on hunting pressure, but I would value input from those who have been there during the past two seasons. Feel free to post replies or send a PM. Thanks.

[59Alaskan]

Ohio DNR has been working hard to reduce the population and they have succeeded.  I am originally from MI.  I still think it's better here, especially comparing public land to public land, but overall there are fewer deer here than there were 6 years ago.  You can see that in how the allowed number of tags has dramatically dropped.

The out of season farmer cull program did quite a bit to reduce the number of deer.

I don't hunt the lands you are thinking of so I can't comment on them specifically, but I will say I am considering doing a week camping trip down in those areas this year too.

[Zbone]

Pressure always high in a densely populated state, but if you looking at population, look at kill stats off DOW website... Population has been in steady decline for over a decade now due to liberal bag limits and farmer kill permits, and about half the deer numbers there was a mere dozen years ago...

I took a trip last summer to Grand Rapids MI and can tell you there is a much higher deer population up there than here... You don't see the number of deer feeding along the highways here as you still see up there...

[59Alaskan]

I agree with zbone in the assessment of the population.  I primarily hunt 2 properties in two different counties and have lived here since 2008.  My non-scientific observation is there is about half the deer there used to be on either when I moved here 8 years ago.

My cousin in MI used to come here to hunt and did well.  He quit spending the money on the tag about 3 years ago.

It's still better than what I had available in MI, but it's nothing like it was when I first moved here

[postman]

Heading to a state forest in Ohio this Nov. talked to the mailman there that has the route that circles the forest in March on a scouting trip, and he said it was terrible, said he hardly ever sees a deer anymore but now sees a lot of hogs. In fact there was hunters there with guns hunting the hogs, already paid my fee for the cabin so I am still going to go, will find out myself on how the deer population is, plenty of deer here in my local woods, just like the fact that any moment one of those Ohio giants might walk by, that keeps me going back.

[BrushWolf]

I can tell you this from the trail cam pic there seem to be more buckthan doe in my area. I hunt and live close to some wayne national. I dont see many on it during bow season. The trails in the woods and over all sign is nonexistent in areas that use to thrive with deer. Lots of oil and gas people around now and with wells and right of ways has change some areas. Good luck on the hunting.

[George Vernon]

There was a thread on this site in early October regarding hunting at Lake Hope State Park and the Zaleski State Forest.  You might do a search and see a lot more detail about some of what is happening in Ohio.

For a variety of reasons the deer population has dramatically decreased over the past 15-20 years.  Vinton county, where most of the Zaleski state forest resides, used to be one the top three counties for big deer.  No more.  Private land around the forest can be pretty good, but access is almost exclusively by hunting lease.

Some of the best hunting now is around urban areas where deer populations can grow almost unchecked.  A number of large cities with expansive parks have begun limited access hunting, often archery only, to help control the herd.  Getting access can be tough.  Often requires things like police backround checks, proficiency testing, lottery draw, etc.  These programs are almost never publicized.  Word of mouth and 'friend of a friend' is how most folks find out about them.  A way to find out about them is to inquire at the local park board, or the police station.  Folks will answer your questions, but seldom volunteer any information.  Around where I live, about 10% of the folks who apply actually get to hunt.  So even if you find a program, there's limited chance you can participate.  No one, to my knowledge, has implemented any kind of point program to help enhance your chances based on the number of years you apply.  So you start over each year.

But the hunting in these areas is not for me.  The concept of hunting out of a blind, or tree stand overlooking someone's pool, is not appealing to me, but there is something to be said for hunting where the deer are.

[George Vernon]

There was a thread on this site in early October regarding hunting at Lake Hope State Park and the Zaleski State Forest.  You might do a search and see a lot more detail about some of what is happening in Ohio.

For a variety of reasons the deer population has dramatically decreased over the past 15-20 years.  Vinton county, where most of the Zaleski state forest resides, used to be one the top three counties for big deer.  No more.  Private land around the forest can be pretty good, but access is almost exclusively by hunting lease.

Some of the best hunting now is around urban areas where deer populations can grow almost unchecked.  A number of large cities with expansive parks have begun limited access hunting, often archery only, to help control the herd.  Getting access can be tough.  Often requires things like police backround checks, proficiency testing, lottery draw, etc.  These programs are almost never publicized.  Word of mouth and 'friend of a friend' is how most folks find out about them.  A way to find out about them is to inquire at the local park board, or the police station.  Folks will answer your questions, but seldom volunteer any information.  Around where I live, about 10% of the folks who apply actually get to hunt.  So even if you find a program, there's limited chance you can participate.  No one, to my knowledge, has implemented any kind of point program to help enhance your chances based on the number of years you apply.  So you start over each year.

But the hunting in these areas is not for me.  The concept of hunting out of a blind, or tree stand overlooking someone's pool, is not appealing to me, but there is something to be said for hunting where the deer are.

[Hickrylb]

My job i do a lot of rural rd driving and on my farm alone ,less and less deer ,The ODNR and insurance agency's do have the deer population in check at least in my area of SouthernOhio.

[stick flipper]

our deer hunting has went from amazing to terrible in less than a decade. I enjoy the woods just as much as I did in our "good ole' days" of deer hunting, but I spend more time on other animals. I have taken to coyote hunting and small game and def. fall fishing now that I see very little deer and have had most of the private land I used to hunt deer on leased by guys with more money than me. It is very disheartening to see hunting around here turn into a pay to play kind of deal.

[Bob Morrison]

This year harvest is down from last year that was nothing special either. I hunt private land and back a few years if I didn't see 5-10 deer in an evening hunt I was disappointed.. This year being the worst yet, several evening hunts Nothing deer wise, Plenty of squirrels..

Bob

[George Vernon]

Ran across some recent reports from the Quality Deer Management Association, or QDMA.  They are headquartered near Athens, Ga., but have staff, mainly game biology types, who work in a variety of states.  They have compiled a lot of statistics from states that go from the western border of Kansas to cover all states north, east and south.

Few of the interesting data points from their 2015 report.

Over the last 10 years the total number of deer taken in Ohio is down 14-18% even though there were a couple of strong years around 2010.

Ohio DNR officials tell QDMA antler restrictions don't work and won't use them despite very positive results in nearby Pennsylvania.

In 2015 45% of all deer taken in Ohio were by some form of archery equipment.  (I think the rapid rise seems to correlate with liberal anterless tag limit changes and the introduction of crossbows.)

Ohio's management philosophy has changed from reduction to maintenance of the deer herd.

Not saying these reports are the final word, but it's interesting to see what folks who have no axe to grind say about Ohio deer hunting.

[IndaTimber]

I too will attest that the overall numbers are way down.  Just not what it once was but that won't keep me out of the woods.

[postman]

It won't stop me from going, around here in Eastern N.C. deer are lucky to live past 2 yrs old, only have a 3 week season for bow, then the dog season starts. Saw 15 trucks with dog boxes heading into Croatan National Forest opening day of gun season, unbelievable.