Through an unexpected contact, I just scored a private piece of land in Morgan county to bowhunt with NO lease fees all to myself. Just show up & hunt! Gotta' like that, right?
Anyway...its about 6 hours from my house here in Maryland and I was told I could bring a camper or tent or stay at a local motel that is in McConnell, so I think it will be a really affordable way for me to hunt Ohio.
I'd welcome any advice from some Ohio folks or folks that have hunted in or around that county. I hadn't expected to hunt out of Maryland this year because of the expense, but I don't think I can pass up takin' an old recurve to Ohio.
Couldn't find McConnell Ohio on the map. What part of the state is it in?
McConnelsville.
QuoteOriginally posted by Mike Gerardi:
McConnelsville.
Thats it.....sorry.
Go south on St. RT. 78 from McConnelsville and stop and talk to ranger at Wolf Creek WMA station and he can help you. It is about 8 miles south of McConnelsville. I know you said you have private land to hunt but this could be a second option in case things go bad on the private land. There is over 100,000 acres state and federal land to hunt in that area. It is a good place to hunt.
Jim, congrats on the Ohio property, sounds like you still have that lucky horse shoe. How many acres?
Yeah Terry...didn't even think it might be horseshoe related...and yes I still have it....hmmmm
Its just under 100 acres.
Archer Fanatic, thanks, I'll put that in my notebook.
I dunno Jim...I think 4runr and I might be of some help but we'd have to see the land in person....
:) :)
Congrats on getting on some land here. Hope you find success! To be truthful, I have only hunted here a few seasons so I am likely not of any real help.
One thing I can offer is that squirrel season opens 3 weeks before bow deer. If your land has squirrel hunters the deer will already be on high alert. On the public land I have hunted here the deer wouldn't move at dawn/dusk even in early season. I would catch them moving around noon - while the squirrel hunters were having lunch.
There's no shortage of Ohioans that like to shoot at squirrels.
That area is home to some dandy bucks. It's straight country over that way. Good Luck!
Thats an awesome area to hunt.Good luck!
Hi Rainman-Some friends and I have been going to Ohio to hunt for the past several years. We have been hunting on public ground.
Thanks for the comments guys, I'm getting pretty pumped up.
ceme...I'll get those GPS coordinates right to you & Kenny... :laughing:
I'll be the only one hunting the property. Landowner claims to hear shots all around...guessing squirrel bangers...but none on their land. I might just be lucky enough to have landed a little sanctuary (hey...I can dream right?). Topo & satellite views look very promising.
What kind of weather conditions should I prepare for in the October/early November time frame? Not guessing it would be much different from MD. or any severe conditions, but I have no idea.
Is there a general expected time frame for peak rut activity in SE Ohio?
ceme...how close is that area to you & Kenny, it might rate a visit while I'm out that way?
Late October or early November usually have warm days and cool nights. Some areas are loaded with chiggers. Where we hunt in southern part of state we see rut activity begin in mid to late Nov., but it varies.
Thanks John. See you at the Hill.
You will encounter some good bucks for sure and plenty of does!
Hope you have practiced you picking skills. I've been out that way more than once and heard dueling banjo's a few times.
Whatever you do, DON'T squeal like a pig! :saywhat:
Smaller bucks start chasing in late October with bigger ones amping up into November.
The youth shotgun season is usually 3rd weekend of November which can get some deer moving for you from adjacent properties. Rabbit season starts 2nd weekend of November which can have the same effect.
Don't be shocked to see someone on the property if it isn't watched closely and keep your written permission with you.
All that said, I really believe you will have an excellent hunting season! I have seen more deer than I can count out that way when I lived in SE Ohio.
Charles is "right on" with the youth gun. I took a nice buck with a bow two years ago on that weekend. You must wear your orange. He was in full rut chasing doe and there was all kinds of ruckus all around me in terms of people in the woods.
He's also "right on" with the other hunters and keeping your written permission with you.
Good advice.
I need to correct what I said about t5he rut. I had my states mixed up. In Wayne Ntl where we hunt in Ohio rut was from late Oct to Mid Nov.
As a bowhunter, I'm very thankful to live in Ohio. Wish you the best of luck while visiting this fall.
Second and third week of November is my most favoritest time to hunt I took my first trad buck on youth gun season 2 years ago I wa 16 and haven't really gun hunted since. Anyways that is a good time to hunt based on my observation younger bucks chasin and goin on, good bucks gettin mad at em' and pre ruttin. Bigger bucks will be in a tad later. Best of luck to you. By the way being that it is private land and I'm guessing the owner is't out a whole lot keep an eye out for people who thought the fence was on up aways/ over their ect. ect.
