Excerpt from past edition of OhioTraveler eMagazine by Jan Myers

If you're looking to tag a big buck this season, then Coshocton County, Ohio just might be where you'll find him.  That's exactly why Coshocton, Ohio has become very well known to deer hunters throughout the United States.  The county always ranks in the top three, and often times number one, in terms of deer kills in the state.  

"I believe that over the next five years, we will have a near world-record buck come out of this county," said Joe Miller, owner of Woodbury Outfitters (www.woodburyoutfitters.com) and Ohio Trophy Buck in Coshocton. "This is because the great food sources they have here, all the extra corn that is being grown in the area to supply the ethanol plant and the fact that rifle hunting isn't allowed in the area."   

Miller says that in his store during deer hunting season he sees hunters from all over the country. "If you come in the store at that time of year, at any given time you'll find people from at least ten different states," he said. "They come here from as far away as Arizona and Washington State."  

Andy Hershner, Wildlife Technician at Woodbury Wildlife Area feels Coshocton County is blessed to not only have a large supply of quality deer, but plenty of easy access on over 43,000 acres of public property.  Woodbury Wildlife Area in Coshocton County is the largest public hunting and fishing area in Ohio. Their nearly 20,000 acres is operated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources specifically for wildlife recreation.  Other public hunting property in the area includes AEP's Conesville Coal Lands, Mohawk Dry Reservoir, Wills Creek Area and Mohican Wildlife Area. 

"The biggest trend we've seen at Woodbury Wildlife is the number of non-Ohio residents hunting here," said Hershner.  "We not only see a lot of hunters from the big Ohio cities like Cleveland and Columbus, but also from North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Mississippi. It is largely due to our higher quality of deer in Coshocton."   

Hershner says other hunting is popular in the area including coyote (year-round), turkey, squirrel and rabbit.  "We also have 150 stocked ponds at Woodbury Wildlife and see a large number of fisherman and even ice fishing in the winter," he added.  "We've also seen a significant increase in archery activity for deer hunting lately.  There is more skill involved and the archery season is much longer and therefore a lot less crowded." 

A handicapped accessible road and area has just been installed at Woodbury Wildlife for those hunters who qualify for a handicapped permit. Contact 1-800-WILDLIFE for information. 

Primitive camping is available at Woodbury Wildlife Area and at many of the other public lands in Coshocton County. Ohio Trophy Buck (www.ohiotrophybuck.com) offers guided deer hunts and a spacious lodge.  "We hosted the Governor's Celebrity Hunt this past spring at Ohio Trophy Buck," said Miller.   

Hunters can also find other lodging options are listed at www.visitcoshocton.com. For more information on hunting in Coshocton Ohio, contact 1-800-WILDLIFE.

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