MORE DEER COVERAGE • 2004 Deer Outlook, Part 1 • 2004 Rut Report in North American Whitetail Forums

By Mike Bleech

Looking at trophy buck potential in Ohio is serious business. A strong argument can be made that Ohio offers some of the best trophy whitetail hunting anywhere, as several of the largest bucks taken in the world during the past few years were Buckeye State bucks - among them the largest non-typical buck ever taken by a hunter.

How much longer this can continue is questionable, but for now, at least, the prospects are exciting. Ohio Division of Natural Resources wildlife biologist Mike Tonkovich expects big things this fall. "A record 716 bucks were recognized at last year's Buckeye Big Buck Club banquet that scored at least 140 points," he said. "Many of these big bucks are coming out of areas in the southeastern part of the state."

The Buckeye Big Buck Club, the official keeper of trophy whitetail records for Ohio deer hunters, sets minimum scores for qualifying on the basis of a nationally recognized scoring system: 140 points for typicals, 160 for non-typicals.

"Part of the reason we have such huge bucks is the fact that we recently had some restrictive regulations," Tonkovich explained. "Hunting pressure was off the deer for two or three years. I can't say that we expect high numbers of world-class bucks to be taken again this year, but we anticipate another great season nonetheless."

Trophy buck potential is said to be based on three factors: genes, nutrition and age. Obviously, Ohio deer have a great gene pool, and nutrition is seldom a problem. There was a generally poor mast crop last fall, which might have led to somewhat reduced antler growth in yearling bucks in a few places, but since so much is the state is in agricultural production, deer usually do not have to rely on natural mast crops. Also, unlike some neighboring states, deer are not overpopulated in relation to the habitat.

"Statewide I think the health of our herd is excellent," Tonkovich said.

The restrictive hunting seasons prior to last season allowed many deer to survive to maturity. Private land also contributes by providing refuge areas. But with the increasing deer population, more landowners are encouraged to allow deer hunting. Getting onto a private parcel in the first year that hunting is allowed there offers a great opportunity to find a trophy buck.

Dart’s Jake Binegar was shotgun hunting near home when he shot this huge 17-point buck. Its rack had a 21-inch spread. Photo courtesy of Jake Binegar.

Hunting land adjacent to property that is closed to hunting can also be an effective technique for getting a big buck, particularly during the rut, when bucks do a lot of roaming in pursuit of receptive does.

The eight counties with the most new additions in the Buckeye Big Buck Club are the same eight counties that had the largest deer kills and the most antlered bucks last year, but not in the same order. Out of a total of 88 counties, these eight - Muskingum, Coshocton, Licking, Tuscarawas, Jefferson, Guernsey, Athens and Knox - produced 25 percent of the latest entries for the Buckeye Big Buck Club and 23 percent of the state's 2003-04 buck kill.

However, even simple numbers can be misleading. Counties with the greatest annual buck kills or the most entries in the records do not necessarily have the greatest potential to produce the biggest antlers. An ODNR study of average yearling buck antler beam diameters from gun season harvest samples shows that bucks in the western counties, which produce the fewest trophy bucks each year, have antler growth rates that are clearly superior to anywhere else in the state. The southeastern counties, which have the most entries in the records and produce the largest buck harvests, actually have the poorest antler growth rates.

But another point that should be factored into the big-buck picture is whether those bucks have the opportunity to mature. The habitat in western counties, where antlers might grow fastest, consists of small woodlots surrounded by huge fields and thus doesn't offer deer much protection. If land's open to hunting, bucks don't stand much of a chance of surviving for long, and there aren't many of them to start with.

Here's a closer look at buck hunting performance and potential for 2004 by districts.

According to wildlife management supervisor Dan Huss, bowhunters looking for their best chance of seeing high numbers of deer and a chance at a large deer would do well to put a lot of effort into gaining permission to hunt private land close to the Columbus and Franklin County area.

Licking County, ranking third in the state with a 2003-04 harvest of 2,484 bucks - a 16 percent increase over three years - led the state with 29 new entries into the Buckeye Big Buck Club. It also ranks second for its 448 all-time entries, which is 45 percent more than the third-ranking county. (Combined, Licking County and neighboring Muskingum County, which is in District Four, have 9 percent of the total entries in the Buckeye Big Buck Club.)

