How it hunts
Oak-hickory forest, regenerating clearcuts, and brushy benches.
Public access. Mostly private ground with scattered metroparks, stream corridors, or small WMAs.
553 sq mi of land (Census)
Unglaciated Allegheny Plateau
Highland County
Steep timber, hollows, and ridge-to-creek funnels. Big-woods public tracts mixed with family farms.
Sit forecast
Checking the forecast…
55/100
TrophyBook Opportunity Score · v1
Tied #36 of 88 Ohio counties
Ranks the county on harvest and record-book numbers. Not the odds of taking a buck.
- Total harvest3,389 deer · beats 75% of other counties30.0 / 40
- Harvest trend+12% · beats 38% of other counties9.5 / 25
- Harvest per sq mi6.1 per sq mi · beats 63% of other counties12.6 / 20
- Book-buck odds1.5 per 1,000 deer · beats 16% of other counties2.4 / 15
2025-26 harvest · record book 2019–2023 · How it works
Harvest221#34 of 88 · +12.2% vs last year
So far in 2026-27
Bucks56#56 of 88 · 25% of harvest
165 antlerless · +8% vs last year
Harvest per sq mi0.40#44 of 88
Not a population count
Book-buck odds1.5#68 of 88 · 0.7× Ohio
Per 1,000 deer · 20 entries, 2019–23
Harvest trend+12%#54 of 88
Last 3 seasons vs the 3 before
Harvest by season
Through Oct 13, 2026 · 197 at this point last season
Book bucks
346 Buckeye Big Buck Club entries · 278 typical · 68 non-typical · latest 2024 · #20 of 88
| Score | Hunter | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 240 0/8 | Kaleb Watson | 2016 |
| 237 0/8 | Tom Luschek | 1994 |
| 232 5/8 | Brian Stephens | 2009 |
| 214 2/8 | Joel Buddelmeyer | 2011 |
| 211 7/8 | Charles Bair | 1984 |
Taken with: Modern Shotgun 157 · Long Bow 76 · Crossbow 58 · Muzzleloader 32
All 346 entries →Buck board: no Highland deer posted for 2026-27 yet. Post the first
History
Highland County was established in 1805 and named for its rolling high ground between the Miami and Scioto drainages. Hillsboro is the county seat.
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