Photo by BillKinney.com

For Ohio's many whitetail hunting addicts, December is our favorite time of year. The shotgun season for deer will open soon, and deer populations throughout Ohio are strong as ever. World-class trophy bucks are taken every year, and statewide harvest numbers keep climbing.

Now's the time to dust off your favorite shotgun or muzzleloader and enjoy some of the best deer-hunting opportunities in the Midwest.

Ohio has numerous public hunting opportunities for white-tailed deer, but picking the "best" areas to go can be challenging.

According to Ohio Division of Wildlife's district biologists, here are the top picks for bagging a buck.

DISTRICT ONE
Delaware Wildlife Area
Ken Fitz, a District One law enforcement supervisor, said that it's a tossup between the Delaware and Deer Creek wildlife areas.

But he went with Delaware WA as his first pick for December deer.

Delaware Wildlife Area abuts Delaware State Park, which offers more public hunting opportunities.

"There are plenty of deer on Delaware," said Fitz, "including some big bucks. But they are smart."

Fitz suggests that hunters try staking out one of the area's ponds -- to catch a buck coming in for a drink -- or try the wooded areas, which make up most of Delaware WA. The areas farthest from the roads and open fields are usually the best places to look for deer, according to Fitz.

"There are some agricultural fields," he noted. "But whitetail hunters would probably do better hunting away from them.

"Pheasant hunters spend a lot of time in the fields because birds are released there in December." (Cont'd)

Delaware WA covers 4,670 acres and may be found eight miles north of Delaware or 10 miles south of Marion. The wildlife area lies between U.S. routes 42 and 23.

Hunters may reach it by traveling east or west on state Route 223. Hunters traveling north or south should use U.S. Route 23 or County Road 220.

Delaware Wildlife Area has an archery range on its eastern side. There is also a firearms shooting range near the Delaware Lake shoreline, but a permit is required.

For more information about hunting the Delaware WA, contact the ODOW's District One office at (614) 644-3921.

DISTRICT TWO
Lake La Su An
Wildlife Area
Scott Butterworth is the wildlife management supervisor for District Two. Lake La Su An WA in Williams County is his pick for December.

"The Lake La Su An Wildlife Area has a good mix of habitat," said Butterworth, "The area is primarily rolling hills, along with fields, wetlands, woodlands and agricultural fields.

"Hunters will find a lot of deer here. Though we don't keep statistical data specific to wildlife areas, Williams is always one of the top-producing counties in District Two."

Buckeye State deer hunters will find Lake La Su An Wildlife Area in Williams County's northwestern corner. The 2,430 acres comprising the area may be reached from state Route 576 by using county Road R or County Road 7 from U.S. Route 20.

For more information about hunting the Lake La Su An WA, contact the ODOW's District Two office at (419) 424-5000.

DISTRICT THREE
Grand River Wildlife Area
Dan McMillen is a private lands biologist with the Department Of Natural Resources. He said the Grand River Wildlife Area would be his pick for District Three deer hunting this month.