Paulding County Outdoors - By Duane Bailey

Ohio has one of the longest deer hunting seasons in the U.S. It opened Sept. 27 and continues through Feb. 1, 2009. (ODNR photo)
When you think of deer hunting, do you think only of a one-week season of gun hunting? Well, think again! Ohio offers not only trophy whitetails, but also a lengthy archery season open from Sept. 27 through Feb. 1, 2009. As a result, record-breaking harvests and record-breaking trophy bucks seem to be a very common occurrence.
The 2007 season saw a total of 232,854 deer taken. This includes 533 deer taken in Paulding County by gun hunters and another 236 deer taken by archers.
Many believe that Ohio is the state for trophy bucks at this time in deer hunting history. It is hard to argue with the results, with several of the largest bucks in the world taken in Ohio during the past few years.
Whether or not a buck becomes a real trophy is based on genes, nutrition and age. The Buckeye Big Buck Club (BBBC), created in 1957, is the official keeper of trophy whitetail records in the state, and membership is limited to hunters who take a buck with at least a score of 140 for typicals and 160 for non-typicals (based on Boone & Crockett Club scoring). The club has experienced rapid growth over the past few years, with many large bucks being taken.
Ohio’s deer population is not distributed evenly across the state, although big bucks have been taken in every county. The best deer hunting population can be found in the central to south and east portions of Ohio. The northeastern part of the state has a good many deer, and it is a bit sparser in the northwest. Interestingly enough, some of the biggest trophy deer have been taken here in the northwestern part of the state, proving yet again that a light population doesn’t always mean that you can’t find a monster out there. Forty-one Paulding County bucks are in the Buckeye Big Bucks Club record book.
Here’s some Ohio deer hunting facts.
We have one of the longest deer hunting seasons in the United States (late September through Feb. 1 in 2009). Deer herd numbering at an estimated 600,000+. Largest typical buck score is a tie with two bucks scoring 201-1/8 harvested in 1986 and 2005. Largest non-typical buck was a 304-6/8 taken in 2000 in Greene County. The 304-6/8 non-typical noted above is the largest non-typical every harvested by a hunter according to the Boone and Crockett Club scoring and record sheet. This buck is known as the Beatty Buck (taken by Mike Beatty).
In other outdoor notes, even though the archery deer season has begun don’t put away the rods and reels just yet. That’s because as autumn brings cooler air and water temperatures begin to drop, the crappie fishing heats up, particularly in the Auglaize River. Likewise, anglers will want to head to the Paulding Reservoir for some saugeye action.
Lastly, we hear and read a lot these days on how bad the economy is. And there’s no doubt that a dollar isn’t worth a dollar anymore. But, while we may have different views on how to change that, I think most of us would agree that in spite of the cost of living, it’s still worth it. Enjoy Paulding County Outdoors!