I've never hunted either state on public or private land. This being said, I've spent time and have friends who hunt in both states...

Of the 2, I would choose Ohio based on the deer I've seen in my travels and in pictures from my friends!!!!

 

I've never hunted either state on public or private land. This being said, I've spent time and have friends who hunt in both states...

Of the 2, I would choose Ohio based on the deer I've seen in my travels and in pictures from my friends!!!!

Ohio definitely has some studs. Everything I have read and heard says that the deer densities are low but big bucks are worth seeing a few less deer

 

I would definately do some research as to public ground available. I have hunted southern Indiana but on lease property and if I remember correctly there is minimal public land there. there is a wildlife area called "Tall oaks" (I believe) and when last there, it has its own rules. Indiana is a 1 buck state but you could shoot a second if taken on the Tall Oaks property. also I dont believe you have the opportunity to scout before the day you hunt. Locals do take some very nice bucks but they have years of experience hunting the same ground . I hunted mainly in Scott county and did see some very nice bucks and was fortunate to harvest 2 that most would be happy with, a 145" 8 point with sticker points and a 5yr old 130" 8 point. I personally have never hunted southern Ohio and will be interested in some of the feedback that you get concerning Ohio

 

just checked the area is called "Big Oaks"

 

Just checked that area out on the map it’s a little farther east than the area I was looking at hunting. I was looking at hunting around the Hoosier national forest since its such a large area but I may have to consider that place

 

As a Hoosier who hunts public land.....STAY AWAY! GO TO OHIO! lol
No experience in OH but from what I can tell from pics posted, there are some nice bucks in OH.

 

I have no experience hunting on OH public but what I can tell you is that southern OH was a madhouse come November every year. That was 15-20 years ago though, back when it was still somewhat a sleeper state and before outfitters were buying up every piece of land that they could get their hands on. I can't imagine what it's like now...

I have absolutely no experience with Indiana.

 

I hunt public in SW Ohio and see plenty of deer. A couple of years ago saw a really nice 12 but never came in range. Check out Dan Infalt on YouTube. I think he did a going in blind type of hunt, no scouting public land hunt in southern Ohio. If I remember right he said it was pretty rough

 

Guess they did scout the area

 

If you go to Ohio the central Ohio area is beautiful, stay east of I-77. The land there is more rolling hills and not too steep if you don’t go too far east. Any public land will be busy the normal times. I stay away from peak times and hardly see anyone. Regardless of the common though on Ohio bag limits Ohio public land it is one buck, one doe only.

 

Hunting Opportunities at Big Oaks | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

www.fws.gov

 

If you come to Ohio, leave my big buck alone. That 12 pointer has been evading me for years.

 

Haven’t seen that 12 again and that was 4 years ago

 

Indiana public is almost a waste anymore where I hunt come November. People at every pull off. Another thing is our out of state tags jumped way up in price last year as well as the in state prices. I want to say it’s close to 600$ for the tag bundle. I’ve hunted Kentucky public several years and it seems like the areas I hunted had better deer numbers that at home. Ky has a couple really big tracts of public that are archery only. About 200$ cheaper as well. Just food for thought. No experience with Ohio.

 

this. Overhunted big time with many more people pushed off land they used ot hunt and onto public. Public is overra in Indiana. And now the THP deer tour shows up too ad brigs friends with them.

I would go to Ohio, be prepared for crossbow hunters there though and amish deer drives.

 

Another vote for Ohio. Wayne National Forrest can be tough but man can it be rewarding too

 

Big oaks is draw hunt only but I believe if you show up the hunt days they have a no show that you can fill in for hunters that don't show up. Taken a few deer there over the years it's fun to hunt there.

 

If your not familiar with hunting Hill country you better get prepared. Habitat wise there not much difference between the two. You will either be in them or simply won't, not much in between. Big country with some ag mixed in but not a ton. Big bucks are definitely there but it would definitely be a learning experience if you aren't familiar with that kind of terrain.

 

I have some experience hunting in Missouri and hunt some hills in Mississippi although they aren’t necessarily the same magnitude as some of the hill country in the Midwest. I have some experience with wind and thermals just smaller scale

 

I hunt southern Ohio it’s hilly and I love it bc most stay away from it, thermals mess you up. Entry messes you up, low deer density. When I hear a deer it’s 8 outa 10 a buck, I love it. Can’t speak for Indiana except driving through it to hunt IA and IL haha.

 

Big oaks is mostly un huntable acres, it is a unexploded ordinance zone where the deer hang out ad you cant hunt. Very low hunter success rates ad you have to hut with partner ad watch safety briefing. Lots of hoops to jump thru but there are some whopper running around and it's a very unique experience hunting an old WW2 ad cold war era munitions testing facility.

Whole thing is fenced and you only enter from the south side.

You can hunt the white areas on map after drawing your certain area and not enter the brown areas for ANY reason.

 

Indiana.
There are no big bucks in Ohio!

Good luck, whichever it is.

 

The people from Indiana say go to Ohio, the Ohio people say go to Indiana. This always happens, LOL.

 

Wisconsin has a shizz ton of public land and buffalo county has produced more record bucks than anywhere else.As you go north from the equator all the animals get bigger.Don’t rule out Wisconsin for a deer hunt trip.

 

And the OOS tags are cheap.

 

If I was doing an out of state public land hunt it would definitely be in southwest Wisconsin. Cheap tags tons of public land and some very big deer. Just look on the bucks of Wisconsin Facebook page. And I've actually hunted there multiple times. With good success.

 

Wisconsin is a long haul from Louisiana, maybe I’ll make it up there one day!

 

Nothing to see in Indiana. I've seen more people and vehicles this year than deer.

 

Sadly, the same for me as well. Hoping the rut will change that

 

The bigger woods of Hoosier National Forest can be challenging to say the least. I hunted it every year for 25 years until I purchased my own property. There are definitely good deer there but you will work for it. Try to get it done before gun season as everything changes overnight with the orange army.

 

I’m from Indiana and live about 25 minutes southwest of Big Oaks. I’ve hunted Splinter’s ridge a couple of times and these hills aren’t for the faint of heart. My family’s farm is similar terrain. Be prepared to work for a good spot. Bring a deer cart in the event that you get on a deer because you’re going to work twice as hard getting it out. My wife is from central Kentucky and I’d probably try Kentucky, Illinois or Ohio before I paid for a nonresident Indiana tag. Wisconsin was also mentioned and I’d love to try it. Indiana just isn’t what it was when my dad first took me in 2005. 2005-2013ish I felt like I seen so many more deer, especially bucks and I hunted less then due to being in school and playing sports.