PAINT CREEK WILDLIFE AREA
"The Paint Creek Wildlife Area is well away from the cities," said biologist Devine. "It has a good population of deer and isn't as crowded with hunters as Caesar Creek WA. This means the bowhunting can be good."

Thanks to its mixed habitat, Paint Creek WA has high numbers of deer. Outstanding archery opportunities await hunters along the edges of cover where concealed bowmen have a good view of the open grasslands and food plots.

The hardwood stands in the higher parts of the area aren't as dense as in the lower sections, and these areas provide good early-season hunting.

Once hunters start arriving in numbers and the leaves begin to fall, the deer retreat into the densest tangles. Hiking in after them can be productive, and a map is a necessity. There's a lot of country to cover on Paint Creek WA, which covers 11,024 acres in Highland and Ross counties. The state park borders the southern part of the wildlife area.

For more information, call the ODOW's District Five office at (937) 372-9261, or the Paint Creek State Park office at (937) 365-1401.

TRANQUILITY WILDLIFE AREA
"Tranquility WA is another good District Five bowhunting hotspot," said biologist Devine. "The entire area is open to hunting, and it has plenty of whitetails."

Nearby agricultural areas attract deer, and this large tract of tough-to-access habitat demands a sturdy pair of boots. Sections of woods are scattered across the area's 4,254 acres.

Tranquility WA is the perfect place for a group of hunters to work on their driving techniques. The upper slopes are dominated by oak and hickory stands, while the river-bottom areas consist mainly of elm, maple, beech and red cedar.

Adams County has good numbers of deer on private and public lands, and hunters who opt for the public holdings will take their share of big-racked bucks.

The Little East Fork/Brush Creek drainages meet in the southeast corner of the wildlife area. This is a good spot for bowhunters who are thinking about hunting edge cover. Parking lots are on Old State Route 32.

Foot travel can be tough here, so lone bowmen should always have a compass and area map with them.

Tranquility Wildlife Area lies in Adams County, 16 miles south of Hillsboro on state Route 770.

For more information, contact the ODOW's District Five office at (937) 372-9261. For downloadable maps of public hunting areas, you can visit www.ohiodnr.com, the ODOW's Web site.

Tourist information is available from the Ohio Division of Travel and Tourism at 1-800-282-5393, or online at www.discoverohio.com.

Find more about Ohio fishing and hunting at: OhioGameandFish.com