I am looking for some good public land to deer hunt in Ohio. I will be mostly bow hunting. I was targeting Central to NE Ohio but would willing to try anywhere in the state. I would also be willing to lease private land if the opportunity was right. Any information would be helpful.

im from north western ohio..there are a few spots of public land...nuthign really to lease..but overall the deer are here...i just dont know about size

i would look in to meads paper mill they have several thousand acers down by ross an vinton county.I hunt there sometimes alot of hunter tho.

1. Zainsville Ohio - AEP (All Electric Power) Public Lands
2. Zaleski National Park
3. Wayne National Forrest
4. Shawnee National forrest
5. East Fork

All of these and more can be found @ the following link including directions to and from as well as Maps of all the land.

www.wildohio.com

Hope this helps

Tri-Valley Wildlife area outside Dresden
Woodsbury Wildlife area outside Coshocton
These are a couple others. Coshocton county topped the state in deer harvest last year.

Oopps.. Forgot Dillon State park's wildlife area on 146W outside Zanesville.

Moved to the Regional Forum for a little more help...

Fallsville wildlife area
Rush creek
Indian creek
Meads paper mill
All these are great for bow hunters..you should hunt in places like behind the ranger stations or other places hunters will not think deer would be. Dont focus on deer sign, yes it says deer where there, but trust me. They wont be after hunters come afield for opening small game season like dove and squirrel.

I agree. This is the Big Buck area!

Yes, maybe 5 years ago on public land but not today....the public lands have been overrun for the most part in central OHIO..mainly by unhappy PA hunters...almost all of the farms are off limits due to leasing by local outfitters.... I hunt these areas and have seen the changes first hand...you'd be hard pressed to find any area above I-70 that is not hunted hard and I mean really hard..stay to the southern part of OHIO, you may find some untouched areas down there but not in those area mentioned above...

I hunt Woodbury, Tri- Valley and Egypt Valley every bow season with minimal, and I mean minimal interference. They are HUGE spots of public land, 16,000 + acres. If you want a good chance at the huge bucks, this is the place. More Booners killed in central and eastern Ohio than anywhere else in the state.