My brother and I want to take an archery trip to the area next year. We wanted to go to Iowa but it is a little far to drive. I was hoping to find some public areas in Ohio that we would be able to scout during the summer and then hunt come season. Does anybody know of nice public lands preferably archery only. I don't want to limit myself either so if anybody knows of some private land that will work as well. Thanks in advance. Maybe somebody could suggest another state that would fit the bill a little better. We are not set on going to Ohio. P.S. I know all the deer have left the area and the hunitng is horrible in Ohio! WE ARE NOT CONCERNED WITH TROPHIES!
Thanks in advance

There's quite a bit of public hunting areas in Ohio. Ones around me are Killdeer Plains, just south of Upper Sandusky, and Delaware State Park, just north of Delaware. Killdeer Plains is not bow only, but has lots of deer, but takes some scouting to find them.( http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/pdf/pub23.pdf)I grew up just west of Killdeer and hunted it most of my younger years with my dad and grandfather.
Delaware State park allows bow only within the park limits and you can camp right there at the campgrounds and hunt. (http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/parks/delaware.htm) Also has Public hunting area around it. I bow hunt Delaware every year for a week and see deer everyday.

i know of a hell of a place that is public hunting,,it use to be hunted hard 15 years ago,,but maybe 1 or 2 cars there in gun season nowand NO cars there during archery season,,i use to hunt the area around it but due to 5 friggin hip replacements(im only 45) i havent hunted it,,i sit and look at HUGE bucks out of my window and this area is maybe 1/2 from where i see them,,it is around ATWOOD LAKE,,on the west side,,NOT the Dellroy side but the New Cumberland/Mineral Cityside of the lake,,i can probably give a lot more info if needed,,there are even a few places there that are public BUT most people,,even some locals think its private and its public
Bob