New to the area...

[New Buckeye]

Hi guys,

As the screenname says, I'm a new buckeye - just transplanted here from FL to be with my girlfriend. I hear it gets a little colder here and the deer grow a little bigger. I'll believe it when I see it. ;)

A couple of things:

1) Anybody know of good bow shops and gun stores relatively close to Columbus? I'm looking to get into bowhunting (maybe by January if I get a bow now, more than likely next season), and also be totally prepared for ML and gun seasons. I mean, within a 45 minute drive?

2) Anybody else going to be in Deer Creek WA this season? :)

3) Oh yeah, and does anybody know of a good processor between Columbus and Deer Creek? Y'know, if I get lucky? :)

Any other advice for a newbie to the area would be great - aside from 'there's gonna be tons of hunters in Deer Creek during gun season.' I already got that part. Thanks for the help!

[Jimmy]

Welcome to the sight, NB!!

I got nothin'...........sorry. :D

I hear it's warm in Florida sometimes.....between hurricanes, of course.

[creekchub]

i dont know what part of clolumbus you are at but in lancaster there is a prety good bow shop called fairfield outdoors, and two gander mountain stores in columbus one in the hilliard area and the second in the reynoldsburg area. as far as deer creek is concerned i have never hunted deer there but i know it get alot of pressure. alos make note that in the deer creek area there are what is called a
wpa in addition to the wildlife area. there are 10 of these wpa in faiyette co. and 10 in pickaway co. the smallest of which is 18 ac. and the largest is 95 ac.
do yourself a favor and pick up a ohio sportsman's atlas it has all 88 county's listed in it with public lands in it. hope this helps out some

http://www.sportsmanatlas.com/ohio/atlas/ohio_sportsmans_atlas.html

[New Buckeye]

Originally posted by creekchub
i dont know what part of clolumbus you are at but in lancaster there is a prety good bow shop called fairfield outdoors, and two gander mountain stores in columbus one in the hilliard area and the second in the reynoldsburg area.

Yeah, I've been to the Hilliard Gander Mountain - good stuff. I'm also looking for the little 'Mom & Pop' type places that may have better service (and maybe used bows, too).

as far as deer creek is concerned...alos make note that in the deer creek area there are what is called a
wpa in addition to the wildlife area. there are 10 of these wpa in faiyette co. and 10 in pickaway co. the smallest of which is 18 ac. and the largest is 95 ac.

What's a WPA? Wildlife Preservation Area? Are you talking about extra hunting land, or land you can't hunt on?

do yourself a favor and pick up a ohio sportsman's atlas it has all 88 county's listed in it with public lands in it. hope this helps out some


That looks like a great book, thanks!

Thanks for the help so far, guys... keep it comin'!

[jbrown]

WPA = Wildlife Production Area... public hunting. It's an area that is specifically managed for enhancing the wildlife in the area, while also giving hunters some good opportunities.

[chopiq]

Buckeye outdoors near Buckeye lake has a nice bow shop. Its east on I-70 about 30 east of Columbus. I think exit 129B.

[Buckeyearcher]

Welcome to Ohio. Most of Ohio is private land and getting access is all about networking. You say your coming to be with your girlfriend, ask if she has a grandfather with some land or a cousin in the country you may meet at Thanksgiving time. Most people gain access first by meeting the landowners first by relatives or friends or coworkers.

Actually some of the public land in Ohio has good numbers of deer. You just have to know which ones to go to. Maps are available on the ODNR Division of Wildlife website at http://www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife I believe. The are some nice areas east of you at the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy Lakes and Wayne National Forest also has some large acreage.

Good Luck!!!

:)

[New Buckeye]

Thanks for the additional advice, everybody.

Re: finding land to hunt from people I know - unfortunately, my girlfriend is as new to the area as I am; she's in grad school at OSU. There is a guy I work with whose family owns a full production farm, though; I've been trying to find ways to talk to him recently. I think this is my best shot at private hunting land anytime soon.

I've read a lot of great stuff about Muskingum, and I think I'll take a drive or two out there soon. Since I'm so new to the area and the season's already started, I've pretty much given up hope that I'll find an incredible setup - I'm just hoping to find a spot where I can go watch some deer with my shotgun at this point.

1) Has anybody seen the Ohio Sportsman's Atlas at stores around the area? I think I'm going to stop at Gander Mountain later and see if they carry it.

2) Any advice on butchers or deer processors in Columbus or to the south?

Thanks for all the help so far, guys!

[creekchub]

i believe i have seen that atlas at gander and also wally world! i picked mine up at a United Dairy farmer strore a few years back