Last year, officer Ballard took two deer in the late season -- one in January and one in February.

While public hunting grounds in Licking County are limited, Ballard suggests late season hunters take a look at the Dillon Wildlife Area in Muskingum and Licking counties.

Part of Dillon State Park in Nashport, Ohio, east of Zanesville, Dillon WA covers more than 2,000 acres and also has 1,500 acres of water. The designated hunting area is along the Licking River. Black Hand Gorge State Nature Preserve is within the park's boundaries and lies midway between two hunting areas.

According to Ballard, the area has a good mix of fields and wooded areas. The area is about 40 percent forested, with cornfields and hayfields along the borders.

For directions and more hunting information, call the Dillon State Park office at (740) 453-4377. Maps may be found on the Internet at www.dnr.state.oh.us.

DISTRICT TWO
Oxbow Lake Wildlife Area
Matt Smith, a Defiance County wildlife officer, sees his area as overlooked when it comes to whitetail hunting. However, he believes that hunters would be surprised if they drove the few extra miles south to Defiance.

"I work many nights in January and I see a lot of nice deer in the Oxbow area. We have plenty of room to hunt, and a lot of big deer."

According to Smith, one of the main reasons the area has so many deer is the many available water sources, including 38-acre Big Oxbow Lake and the four-acre Little Oxbow Lake.

Oxbow Lake Wildlife Area surrounds Big Oxbow Lake. There are many tributaries and rivers running through the 416 acres that are open for hunting.

Oxbow's deer habitat consists primarily of marshland, brush and some woodland, with large patches of grass throughout. Trails are mowed especially for hunters.

Oxbow Lake Wildlife Area is northwest of the city of Defiance. Route 24 is the best path from the north. Directions may be found at www.dnr.state.oh.us. Hunters may also call Ohio's Wildlife District Two office at (419) 424-5000.

DISTRICT THREE
Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area
Jeff Carter was a game warden in Ashland County for 22 years. Currently, he is the wildlife investigator for all of District Three, giving him some unique perspective on hunting for the entire region.