Welcome!  2010 Hunts Open for Booking!Updated Pics from 2009 in Picture Gallery!!

Close Encounter Whitetail Outfitters (CEWO) of Ohio is a family owned & operated outfitting service.  Eric & Jenni Ashcraft and their families have a tremendous passion for the outdoors.  We are whitetail managers and love hunting for older age class bucks.  We couldn't do what we do if we didn't have great neighbors and friends in close proximity.  All of our 1,500 acre private properties have been managed extensively for quality bucks and the trophy potential is very high in this area.  We have some of the best habitat Ohio has to offer, with clearcuts, big timber, thick pine stands, warm season grasses, cutovers, food plots, river bottoms and mixed crop fields just to name a few.  The cover is the key, this is what holds deer on our properties.  Corn and beans is the staple crop for the farmers around here, so we plant highly attractive fall hunting plots to hold and draw deer all fall and winter.  Our stands will be put in place in August to insure the least amount of disturbance as possible.  They will be between 15-20 ft. high and will be set along travel routes, food plots, transition areas, close to bedding areas, in funnel, pinch point areas and are set up according to prevailing winds.  We do our best to keep you comfortable for those all day sits.    Our hunts will be scheduled on a first come, first serve basis.  We will offer returning hunters the first chance to re-book before opening the spots to the public via our online service.  A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking and is non-refundable.  The remainder of the fee is due August 1, on the year of your scheduled hunt.   We are looking for like minded, ethical, serious bowhunters to come and enjoy the hunt of a lifetime with us.  Check out the ODNR Hunting Reguations , to make sure you are prepared for the fall hunt.  The trophy potential is great in Knox, Licking & Coshocton counties.  All of our hunts are 100% fair chase wild hunts!  We look forward to you hunting with us and have some exciting plans for the years to come, thanks for taking the time to visit our website. 

Eric & Jenni

We look forward to hosting you here in the great state of Ohio!

“ I have been blessed to hunt many great places while filming for The Management Advantage television program.   I can honestly say that I have never hunted an area that has such a high deer density and yet still produces world class bucks like this area does.  Proper management practices combined with tremendous genetics equals trophy animals.  This area of Ohio has it all!  The 177 inch four year old buck I harvested in October of 2007 proves the point.  Thanks for the bow hunt of a lifetime.”

-Chuck Sykes 

Wildlife Biologist/Creator

The Management Advantage

Weather Forecast Utica, OH Zip: 43080 

Hunting Forecasts:

 Country Music Artist

Bobby Kendall 

Call Us Today!

Please contact us anytime! We look forward to hearing from you.  Check out the Hunts page to see dates and pricing.  Check out some of the trophy pictures and cabin pictures listed in the Picture Gallery, thanks!!