OHIO bound

[Raineman]

Through an unexpected contact, I just scored a private piece of land in Morgan county to bowhunt with NO lease fees all to myself. Just show up & hunt! Gotta' like that, right?

Anyway...its about 6 hours from my house here in Maryland and I was told I could bring a camper or tent or stay at a local motel that is in McConnell, so I think it will be a really affordable way for me to hunt Ohio.

I'd welcome any advice from some Ohio folks or folks that have hunted in or around that county. I hadn't expected to hunt out of Maryland this year because of the expense, but I don't think I can pass up takin' an old recurve to Ohio.

[RM81]

Couldn't find McConnell Ohio on the map.  What part of the state is it in?

[Mike Gerardi]

McConnelsville.

[Raineman]

Originally posted by Mike Gerardi:
McConnelsville.

Thats it.....sorry.

[Archer Fanatic]

Go south on St. RT. 78 from McConnelsville and stop and talk to ranger at Wolf Creek WMA station and he can help you. It is about 8 miles south of McConnelsville. I know you said you have private land to hunt but this could be a second option in case things go bad on the private land. There is over 100,000 acres state and federal land to hunt in that area. It is a good place to hunt.

[T Sunstone]

Jim, congrats on the Ohio property, sounds like you still have that lucky horse shoe. How many acres?

[Raineman]

Yeah Terry...didn't even think it might be horseshoe related...and yes I still have it....hmmmm

Its just under 100 acres.

Archer Fanatic, thanks, I'll put that in my notebook.

[59Alaskan]

I dunno Jim...I think 4runr and I might be of some help but we'd have to see the land in person....

         

Congrats on getting on some land here.  Hope you find success!  To be truthful, I have only hunted here a few seasons so I am likely not of any real help.  

One thing I can offer is that squirrel season opens 3 weeks before bow deer.  If your land has squirrel hunters the deer will already be on high alert.  On the public land I have hunted here the deer wouldn't move at dawn/dusk even in early season.  I would catch them moving around noon - while the squirrel hunters were having lunch.

There's no shortage of Ohioans that like to shoot at squirrels.

[leatherneck]

That area is home to some dandy bucks. It's straight country over that way. Good Luck!

[Huntingnut]

Thats an awesome area to hunt.Good luck!

[Cherokee Scout]

Hi Rainman-Some friends and I have been going to Ohio to hunt for the past several years. We have been hunting on public ground.

[Raineman]

Thanks for the comments guys, I'm getting pretty pumped up.

ceme...I'll get those GPS coordinates right to you & Kenny...      

I'll be the only one hunting the property. Landowner claims to hear shots all around...guessing squirrel bangers...but none on their land. I might just be lucky enough to have landed a little sanctuary (hey...I can dream right?). Topo & satellite views look very promising.

What kind of weather conditions should I prepare for in the October/early November time frame? Not guessing it would be much different from MD. or any severe conditions, but I have no idea.

Is there a general expected time frame for peak rut activity in SE Ohio?

ceme...how close is that area to you & Kenny, it might rate a visit while I'm out that way?

[Cherokee Scout]

Late October or early November usually have warm days and cool nights. Some areas are loaded with chiggers. Where we hunt in southern part of state we see rut activity begin in mid to late Nov., but it varies.

[Raineman]

Thanks John. See you at the Hill.

[buckeye_hunter]

You will encounter some good bucks for sure and plenty of does!

Hope you have practiced you picking skills. I've been out that way more than once and heard dueling banjo's a few times.

Whatever you do, DON'T squeal like a pig!    

[buckeye_hunter]

Smaller bucks start chasing in late October with bigger ones amping up into November.

The youth shotgun season is usually 3rd weekend of November which can get some deer moving for you from adjacent properties. Rabbit season starts 2nd weekend of November which can have the same effect.

Don't be shocked to see someone on the property if it isn't watched closely and keep your written permission with you.

All that said, I really believe you will have an excellent hunting season! I have seen more deer than I can count out that way when I lived in SE Ohio.

[59Alaskan]

Charles is "right on" with the youth gun.  I took a nice buck with a bow two years ago on that weekend.  You must wear your orange.  He was in full rut chasing doe and there was all kinds of ruckus all around me in terms of people in the woods.  

He's also "right on" with the other hunters and keeping your written permission with you.

Good advice.

[Cherokee Scout]

I need to correct what I said about t5he rut. I had my states mixed up. In Wayne Ntl where we hunt in Ohio rut was from late Oct to Mid Nov.

[ChopOH]

As a bowhunter, I'm very thankful to live in Ohio.  Wish you the best of luck while visiting this fall.

[moose eye levi]

Second and third week of November is my most favoritest time to hunt I took my first trad buck on youth gun season  2 years ago I wa 16 and haven't really gun hunted since. Anyways that is a good time to hunt based on my observation younger bucks chasin and goin on, good bucks gettin mad at em' and pre ruttin. Bigger bucks will be in a tad later. Best of luck to you. By the way being that it is private land and I'm guessing the owner is't out a whole lot keep an eye out for people who thought the fence was on up aways/ over their ect. ect.