Despite a lack of public hunting lands, District One contains a couple of the leading deer-hunting counties. Licking County led the district last year with 2,567 antlered deer, and ranked third among the 88 counties. This county has led the district every year of the 21st century, with an average of 2,282 antlered deer. Knox County was second in the district and sixth in the state, with 2,198 antlered deer. From here, there is a big drop to third place at Fairfield County, with a kill of 1,076 antlered deer.

Some of the best trophy buck potential in District One -- in fact in the state -- lies along the edges of urban development. One of the few public lands where hunters can get a chance at urban deer is Alum Creek State Park in Delaware County, north of Columbus off Interstate Route 71.

Total area is 4,630 acres. Camping is available in the park. Phone the park office at (740) 548-4631 for information.

DISTRICT TWO
Hunters took 9,463 antlered deer from District Two last year, an 8 percent decline from the previous year.

This northwest corner of Ohio is largely an area of vast agricultural fields with small woodlots, making deer very vulnerable to hunting. Deer density is quite low, but there are still some very impressive bucks. And from 2000 until 2005, the antlered deer harvest increased by 62 percent.

District Two has had 1,093 all-time entries in the Buckeye Big Buck Club. It also had 76 new entries. Richland County led the district with 14 new entries and leads the district with 151 all-time entries, yet ranks only 25th in the state.

No county in the northwest corner of the state ranked high for trophy buck production. Richland County led District Two, but ranked only 25th in the state, with a harvest of 1,413 antlered deer. Huron County was second, with 864 antlered deer.

District wildlife manager Scott Butterworth said that trophy potential was "excellent in any of our counties." This, he said, is due to low deer densities and a good food supply.

DISTRICT THREE
Even though District Three includes large population centers, it is the second leading district for deer hunting. Mixed habitat is the key. Last year, the take was 21,519 antlered deer -- a modest increase of less than 1 percent. Buck hunting here has been relatively consistent, rising from 15,229 in 2000 and then varying by some 200 deer over the past three years.

According to Dan Kramer, a district wildlife supervisor, deer densities are at or slightly below target levels throughout the district. The only area where deer numbers could be lowered is in the southernmost counties.

While the ODOW does not manage for trophy bucks, this conservative density contributes to quality deer.

"I would say we've got the potential to produce trophy deer in every county in the district," Kramer said. "There seems to be a lot of interest among landowners as well as hunters to manage the property they hunt on. Anyone who has the desire to do so could certainly see some rewards."

District Three ranks second with 1,916 all-time Buckeye Big Buck Club entries. It also ranked second with new entries, at 146. The leading county for new entries is Carroll County, with 15 new entries.