How it hunts
Crop edges, shelterbelts, and small private woods.
Public access. Mostly private ground with scattered metroparks, stream corridors, or small WMAs.
424 sq mi of land (Census)
Till Plains
Preble County
Big agriculture with isolated woodlots, ditch lines, and creek timber.
Sit forecast
Checking the forecast…
27/100
TrophyBook Opportunity Score · v1
#77 of 88 Ohio counties
Ranks the county on harvest and record-book numbers. Not the odds of taking a buck.
- Total harvest1,354 deer · beats 24% of other counties9.6 / 40
- Harvest trend+13% · beats 40% of other counties10.0 / 25
- Harvest per sq mi3.2 per sq mi · beats 26% of other counties5.2 / 20
- Book-buck odds1.4 per 1,000 deer · beats 14% of other counties2.1 / 15
2025-26 harvest · record book 2019–2023 · How it works
Harvest101#73 of 88 · -9.0% vs last year
So far in 2026-27
Bucks32#68 of 88 · 32% of harvest
69 antlerless · +19% vs last year
Harvest per sq mi0.24#69 of 88
Not a population count
Book-buck odds1.4#75 of 88 · 0.7× Ohio
Per 1,000 deer · 6 entries, 2019–23 · small sample
Harvest trend+13%#51 of 88
Last 3 seasons vs the 3 before
Harvest by season
Through Oct 13, 2026 · 111 at this point last season
Book bucks
124 Buckeye Big Buck Club entries · 99 typical · 25 non-typical · latest 2024 · #72 of 88
| Score | Hunter | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 236 7/8 | Bruce Turner | 1994 |
| 212 3/8 | Mike McCabe | 2013 |
| 209 1/8 | Carson Baker | 2024 |
| 195 3/8 | Mark Bassler | 2006 |
| 193 2/8 | Lynn R Spitler | 1995 |
Taken with: Modern Shotgun 45 · Long Bow 30 · Crossbow 24 · Muzzleloader 21
All 124 entries →Buck board: no Preble deer posted for 2026-27 yet. Post the first
History
Preble County was established in 1808 and named for naval officer Edward Preble. Eaton is the county seat on the Indiana line.
Wikipedia · CC BY-SA