Deer Hunting OHIO Second Year / The Challenge of Hunting Public Land 

@@hfbpa8896 I am on the way back from Ohio right now. Just put out a few cell cameras for a Fall hunting trip. This is my third year scouting and hunting public land in NY. The first year I was clueless. Just tried to be a sponge and watch RU-vid and read as much as possible. Just finding deer was difficult, not to mention finding a tree stand up in March almost every spot I escouted. I scored a super nice buck my second year but got really lucky on my shot and learned what not to do again. I would have hated to wound a mature buck. I continue learn something new every time I am in the woods. My third year I relied way too much on scrapes and felt like I went backwards. This year I am taking all I learned and focusing on overlooked areas, community scrapes near thick areas and destination food sources. This fall will tell me if I am on the right track. Start with escouting public property less than an hour drive from your house. I put about 200-300 miles on my boots scouting each year. Mostly late winter and early spring after the snow melts when fall sign is easier to find. Then put out trail cameras and let them tell you where to hunt. It’s a lot of work, but I am an empty nester. I love to hike and try to interpret deer sign and spend at least one day a week all year long in the woods walking 6-8 miles. I am here to help you out however I can. Curt

We have run into that one time in Ohio around ag. but the other time we were way out in big woods and saw no one.

I did take the course again online. It wasn’t bad, but I wanted to see how things had changed in 30 years since I originally took it. You don’t need to though. For Ohio your PA license will provide you took the safety course. The first year hunting in Ohio I scouted in March and then my buddy and I scouted again in July. I would never do it in summer again. Between the Green Briar, insects and snakes it sucked. Feb, March maybe even April is best. All the fall sign is still there and you can see a long way through the woods. I hunt North Central PA with elevation changes anywhere from 500-1,000 feet. Where we went in SE Ohio the elevation changes were usually no more than 250-300 ft. You can definitely use the same tactics to hunt hill country

@@whitetailsdeerhunting7159 Thanks for the info. I appreciate it. I emailed Ohio DCNR with the same question and haven't heard anything back from them. Good luck this season!

@@brob-zy8zi No problem. It is great to share information with others who enjoy the same passion for the outdoors.

TY It’s tough and a lot of work but I know it will be worth it

No. After not finding enough sign to make it worth coming back to hunt we moved about 1:30 southeast

We went to Vinton Furnace in Southern Ohio 2 years ago. Big woods and mountains with elevation changes of 300-400ft. Like mini N Central PA mntns. We found deer and one Monster over 170” but never got close enough for a shot. This past year we wanted to try some areas with some Ag. close by. We went to Jefferson County and saw plenty of bucks, but no shooters. Where did you guys go? I scout close to 150 miles a year in NY and thus find some mature deer to hunt. It’s so tough to find the time to scout and hunt new property in a long weekend out of state. It has been frustrating not only finding the right area, but also the right time. I’m thinking next time of going somewhere give or take around Nov. 7. I am going to take a year off from Ohio and focus on working to shoot my first out of state PA deer with my bow this fall. Then I am going to do more research from what I have learned in Ohio the first 2 years to go back fall of 2024. But I plan to go out in March 2024 to scout once snow is off of the ground and I can still find fall sign; scrapes, trails, bedding. Most likely somewhere southern Ohio again.

@@whitetailsdeerhunting7159 We went to Woodbury Wildlife, Great Area but tough to hunt. Very thick. We went opening week and decided that was too early. We are planning our trip for this year just not sure where to go yet!

@@marbleriverhunter November 3-10 is prime for harvesting bucks in Ohio but it also parallels the rut for us at home. I have looked several times at the areas within a 20 mile radius of Conesville. There are so many different lands to hunt. Along with bucks moving in early November though is plenty of hunting pressure. March scouting for me next year is going to be a 3 day, all day long trip. Try to find those overlooked areas with deer sign when the woods are bare.

@@marbleriverhuntersome buddy’s and I are planning on going there 2024. Was it highly pressured in your opinion?

Knock on doors I got two properties by doing it. It I also had a few doors slammed in my face … lol

I have not had any issues on any public land in NY. Just my mountain bike. Not electric

I talked to Ohio. They allow no ebikes on public land or state parks for hunting purposes... Bummer!@@whitetailsdeerhunting7159

Never mind, you said PA at the end. awesome video.

No. I live in upstate NY right near the PA border. About midway across the state.

TY Always a challenge, but that is part of the excitement. I could have easily spent my last 20 years doing the same old thing, but I wanted new experiences, I wanted to meet new people and I wanted to learn more about the sport I love so much.

Really!?!? You can’t bike in places on Public land to get you where you want to hunt? I have never heard of that.

@@whitetailsdeerhunting7159 yeah it's a bad law imo. I think other states you can, but not here in Ohio. I hunt a lot of public and I always wish I could bike in, but at the same time, it gives you an opportunity to simply out work other hunters. If that makes sense?

@@travisshuttleworth630 TY for the information Travis. It is a lot of work trying to keep up with hunting regulations in different states. I appreciate the help.

@@travisshuttleworth630 (A) No person shall operate any vehicle, snowmobile, bicycle, dog sled, or horse within any state forest except over and upon roads, trails or other facilities designated and provided and posted for such purpose unless authorized by the chief or his authorized agent. Yep, this law is bullshit!!!

@@whitetailsdeerhunting7159 yeah I've argued with my local game warden about it and he said that it's to keep recreational bicyclist out of the woods while we are hunting, but I think it's bs. I also think we should be allowed to haul deer out with ATVs, but that'll never happen either

It is super exciting out there. The monster I saw in the rain storm keeps my mind on OH all the time. That terrain is difficult, but then I think about the area I hunt in northcentral PA. VF was a couple hundred feet in elevation, PA is 900-1,000. I definitely used some PA mountain strategies in VF.

I published a video last year of our VF hunt. "OHIO Deer Hunting First Time Experience 2021 Hunting Season." After hunting Private land for 30+ years it has been very humbling hunting Public land the last 2 years. I have made plenty of mistakes, but it has forced me to really learn about deer hunting and deer behavior. I have learned more in 2 years on Public than I did 30 years on Private. And I love every minute of it.

@@whitetailsdeerhunting7159is that high elevation there? We have property here in NH with that goes from 1200 to 2450. Quite the climb with a loaded bag and rifle

Most elevation I encountered in Southeastern Ohio was no more than 300 ft or so top to bottom. @@thatguy1321