The 2018 hunting season brings with it a level of excitement that I have never experienced. This year, along with hunting my home state of Ohio, I have plans to venture to Pennsylvania and Arkansas in pursuit of whitetail deer.
Due to my out of state adventures, I will not be taking two weeks off in the rut this year. I will, however, still produce my Rut-Cation Journal covering my rut hunts in Ohio as well as sharing pictures and stories from my time in Arkansas and Pennsylvania. It is looking like I will use long weekends to extend my hunting time and still have enough vacation time left to travel.
My 2018 whitetail plans:
Ohio
I have three properties in NE Ohio on which I will be focusing during the 2018 season. These are properties that are already familiar to me and all have big buck potential. The last two years’ trail cameras have produced pictures of some nice bucks in the area and I am excited to hit the woods to harvest one of these Ohio whitetail deer. I will be hunting archery, firearms, and muzzleloader in Ohio. The properties have a high doe density so my plan will be to harvest some adult doe to try and thin out the herd a bit. The limit in my county is three deer (one antlered) and I hope to fill all three tags in 2018. My buck goal in Ohio is a three-year-old or older deer.
Pennsylvania
This year, I am honored to have a longtime friend and neighbor from high school extend an invitation to hunt on his property in PA. I am excited to once again hunt with him and look forward to spending time on his land. I am going buck only in PA and hope to be hunting archery and rifle during the 2018 season. My goal is to take a respectable PA whitetail buck. My friend has been able to connect the past three years on good PA deer and I am excited for the opportunity to do the same.
Arkansas
I am privileged to be invited to Arkansas to hunt with my friend on 280 acres of private land. What a rush to think about traveling to the middle of the country in pursuit of whitetails. I have seen the pictures of deer that he and his family have taken over the past three years in Arkansas. Deer with 150 inches or more of antler are not out of the question here. The license I will be buying will allow for two deer (one antlered) and I and looking forward to the opportunity to fill both tags. My friend donates a lot of venison to feed those in need, and I am excited to have the opportunity to hopefully harvest and help in that endeavor. My goal in Arkansas is to harvest a mature buck.
Stay tuned to WHITETAIL OCD for updates and pictures from the 2018 Whitetail Season.
We are three and a half months out from the Ohio opener and anticipation is on the rise. Time to get the trail cameras dusted off and out….velvet season is coming near.
