Photo by Ron Sinfelt

By Brian Ruzzo

The white-tailed deer population in Ohio continues to be healthy and strong. In 1995, deer populations hovered near the 550,000 mark. Then populations slipped slightly to a recent low of approximately 400,000 in 1998. Since then the Buckeye State whitetail herd has slowly climbed to an estimated 681,000 deer (in 2003). During last year's gun season, Ohio's hunters harvested 133,163 whitetails.

This season, whitetail seekers can expect similar population and harvest totals. More than 450,000 hunters are expected to take to the fields and woods in search of whitetails. Approximately one out of three will make the trip to the check station. If you want to be one of those successful hunters, read on, because most of the time it's not luck that produces results, it's hard work and knowing where to hunt.

Our top spots for 2004 are based on local populations, Division of Wildlife recommendations, and available public acreage. Destinations in districts Two, Three, and Five. District one hunters should consider a short trip south to District Four where both central- and southeastern-Ohio hunters will find the best deer hunting in the state.

Here's a closer look at Ohio's top five gun hunts for 2004:

Encompassing 2,100 acres, the Lake La Su An Wildlife Area is rectangular shaped stretching four miles east to west and one mile north to south. Much of the area is covered with upland habitat. However, a stretch of woods runs east to west through the center of the property.

According to Travis Kruse, who works on the property, the local deer population frequents the edge cover along the woods.

Kruse also points out that the ODOW plants corn and sunflower fields for doves, but deer are also attracted to these areas.

Kruse recommends exploring the area in the late afternoon hours if you want to avoid hunting pressure, which can be heavy during the gun season on any of Ohio's public grounds.

Access to the area is provided by County roads R and 7, which are north of U. S. Route 20.

For a map or more information, contact the District Two office of the Ohio Division of Wildlife, 952 Lima Avenue, Findlay, OH 45840; or call (419) 424-5000. The Lake La Su An Wildlife Area office, at (419) 485-9092 is another good resource.

With 3,500 acres of rolling hills along the border of these two counties, hunters can be confident that good numbers of deer are using the region. The area is primarily comprised of forested lands mixed with open grassy areas. The open grassy areas are tracts of reclaimed mining lands. The combination of open ground with forests creates an abundance of edges to explore.

Mark Hemming, an ODOW assistant wildlife management supervisor, recommends the hard-to-reach areas of Jockey Hollow. These remote stretches are especially attractive to whitetails when the shooting starts. The area is new and there are not many access roads or area parking lots. In fact, hunters will have to use township and county roads to access the area.

U. S. Route 22 skirts the northwestern edge of the area. From U. S. Route 22, hunters may follow township roads south and east into the heart of the Jockey Hollow.

While the area is shared by districts Three and Four, the District Four office has general management responsibilities for the area.

For a map or more information, contact the District Four office, 360 East State Street, Athens, OH 45701; or call (740) 589-9930. Hunters may also want to call the Salt Fork Wildlife Area manager, who manages daily activities at Jockey Hollow, at (740) 489-5021.