Anyone Hunt Ohio?
Connecticut
Contributors to this thread:
I'm considering taking a trip to a better deer state next year and I've heard good things about Ohio, so I'm wondering if anyone hunts out there and if they can recommend a place or outfitter to go with.
Check wit Pat ! He has a farm out there.
Go on the big forum and put up your question. But be specific on what area you want. Guys can be tough on you if you just go on there and ask a general question.
Good thing you saved all that money on the grill. That will almost cover the outfitters tip ;)
I've got to do more research to your point Blood. Outfitters for deer are reasonable compared to going out west for elk.
Ohio archery outfitters. I follow them on instagram. They post a lot of big bucks and kills. I don’t know much else about them besides they’re an archery only outfit. Worth some research.
I would like to try a hunt outside of New England at some point before I no longer can
Bob their is a huge state forest out there called the Wayne National. Plenty of room to roam and DIY.
My 140" 8 point from 2021. First buck killed on my farm. 5.5 years old. Not my best scoring buck there, but best for mass.
My 140" 8 point from 2021. First buck killed on my farm. 5.5 years old. Not my best scoring buck there, but best for mass.
Bob, just saw this thread.
I own a farm in East Central Ohio. I think Ohio is the single best state for bowhunting, especially if you own your own ground and can plant food plots. The deer program is second to none.
That being said, I have not heard a lot of good things about Ohio outfitters. I think you are better off driving further South into Kentucky or west into Illionois or much futher into Kansas to buy an outfitted hunt.
Seems the outfitters in Ohio run lots of hunters and most are hunting smaller parcels. I'm sure there are really good ones in OH, but I have yet to see a consistent producer like I see in other states like Kansas. This is just from feedback and the outfitters I know, so take that for what it's worth.
There are some really good public land spots, and you'd be surprised how many landowners will still give out permission in Ohio. My son spent one week knocking on doors and got 2k acres to hunt. While that was for coyote permission, a couple guys told him he's welcome to shoot deer too. A farmer friend I know asked me if I would hunt deer on his 180 acres? I said no, I only hunt my ground. So I'd check that route as well. You can bait on Private in Ohio so even if the parcel is on the smaller side, you can pull deer in range if you are OK with baiting by heading there 2 weeks before hunting season and put out 10-20 bags of corn.
I've got five bucks on my small farm that will gross 130-170". I pass up bucks every day that would absolutely freak me out in CT. And if you ever hunted NY, it will make your head explode. My farm has 40 rack bucks on it every season and I'm allowed to kill only one. I love Ohio.
Pat - thanks for the great insight, very useful information. Do you have an outfitter that you would suggest, any state? I really enjoy getting away from time to time, and spending time in deer camp, it always makes the hunt a whole different experience.
nehunter's Link
Bob use the outfitter search right here on Bowsite.
https://www.bowsite.com/bowsite/OUTFITTERREPORTS/outfitter.cfm
nehunter's Link
Try Brad Snow - very popular hunter/outfitter
https://www.facebook.com/KillinBuckOutfitters/about/?ref=page_internal
20 bags of corn? Lol lol. Ohio deer herd is huge and you need corn piles? May want to quit hunting in that case.
That’s not called hunting that’s called killing. I’m not THAT desperate for a deer
But hey if it’s legal do it. Not my cup of tea
You can bait on Private in Ohio so even if the parcel is on the smaller side, you can pull deer in range if you are OK with baiting by heading there 2 weeks before hunting season and put out 10-20 bags of corn.
If only some people were in less of a hurry to belittle others and took the time to actually read what was posted.....
I hate to break this to you Danny but baiting is also legal in CT zones 11/12. But I will admit that it’s easier to kill any deer, except a mature buck. My Ohio buck in my previous post would never hit a bait. Old bucks know the drill. I killed him as he followed a hot doe into a food plot.
Doesn’t make me more special. If I could have killed him over a bait I certainly would have tried that. Not your cup of tea? No problem. I’ll use any legal method of hunting available to me so long as it’s effective.
By the way, the pic above is my biggest buck ever at 191” and shot with my bow over bait in Kansas. I make no apologies to anyone for using a legal option.
BBB check out flint ridge outfitters in Zainsville Ohio. They hunt the golden triangle and have some great land.
BBB check out flint ridge outfitters in Zainsville Ohio. They hunt the golden triangle and have some great land.
Not belittling anyone Mike. Just my thoughts on baiting. Sorry you don’t like it but that’s no different than me not liking baiting. I also said if it’s legal gofor it!
Actually, you were here and you've done it before; I just decided to call you on it now. Second, I could have added to my post by stating I've never baited but I was curious to see if you'd put the shovel away or keep digging the hole deeper; you didn't disappoint.
Sorry, but in my opinion you've got at least some growing up to do.
This is a simple case of one guy hunts with a traditional stick bow he made himself with wooden shaft arrows, and another hunts private land over bait with a rifle. Both guys made the decision to hunt that way, but the former will say the latter has a huge advantage, and is therefore not accepting the challenge of hunting the way he does. Neither is right or wrong, just different. To each his own I say.
Pat - that Ohio buck is crazy!! I would love to just get the chance to see one like that. I spent big bucks to hunt elk in New Mexico with an outfitter and didn't score, but I got a shot at a 390 class bull, and I will never forget the feeling of seeing that animal up close,,,,,,or the poor shot I made.
The night pic I posted with the 191” buck was Kansas, not ohio. The daytime pic was ohio. Both bow kills .
Either is great, but the Kansas buck has a perfect basket shape, very impressive.
BBB if you ask me the buck you arrowed last year in CT is an equal trophy. He might not score as high, but scores are for golf. You got him in a state where a deer of that caliber is a rare animal.
That was the buck I got in 2018, and thanks.
Omg..I was here just lurking, but I can't believe it's been that long...lol
Bob that means only 12 years to go ;)
I hunted the Zanesville area for 2 seasons. Lots of great public ground, although rolling with steep hills and surrounded by AG fields. We had some quality bucks on camera but our best was a 130” mature 9 pointer. An outfitter was running clients across the road and most deer were 120”-130” but there’s lots in the area. We did see a 150” 11 point get hit by a car one night after hunting and it was a brute of a deer so they live there!
I took a picture of a giant bragging board pic in Gander Mountain.
This is the one that got hit by the car in front of us. He was a stud!
Tall1, I’ve looked into going to that area. Zanesville and Coshocton. It looks very nice on the maps but I’d imagine that thousands of other hunters see the same thing and flood the area around Halloween. No?
We hunted on 700 acres of private that a friend secured access to, however, there is miles of public too. There were a few younger Amish guys with climbers hunting along the long dirt road to our land. The terrain is abrupt with steep hills which make dragging one out a chore for us older guys. I wouldn’t worry about crowds, this is big woods and lots of AG. You will have all of the country you want to explore.