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2018 outlook

Bowman

Junior Member
45
5
Haven't posted in a while, but curious what the outlook is this year in your area? I live a long the Pa-Ohio border and hunt both States, and after last Season with EHD, I'm sure this Season will be no better? Haven't really even had the urge to get out and look for this Season after last year. With all the time I put in Bowhunting between both States, didn't see many deer, and never saw a buck over 95-100in., very depressing.

My guess it's going to take 3-5 years in EHD areas to get back to somewhat of a normal Season, barring no more cases surface?
 

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,721
248
Ohio
My cousin in KY is seeing deer. They were hit really hard. He is optimistic. Hopefully you will have a good rebound too.
 

Jackalope

Dignitary Member
Staff member
38,841
260
Haven't posted in a while, but curious what the outlook is this year in your area? I live a long the Pa-Ohio border and hunt both States, and after last Season with EHD, I'm sure this Season will be no better? Haven't really even had the urge to get out and look for this Season after last year. With all the time I put in Bowhunting between both States, didn't see many deer, and never saw a buck over 95-100in., very depressing.

My guess it's going to take 3-5 years in EHD areas to get back to somewhat of a normal Season, barring no more cases surface?

3-5 years is optimistic considering the ODNR didn't modify the bag limit to account for the population loss. This means that people will be allowed to take the same number of deer from a smaller population. Bucks that they normally wouldn't have shot will get shot because they haven't seen anything big and have gotten skunked a bunch.

If you can find a low pressure hunting area that wasn't hit too hard by EHD then you may be ok
 
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bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
48,879
274
Appalachia
We're doing alright in this area, but we also didn't get EHD last year. We've had 2 outbreaks in the last decade and that's still impacting some areas in our county.

Good luck this year. Hopefully it's an improvement over last season!
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
My main property got shut down for hunting this year due to a bad outbreak of EHD last year. It’s for the better of the local herd, but still some selfish feelings happening. Oh well, I’ll get over it.
 

Bowman

Junior Member
45
5
3-5 years is optimistic considering the ODNR didn't modify the bag limit to account for the population loss. This means that people will be allowed to take the same number of deer from a smaller population. Bucks that they normally wouldn't have shot will get shot because they haven't seen anything big and have gotten skunked a bunch.

If you can find a low pressure hunting area that wasn't hit too hard by EHD then you may be ok

Yes, 3-5 years is being optimisic, as it could take longer? Hopefully EHD does not surface again, as that would just keep pushing recovery back. I read on another Ohio forum where someone mentioned more EHD cases this year in PA, but haven't herd of any myself, so hopefully it's just talk? Although this is about the time of the year you hear the first reports come out, all we can do is keep our fingers crossed?
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
I just did a search and didn’t see a map posted yet for PA. They are pretty good about getting the info out and will post a map on their page and update as needed.
 
I live a long the Pa-Ohio border and hunt both States, and after last Season with EHD, I'm sure this Season will be no better? Haven't really even had the urge to get out and look for this Season after last year. With all the time I put in Bowhunting between both States, didn't see many deer, and never saw a buck over 95-100in., very depressing.

My guess it's going to take 3-5 years in EHD areas to get back to somewhat of a normal Season, barring no more cases surface?

I as well live on the Pa-Ohio border (i.e. actually hunt the right on the border of Columbiana Oh and Beaver County Pa on State Line Road). Last year was pretty dismal and I actually spent more time hunting in other counties as I was not seeing much deer activity at all. This being said I would say I do think I may have personalized the whole EHD issue and made it bigger than what it may have been. Although it did hit very hard and killed significant number of deer both doe and big buck there was still some deer left to hunt. I noted this in that after having a miserable season and traveling alot to hunt elsewhere I finally got feed up and decided to stay behind the house for the last day or 2 of bow season. Ended up seeing a handful of bucks 2 or 3 of which should make very nice bucks this year. Do I think the population is going to rebound right away no but do I think I should give up on these areas no. This being said I strictly buck hunt some I am only shooting 1 deer out of the area per year.

Like you though my desire has not been there and I plan to kind of just "wing it" and spend more time just enjoying the hunt and less time focused on trying to slay a monster.
 
Yes, 3-5 years is being optimisic, as it could take longer? Hopefully EHD does not surface again, as that would just keep pushing recovery back. I read on another Ohio forum where someone mentioned more EHD cases this year in PA, but haven't herd of any myself, so hopefully it's just talk? Although this is about the time of the year you hear the first reports come out, all we can do is keep our fingers crossed?

I hope that this is not true although I have not been out scouting to know. I did check a PA hunting forum that is usually very up to speed on this subject and did not see any inclination of EHD this year. Last year was pretty substantially basically affecting the whole Ohio River region from PA/Oh to KY/WV. I would think if it was substantial there would be a lot more reports out. I do think unfortunately though EHD seems as though something that is going to be a persistent and prevalent issue in the years to come.