Target Buck is BACK / Ohio Opening Morning Update – Sept 27, 2025

Back in the Stand

Opening morning of Ohio’s archery season is finally here, and man, it just feels good to be back in the woods. Joe came out with me today, and we decided to kick things off with a hanging hunt. There’s something about the routine—packing in, quietly hanging the stand, getting everything organized—that gets me locked back into the flow of the season.
I wasn’t diving into one of my high-priority buck spots this morning. Instead, I eased into the season with a doe hunt in a lower-impact area. We saw four deer total, and I actually drew back on a mature doe at 40 yards. She gave me about a 10-second window, but instead of stepping out toward the mock scrape I made, she turned into the oaks. Close call, but that’s bowhunting.

Shifting Focus – The Epstein Buck

After the morning sit, I headed to another property to finish hanging cameras. A few weeks back, I ran out of time and didn’t get them all up. Sure enough, just two days ago, one of those cameras picked up Epstein, my target buck, in broad daylight. That got my blood pumping.

I’ve got a camera set on a suspected buck bed, and I’m eager to see how many bucks are actually using it, which directions they enter, and if Epstein keeps showing up. I’ll also be hanging new cameras on field edges and scrapes—both natural and mock. The strategy is simple: place cameras in proven areas, be patient, and let them soak. If Epstein is around, the cameras will tell me.

Dealing with Trespassers

One wrinkle this year—looks like I’ve got a trespasser. An Amish hunter showed up on a cell camera, and from what I know, he doesn’t have permission here. I’m not against sharing ground with other hunters who have the green light, but you’ve got to go through the right channels. I’ll be pulling that camera if I find it and leaving a note.

Looking Ahead

Season prep should have been finished six weeks ago, but here we are. At the end of the day, I’m grateful just to be hunting these permission properties and chasing a deer like Epstein. Cameras, scrapes, shifting food sources, and hunting pressure will all play a role in how this unfolds.

I’ll keep bringing you guys along for the ride. This is part of the fun for me—sharing the story as it happens, even if it means other people know about the bucks I’m after. That’s just the reality of today’s hunting culture, and I wouldn’t trade it.

Here’s to an amazing season for all of us. Drop a comment if there’s something specific you want to see me cover, and I’ll do my best to bring it your way.

👉 Stay tuned—the chase for Epstein is just heating up.