Hats off to the Division of Wildlife for continuing to pursue the purchase of land for public hunting. District Three has over 25 wildlife areas they manage, and of course, white-tailed deer is the primary focus for all.

Brush Creek Wildlife Area
District Three Manager Jeff Herrick's favorite area is the rugged, 4,131-acre Brush Creek Wildlife Area positioned in northern Jefferson County. All of Jefferson County gave up more than 5,700 total deer last year, and biologists predict another great year. Quick access to the area is provided from County Road 55, reached from State Route 164 at Monroeville. Several township roads provide direct access to the area from County Road 55.

The southern counties of District Three are composed of broad ridges with steep slopes that descend to the narrow valley floors. The second-growth hardwoods occupying 80 percent of the area provide great bedding and browse for deer. Oak and hickory trees dominate the ridgetops and upper slopes. During a good fall mast, they can attract deer from anywhere. Bedding areas are found in the open fields and shrubby coverts on the flatter ridgetops and on valley floors.

County and township roads provide good access to most of the wildlife area. Several parking lots are situated throughout the area. For more information, you can contact:

• Area Manager, Highlandtown Wildlife Area, 16760 Spring Valley Road, Salineville, OH 43945. Call (330) 679-2201.
• Wildlife District Three Office, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron, OH 44319. Telephone (330) 644-2293.

DISTRICT FOUR
Southeast Ohio is the mecca for deer hunters. With over 30 areas managed by the Division of Wildlife, three large sections of Wayne National Forests, and several state forests including the infamous Hocking State Forest, you can find a great local spot to hunt deer in any of these areas. Next year's District Four predictions all point to another record year.

State deer biologist Dr. Mike Tonkovich says, "I would expect a harvest similar to last year and venture to say somewhere between 5,000 to 10,000 additional deer. I would expect the total harvest to fall around 235,000 to 245,000 deer," he claims.

Most of the deer in Ohio are harvested in District Four, with record counties such as Coshocton harvesting 8,600 and adjacent County with 7,300. You can't go wrong looking at Woodbury Wildlife Area in Coshocton or Tri-Valley Wildlife Area in Muskingum County.

Both areas are within an hour and a half drive from Columbus and collectively contain over 35,000 acres of prime deer habitat.

Woodbury lies in east-central Ohio approximately five miles west of Coshocton. Access to the area may be gained from a number of state routes including 16, 36, 60 and 541.

State Route 541, running east to west through the center of the area, provides good access to a series of county and township roads.

Information about Woodbury can obtained by contacting the Woodbury Wildlife Area Manager, 23371 SR 60 South, Warsaw, OH 43844; or phone (740) 824-3211.

Tri-Valley Area headquarters is located at 5960 Memory Lane, Zanesville, OH 43701, adjacent to the ODNR, Division of Forestry Nursery. You can reach the area manager by calling (740) 454-8296.

Due to the number of public hunting areas in District Four, I highly recommend you contact the District Four office at 360 E. State Street Athens, OH 45701, or call (740) 589-9930, for detailed information about the public area nearest your home of record.

DISTRICT FIVE
The two recent Boone and Crockett bucks emerging from District Five's Adams County reflect only a small portion of this area's potential. The district is producing numerous deer, and this year is no different. With over 15 managed areas and the enormous Shawnee State Forest, hunters from the Cincinnati and Dayton areas can find some of Ohio's best within an hour's drive of the city.

Caesar Creek Wildlife Area
One of the largest tracts of land in District Five is Caesar Creek Wildlife Area, located in southern Clinton, Greene and eastern Warren counties. Encompassing over 10,000 acres, Caesar Creek WA provides the deer hunter with ample opportunities during all of the deer seasons. The adjacent state park serves as a sanctuary and a refuge for deer, keeping the local population abundant.

Due to a busy lake system that stretches throughout the area, deer are used to human activity year 'round. Hunters can access prime hunting ground via road, trail and shore while minimizing the impact of encounters with deer.