How it hunts
Crop edges, shelterbelts, and small private woods.
Public access. Mostly private ground with scattered metroparks, stream corridors, or small WMAs.
462 sq mi of land (Census)
Till Plains
Mercer County
Big agriculture with isolated woodlots, ditch lines, and creek timber.
Sit forecast · Tomorrow · Thu, Oct 15
Fair day to sit
46/100
- Typical week (neutral)
- High 72° (hurts)
- Wind 7 mph (helps)
- Rain 42% (hurts)
- Waxing crescent (neutral)
NWS forecast for 6–10am and 3–7pm, the moon and past harvest timing. A guide, not a promise. All counties
51/100
TrophyBook Opportunity Score · v1
Tied #41 of 88 Ohio counties
Ranks the county on harvest and record-book numbers. Not the odds of taking a buck.
- Total harvest1,432 deer · beats 31% of other counties12.4 / 40
- Harvest trend+34% · beats 91% of other counties22.8 / 25
- Harvest per sq mi3.1 per sq mi · beats 23% of other counties4.6 / 20
- Book-buck odds3.0 per 1,000 deer · beats 74% of other counties11.1 / 15
2025-26 harvest · record book 2019–2023 · How it works
Harvest82#79 of 88 · -26.1% vs last year
So far in 2026-27
Bucks23#82 of 88 · 28% of harvest
59 antlerless · +21% vs last year
Harvest per sq mi0.18#78 of 88
Not a population count
Book-buck odds3.0#21 of 88 · 1.4× Ohio
Per 1,000 deer · 16 entries, 2019–23
Harvest trend+34%#8 of 88
Last 3 seasons vs the 3 before
Harvest by season
Through Oct 13, 2026 · 111 at this point last season
Book bucks
85 Buckeye Big Buck Club entries · 75 typical · 10 non-typical · latest 2024 · #80 of 88
| Score | Hunter | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 207 4/8 | Tim Harner | 2024 |
| 203 2/8 | Kenneth Wenning | 2020 |
| 198 0/8 | Werner H Schmiesing | 1979 |
| 181 4/8 | Matthew Kuess | 2021 |
| 175 1/8 | Brian Keller | 2017 |
Taken with: Modern Shotgun 39 · Crossbow 19 · Long Bow 16 · Muzzleloader 5
All 85 entries →Buck board: no Mercer deer posted for 2026-27 yet. Post the first
History
Mercer County was formed in 1820 and named for Hugh Mercer. Celina, on Grand Lake St. Marys, is the county seat.
Wikipedia · CC BY-SA