October 3, 2025. It was 87 degrees in east-central Ohio—the kind of heat that usually keeps big deer bedded deep in the shadows until well after dark. But Craig Meyers was sitting in a fiberglass blind that felt more like an oven, probably hitting 105 degrees inside, waiting on a ghost. He wasn't just out for a weekend hunt. He was three years into a chess match with a buck named "Krabs," a deer that had grown from a 140-inch teenager into a 225-inch behemoth.
When you talk about Craig Meyers deer hunting Ohio, you aren't just talking about a lucky shot. You're talking about a Michigan millwright who treats land management like a second full-time job. He’d been driving six hours one way from Portland, Michigan, for years to prep this 380-acre parcel.
Honestly, most guys would’ve quit. Between the unseasonable heat, the scent control struggles, and the pressure of chasing a county-record-class animal, the odds were stacked against him. But early October is a "window" for a reason.
The History of "Krabs" and the Long Game
Craig didn't stumble onto this buck. He watched it grow up. That’s a rare thing in the hunting world, especially on a property you don't live on. Back in 2023, the buck was a 140-inch deer. Craig had him at 20 yards and let him walk. Think about that for a second. Most hunters would have pulled the trigger on a 140-inch buck without blinking.
By 2024, the deer had jumped to the 170s. Again, Meyers held off. He wanted to see what the deer could become if it actually reached its peak.
This buck earned the nickname "Krabs" because of the massive, palmated drop tines that looked like crab claws. It’s the kind of character that makes a deer more than just a score on a sheet. It makes it a legend. By the time the 2025 season rolled around, trail cam photos showed the buck had exploded into a 225-inch freak of nature.
👉 See also: Dodgers Black Heritage Night 2025: Why It Matters More Than the Jersey
Strategy in the 105-Degree Oven
So, how do you kill a 225-inch buck when it’s hot enough to melt your boots?
Craig knew he needed a south wind for a specific blind overlooking a one-acre food plot. On that Tuesday in October, the wind finally cooperated, but the temperature was brutal. He didn't just walk to the stand; he spent an hour creeping in, dropping milkweed every 20 steps to check the air currents.
Inside the blind, things got weird. To keep his scent from blowing out, he kept the windows closed and even taped the seams. He was essentially slow-cooking himself. He had ice packs in his bag and portable fans running just to stay conscious. He later joked that he drank a gallon of water and never had to use the restroom because he sweated it all out.
It sounds miserable. It was. But that's the level of obsession required to tag a deer of this caliber.
The Moment of Truth
Around 6:00 PM, a few does entered the plot. Then a 150-inch 10-pointer showed up. For 99% of hunters, that’s the end of the story—you take the 150-inch deer and go home happy. Craig watched him eat.
✨ Don't miss: College Football Top 10: What Most People Get Wrong About the 2026 Rankings
Then, Krabs stepped out.
The buck was cautious, using the smaller bucks as sentinels. He hung back at 55 yards, then slowly closed the gap. Craig settled his crossbow pins—20, 30, 40—and squeezed. The shot was true. The buck ran a short distance, and just like that, a three-year obsession was over.
Why the Craig Meyers Story Matters for Ohio Hunters
Ohio has become a powerhouse for world-class whitetails, but the "gold rush" has made the woods crowded. What Craig Meyers did provides a bit of a blueprint for how to handle pressured land:
- Land Management over Luck: Craig runs a business called Trophy Land Management. He wasn't just throwing corn; he was soil sampling, planting specific seed blends, and providing year-round protein and minerals.
- The Power of "No": Passing on a 175-inch deer is painful. But you can't kill a 225-inch buck if you kill him when he’s 175.
- Scent Rigor: Taping windows and sitting in 100-degree heat isn't fun, but it works. Big bucks don't get big by being stupid about human odor.
The Physicality of the Record
When the dust settled, the numbers were staggering.
- Green Gross Score: 225 1/8 inches.
- Net Score: 217 4/8 inches.
- Inside Spread: 25 inches.
- Dressed Weight: 225 pounds.
The butcher estimated the buck was 6.5 years old. In the world of wild whitetails, that’s an old, wise warrior.
🔗 Read more: Cleveland Guardians vs Atlanta Braves Matches: Why This Interleague Rivalry Hits Different
Distinguishing Fact from Fiction
It's worth noting that if you search for this name, you might find a completely different story about a "Craig Meyer" (no 's') from years ago involving a bicycle and different tactics. Don't get them confused. The 2025 Ohio story is about the Michigan millwright and the double-drop-tine buck from Perry County.
There was also a poaching case involving a "Meyers" in Wisconsin a few years back—totally different guy. Our Craig is the one who’s been featured on North American Whitetail and Outdoor Life for doing things the right way through habitat work and patience.
Actionable Steps for Your Own Big Buck Season
If you’re looking to replicate even a fraction of this success in the Ohio woods, you've gotta change your approach.
- Start in March: Craig and his team were pulling soil samples and scouting in the early spring. The season is won in the off-season.
- Use Milkweed: Forget the plastic powder bottles. Real milkweed floaters tell you exactly what the wind is doing in the thermals, which is crucial in Ohio’s hilly terrain.
- Manage the Pressure: If the wind isn't perfect, don't go in. Craig stayed away until the South wind gave him the green light.
- Focus on Habitat: If you want a buck to stay on your property, give him a reason to stay. That means security cover and high-quality food plots that offer variety.
Success like this is rarely an accident. It’s a mix of extreme discipline, sweat equity, and the willingness to suffer through a 105-degree afternoon for one 10-second window of opportunity.
To improve your own property’s potential, start by mapping out your transition zones and identifying where you can implement "soft edges" between bedding and food. This creates the security a mature buck needs to move during daylight hours.