How it hunts
Oak-hickory forest, regenerating clearcuts, and brushy benches.
Public access. Egypt Valley WA and ridge farms above the Ohio River.
537 sq mi of land (Census)
Unglaciated Allegheny Plateau
Belmont County
Steep timber, hollows, and ridge-to-creek funnels. Big-woods public tracts mixed with family farms.
Sit forecast
Checking the forecast…
76/100
TrophyBook Opportunity Score · v1
Tied #4 of 88 Ohio counties
Ranks the county on harvest and record-book numbers. Not the odds of taking a buck.
- Total harvest3,725 deer · beats 82% of other counties32.8 / 40
- Harvest trend+28% · beats 78% of other counties19.5 / 25
- Harvest per sq mi6.9 per sq mi · beats 76% of other counties15.2 / 20
- Book-buck odds2.5 per 1,000 deer · beats 59% of other counties8.8 / 15
2025-26 harvest · record book 2019–2023 · How it works
Harvest186#46 of 88 · -13.9% vs last year
So far in 2026-27
Bucks93#38 of 88 · 50% of harvest
93 antlerless · -11% vs last year
Harvest per sq mi0.35#54 of 88
Not a population count
Book-buck odds2.5#36 of 88 · 1.2× Ohio
Per 1,000 deer · 40 entries, 2019–23
Harvest trend+28%#17 of 88
Last 3 seasons vs the 3 before
Harvest by season
Through Oct 13, 2026 · 216 at this point last season
Book bucks
392 Buckeye Big Buck Club entries · 344 typical · 48 non-typical · latest 2024 · #16 of 88
| Score | Hunter | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 224 4/8 | Todd Lowe | 2011 |
| 209 7/8 | Luke Lohan | 2017 |
| 204 7/8 | Tyler Bashlor | 2011 |
| 198 7/8 | Jason Dornon | 2021 |
| 196 3/8 | Brian R Elston | 1999 |
Taken with: Modern Shotgun 182 · Crossbow 89 · Long Bow 76 · Muzzleloader 27
All 392 entries →Buck board: no Belmont deer posted for 2026-27 yet. Post the first
History
Belmont County is a county located in the eastern end of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 66,497. Its county seat is St. Clairsville, while its largest city is Martins Ferry. The county was created on September 7, 1801, and organized on November 7, 1801. It takes its name from the French for "beautiful mountain".
Wikipedia · CC BY-SA