Question for the Ohio guys (or those familiar with the state)

Yes they sure are. I have hunted gun season exclusively with a TC Omega 50 caliber inline for years now. I love that gun and one of these days I'm going to put a scope on it.

 

I have that gun too. I have the laminated thumbhole stock, fluted nickel barrel with the Nikon Omega scope. Can't say I would advise others to use that scope. It seems to be really constricted on fov, and not too bright either. I like the ballistic drop reticle though. I have the Leupold QR rings to help with cleaning the gun. Had an issue Tuesday this week trying to drop some does. Shot at one at 80 yards, and then snuck up on a herd of 8 or so bedded in an indian grass swampy area. Had the drop on them, but couldn't find one bedded in the heavy grass/blow downs to shoot. Had to make noise in order to move forward and they all jumped up. Freehand shot at 50 yards. Both deer were running fine after the smoke cleared. Thought both went down just out of sight. None such. Never found hair, blood or deer. Stopped at a range on Wed and realized real quickly what was up. Was nearly a foot high at 50 yards. I am wondering if the QR rings did not find their home when I cleaned the gun and remounted the scope. She's on now, but the does are avoiding me.

 

Mine is full cammo with the thumbhole stock and fiberoptic sights. I love the thumbhole stock!

 

You overpopulated? We have had earn-a-buck programs of differing levels over the years. For the most part, the unlimited doe harvest works to control the numbers. Perhaps a doe-credit as part of the license fee would work for you. You don't want to detract from the appeal of the hunt where you loose the income generated: "Ohio is a prime example of regional and small-town economies benefiting from hunters. The state expects the deer-gun season, which began on Monday, to draw about 420,000 hunters this year -- bringing in $859 million annually in lodging, fuel, food, equipment sales and other related expenses." That is real money there. That is a 2012 stat. If the doe population is out of control, offer a rebate on the license fee for a valid tagged doe.

 

Jan 4-7 is Saturday through Tuesday. Sunday hunting is permitted in this season?

 

I have an early Thompson Encore 50 cal that I muzzle hunt with. After burning blackpowder all my life I just made the switch to Blackhorn 209 ................... seems real nice so far. I don't mind out of state hunters. I used to go over and rifle hunt PA for many years, as well as the NY southern-tier after I moved away here to Ohio. I just look at it as fair reciprocity to my fellow hunters. My Boston Whaler project boat, and one of my Sabre mowers, were bought off guys from NJ. They can't be all bad!

 

Swags got it right. I know about the economical benefits, my parents have owned motels around Ohio for 30 years. Ohio has the does, and yes there are buck. The problem is people think there is a bonner behind every tree thanks to the outhouse channel. I admit the goal every year for my self is to get a mature buck and let the little ones walk, but I always shoot a doe as well. I have a couple surrounding properties that the owners use as hunting camps, one guy is from up north and the other is outta state. The northern guy is a hunter like myself and doesn't go out and bushwhack small bucks and definitely is concerned about keeping a healthy herd. The guy from Pa, granted it is his property, but he has a brown it's down philosophy. Ohio deer population is not as good as it use to be, once again this year deer kill numbers are down! Ohio needs to up the price per tag to outta state hunters, and implement doe before buck.

 

I like the doe before buck idea, had not heard of that before. What about the "true reciprocity idea", ie....... we charge out-of -staters the exact same price as their state would charge us to hunt/fish there? I heard that was a proposal some time back, has that gotten any more talk? The idea was to get some of these states with huge out-of-state fees to lower them.........

 

There is way to much deer driving and massacaring anything that is brown going on in my area. The kill numbers are down by almost 40% for this area. I used to be able to see 20 plus deer in certain areas during bow season and now I am lucky if iI see 5-8.

 

Boog I like that idea.

Certified106,

I use to travel down to Athens a good bit when I younger with my parents. Coming into Athens out where the ponderosa use to be there use to fields and it was always amazed at how many deer where in them fields. My parents had the Golden Inn on Columbus Rd. That burnt down 10 or so years ago.

 

Isn't it Illinois or Iowa that gets about 500 bucks for the opportunity for non-res to shoot a buck? Most states it is about double for non-resident. Seems fair.