Photo by BillKinney.com.

It's been a long time coming, but Ohio's 2007 archery deer season is finally here! The off-season always seems like it will never end, but this year, bowhunters have a lot to be excited about. With new opportunities for Buckeye State archers, and the season looks extremely promising.

Last year, archery hunters took 67,912 deer in the Buckeye State, up from the 60,090 deer the year before. Dave Swanson, an Ohio Division of Wildlife (ODOW) forest wildlife biologist, said the annual numbers taken by bowhunters might soon reach 70,000 to 80,000 deer.

He said there's been a big increase in archery hunting in recent years. The deer population has also been increasing, resulting in a phenomenal jump in the whitetail harvest.

Swanson said that just 10 years ago, 40,000 deer taken in a year by bowhunters was considered a lot.

The deer population is also doing quite well in Ohio. ODOW estimates some 650,000 animals will be available for hunters this season, and the population is considered stable.

While the state's deer herd is labeled as stable, some areas are in a "maintenance" mode. In Zone A, the ODOW is trying to maintain or increase deer numbers. Zone B is primarily stable, but deer numbers in Zone C need to be decreased.

Bowhunters have seen increased opportunities recently, primarily in the form of a longer hunting season. Even more opportunities may be on the horizon. Archers may soon see reduced costs on antlerless permits, and bowhunters may have the opportunity to nearly double their bag limits on antlerless deer in the state.

Buckeye State bowhunters have a wide range of public hunting areas to consider. Here is a look at some of top WMA archery deer hunts in each of our five wildlife districts:

DISTRICT ONE
Delaware Wildlife Area
Wildlife technician Kelly Kelley said there is a good deer population on the Delaware Wildlife Area. He said there are also some trophy-class bucks on the property, but noted that some of the best areas for big deer can be difficult to hunt.

The area is bordered on the south side by U.S. Department of Agriculture property and on the west side by a state park. Gun-hunting pressure tends to force deer off the property and into these protected areas.

However, the early part of the season can be terrific for relatively low-impact bowhunters.

The 4,670-acre area has a mixture of habitat, ranging from grasslands to woodlands. Row crops are plentiful on the area, as are food plots maintained by the ODOW. Corn, soybeans and winter wheat are all prime draws for whitetails, but Kelley said hunters should scout the area prior to hunting to learn what foods deer are focused on at the time.

Delaware Wildlife Area lies eight miles north of Delaware and 10 miles south of Marion. More information may be obtained by calling area manager Tim Davis at (740) 747-2919.

Deer Creek Wildlife Area
Another good District One hunting option is about four miles south of Mount Sterling. The Deer Creek WA contains 4,085 acres and is home to a healthy deer population, according to area supervisor Ron Carter.

There are ample grasslands and brushy areas on the property, which has two main woodlots. The remainder of the wooded areas is primarily along fencerows. Carter said these fencerows offer prime stand sites for bowhunters. He said there is moderate hunting pressure during the archery season.

In the early bow season, deer are usually focused on nearby crop fields. There are also food plots with sorghum mixtures as well as sunflower fields. Carter said the deer will feed on the sunflowers and row crops early in the season, but will usually not hit the sorghum fields until later in the season.

He said the ample food supply helps produce good quality whitetails with exceptional body weight and antler growth.

The wildlife area lies in Fayette, Madison, and Pickaway counties and is adjacent to Deer Creek State Park. The best access is from state Route 207. Ron Carter, the area manager, may be reached at (740) 869-2365.

More information on District One bowhunting opportunities is available by calling (614) 644-3925.

DISTRICT TWO
Lake La Su An Wildlife Area
Williams County has historically been good for deer hunting. Lake La Su An WA is a good place to start.

Doug Soards, area manager, said the deer population at the wildlife area is very good. There are good numbers of deer as well as some great bucks on the property.

The area is popular with hunters, according to Soards. But bowhunters can still find secluded areas.