How it hunts
Crop edges, shelterbelts, and small private woods.
Public access. Mostly private ground with scattered metroparks, stream corridors, or small WMAs.
483 sq mi of land (Census)
Till Plains
Putnam County
Big agriculture with isolated woodlots, ditch lines, and creek timber.
Sit forecast
Checking the forecast…
45/100
TrophyBook Opportunity Score · v1
Tied #52 of 88 Ohio counties
Ranks the county on harvest and record-book numbers. Not the odds of taking a buck.
- Total harvest1,376 deer · beats 26% of other counties10.4 / 40
- Harvest trend+34% · beats 91% of other counties22.8 / 25
- Harvest per sq mi2.9 per sq mi · beats 21% of other counties4.2 / 20
- Book-buck odds2.3 per 1,000 deer · beats 52% of other counties7.8 / 15
2025-26 harvest · record book 2019–2023 · How it works
Harvest111#63 of 88 · -2.6% vs last year
So far in 2026-27
Bucks25#77 of 88 · 23% of harvest
86 antlerless · -29% vs last year
Harvest per sq mi0.23#72 of 88
Not a population count
Book-buck odds2.3#40 of 88 · 1.1× Ohio
Per 1,000 deer · 12 entries, 2019–23
Harvest trend+34%#8 of 88
Last 3 seasons vs the 3 before
Harvest by season
Through Oct 13, 2026 · 114 at this point last season
Book bucks
38 Buckeye Big Buck Club entries · 31 typical · 7 non-typical · latest 2024 · #88 of 88
| Score | Hunter | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 175 6/8 | Tracy Fackler | 2018 |
| 170 7/8 | Kevin J Mesker | 2021 |
| 170 5/8 | Bill Gerding | 1991 |
| 169 1/8 | Steve Shoemaker | 1998 |
| 166 5/8 | Jonah Gerding | 2015 |
Taken with: Modern Shotgun 16 · Crossbow 8 · Long Bow 6 · Straight-Walled Rifle 4
All 38 entries →Buck board: no Putnam deer posted for 2026-27 yet. Post the first
History
Putnam County was formed in 1820 and named for Israel Putnam. Ottawa is the county seat of this northwestern farm county.
Wikipedia · CC BY-SA