There is'nt a bad deer hunting area in SE Ohio.Hunted there for over 10 years and own a place in Noble county right next door to where you will be hunting.Lots of old open pit coal mines reclaimed as hunting camps.Study your Topo maps and stay away from any highwalls left over from mining.(very unstable ground).The high walls on these properties can also act as funnels for deer movement.Best of luck and congrats.
Jim, congrats on landing a little piece of Whitetail heaven. That's about an hour and 45 mins from us. Let us know when you're coming maybe we could meet up somewhere. Talk more at Denton.
Jim, you'll be in non-stop deer country. I'll be next door in Perry County.
that should be a great area, the rut definatly will not end in mid november though, there will still be some chasing and tending until the start of gun season, I had a 140+ chase a doe by the house after gun season last year. full moon the 2nd week of Nov this year for what its worth.
They are definitely still rutting into early December and even tending a bit in January. The main chasing part of the rut seems to be 2nd and 3rd week of November.
I would stick to the 2nd to 3rd week in november.But my best time is opening two weeks of bow season as long as the wind is right like south west or west.If you need anything you can call me at 7404841236.Good luck
Thanks everyone. I haven't stopped smiling. Great info.
We hunted on private land off 37 in wildcat holler through the 90's.Really nice ground in that area.Remember,you will have muzzle loaders the last week of oct.
Could someone help me clarify the $24 "Deer Permit"? In reading, it looks like you can take three deer on that permit (Zone C)??? I know only 1 can be antlered, but am I reading it correctly that an additional 2 antlerless deer could potentially be taken on that same permit?
If so, what is the $15 antlerless permit for? To take more does?
In south western Ohio, I usually start to see the most activity during the second week of Nov. My boss knows I'm always going to be on vacation the week of Veteran's Day.
I'm pretty sure you have to have a separate permit for each deer taken. I know only one can be antlered for the entire year. Zone C is six total for the year. 3 with deer permits ($24) from Sept 24, 2011 to Feb 5, 2012. And 3 more with anterless deer permits ($15) from Sept 24, 2011 to Nov 27, 2011.
Jim,
You need one permit per deer. $24 is either sex any time during the season. Where you are at you can take 3 deer on those permits but only one can be antlered.
The $15 permits are good for antlerless deer. You can use them until Nov 30th (haven't verified this year's date, but likely the same)where you are hunting. You can take a total of 3 deer with these permits. They are no good after November 30th.
One permit = one deer. So, you have to buy new permits for each deer taken.
jI usually buy one of each to start with the intent of filling antlerless tags first, but having an either sex available in case that giant spike buck comes within 15 yards.
PM me your phone number and I can talk you through it. It can be confusing but it's actually easier than many states to understand.
1 permit = 1 deer
Either sex tags can be used all season, but antlerless only expire before the general shotgun season.
You can only shoot 1 antlered deer all season regardless of what tags you have.
So if I am traveling for a long weekend hunt it would be advisable to have a $24 permit and a $15 permit in my possession, yes?
ceme...PM sent.
You CAN hunt on Sundays right?
Sunday hunting a big YES......unlike socialist Maryland........
You can hunt Sundays, I always carry an either sex tag and an antlerless tag,and the antlerless tags are valid through the first week of shotgun season in the county you'll be hunting in (if you are interested in gun hunting...some trad guys aren't,I gun hunt every year).
Yes on Sunday hunting and Yes I would DEFINITELY carry both an either sex and an antlerless tag in the early season.
You never know what is going to present a shot and it will eliminate some of the "if only" scenarios. Plus, the antlerless tag is dirt cheap, so it is an easy decision to get one!
Remember there is a two deer per day max and you HAVE to tag the first deer before shooting a second. You don't necessarily have to check it in, but it does need to be tagged before shooting the second deer. You can tag it, and climb right back in the tree or blind. That is also if the temperature is cool enough to allow the 1st deer to lay until you are done hunting.
Hope you get the chance for two in one day! Fat ole doe and a mature buck! Been close to that with a shotgun, but never with a bow....
Jim....you lucky dog!
Congrats on your well deserved luck! Here's to (another) well deserved big buck!!
:clapper: :clapper:
I'm hunting about 5 miles southeast of McConnelsville. My favorite times are opening week and the first week of November. In November you can set all day and have bucks cruising by you, It is AWESOME!!!!
Ok also one other little tip I have my oter most favoritest time to bow hunt other than early nov. and when it's bitter freezing is gun season.
Use your surrounding deer driving gun slingers push em' to ya if it's a low pressured hunting piece of ground it's possibly a safe haven for deer. Hunt the trails from where they come off of adjacent properties where deer will likely be pushed towards. Just a tip I've seen lots of deer this way.