Knox County ranked eighth last year for its buck kill. As was the case with Licking County, its neighbor to the south, the buck kill has steadily increased over the past three years, from 1,981 in 2001 to 2,077 in 2002, and 2,108 last year. It ranked seventh for 20 new entries into the Buckeye Big Buck Club, but is just 16th for total entries, with 203 .

Fairfield and Morrow counties are also among the leaders for buck kill and for trophy bucks. Fairfield had 18 new Buckeye Big Buck Club entries, maintaining its ninth-place all-time ranking, while Morrow, with 12 new entries, ranks 21st, slightly better than its 24th all-time slot. Fairfield County ranked 30th in the state last year with a harvest of 1,174 bucks, while Morrow County ranked 39th with 849 bucks.

Combined, Licking, Knox, Fairfield and Morrow counties accounted for 60 percent of the total buck kill last year for this 13-county district. They had 59 percent of the new trophy buck entries and have 57 percent of the all-time entries.

Information about deer hunting is available from the Wildlife District One office, 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH 43215; (614) 644-3925.

"Deer hunters looking for the best chance of seeing fair numbers of deer and a chance to harvest a trophy deer are advised to secure permission from private property owners," said Tim Plageman, an ODNR wildlife management supervisor. "Areas that have a good mix of cover including crops, brushy fields, woodlots and undisturbed areas for feeding should provide good hunting."

Richland County led District Two last year with a harvest of 1,199 bucks, followed by Huron County with 866 bucks. Richland County leads the district with 137 entries in the Buckeye Big Buck Club, however, Seneca County's nine was the largest contribution to the record book this year.

More information about deer hunting is available from the Wildlife District Two office, 952 Lima Avenue, Findlay, OH 45840; (419) 424-5000.

By the numbers, District Three has several of the best buck counties in the state, ranking second last year for total buck kill, third for total Buckeye Big Buck Club entries and second for new entries.

Tuscarawas County led the district and ranked fourth in the state with 2,316 bucks harvested during the 2003-04 seasons. Jefferson County was next, and fifth in the state with 2,291 bucks, followed by Harrison County (2,011 bucks), which was ninth in the state. That Jefferson County buck kill was a 12 percent drop from the previous year. Tuscarawas and Harrison county kills also declined.

Tuscarawas County led the district and ranked third in the state with 23 new Buckeye Big Buck Club entries. Next came Jefferson County, tied for fourth best in the state with 21 new entries. Ashland County had a respectable 17 new entries, tied for 11th in the state. Jefferson County leads the region with 227 all-time entries.

Information about deer hunting in the district is available from the Wildlife District Three office, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron, OH 44319; (330) 644-2293.

"Your greatest chances of success are in areas that are far removed from the road," said Keith Morrow, wildlife management supervisor. "Walk, walk, walk if you want to increase your chances of a quality hunt."

Half of the top 10 counties for 2003-04 buck kill, and 15 of the top 22, are in this district. Muskingum County led the state with 2,765 bucks followed by Coshocton County (second in the state with 2,688 bucks).

The District Four all-time contribution of 4,302 entries to the Buckeye Big Buck Club is 43 percent of the total, and the district's 248 new entries made up 35 percent of new entries. Muskingum County led the district with 28 new entries, and leads the state with 470 all-time entries. Athens County was second in the district with 21 new entries; Guernsey County was next with 20 new entries. However, Hocking County is second in the district and third in the state with 309 all-time entries.

More information is available from the Wildlife District Four office, 360 East State Street, Athens, OH 45701; (740) 594-2211.

With 97 new entries into the Buckeye Big Buck Club and 1,219 all-time entries, District Five ranked fourth statewide.

But such numbers can be deceiving. Greene County had a 2003-04 harvest of 444 bucks, ranking 61st among the 88 counties. It contributed just three new entries to the Buckeye Big Buck Club and has only 64 all-time entries. Nonetheless, David Ross of Xenia tagged a buck last October that is the second-largest ever taken by crossbow in Ohio, and it was the third Greene County buck in a five-year span to score more than 220 B&C points, including the famous Beatty Buck, which, scoring 304 6/8, is the largest non-typical whitetail ever taken by a hunter.

The plain fact is that anyplace in Ohio could be home to a trophy buck that would impress anyone.

More information about deer hunting in the district is available from the Wildlife District Five office, 1076 Old Springfield Pike, Xenia, OH 45385; (937) 372-9261.