The City of Athens is launching a Pilot Controlled Deer Archery Program during the 2024-2025 Ohio Hunting Season. The City of Athens Controlled Deer Archery Program is a lottery style hunting program. Hunters who enter the lottery will be notified whether they have been selected to hunt on select City of Athens lands during permitted times. All permitted times and lands will be specified on the permit if one is issued.
If permitted to hunt City of Athens lands, the permit holder will adhere to all Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations as well as any and all City of Athens and Federal laws. Only archery hunting of white-tailed deer is allowed. All rules and regulations as well as a waiver and release of liability will be issued and signed if the lottery applicant is drawn for a permit.
All lottery winners must submit proof of a valid Ohio Hunting License before being issued a permit.
Age Restrictions: You must be at least 18 to register for the lottery. If the registrant is interested in hunting with an apprentice or someone under the age of 18, they may indicate their interest in an apprentice hunt or hunting with a person under 18 on their application. The apprentice or the youth must submit proof of the appropriate license if a permit is issued.
Lottery Drawing: The drawing for permits will occur on Sept. 4, 2024 and hunters who are drawn for a permit will be notified by Sept. 6, 2024. All other hunters who entered the lottery and are not drawn will be notified the week of Sept. 9, 2024.
Hunters whose names are drawn for a permit will have until Sept. 20, 2024 to pay the $100 permit fee, complete and submit the permit registration documents to secure their permitted hunt dates and land locations, submit proof of a valid Ohio Hunting License (including an apprentice license or a youth license if applicable), and an Ohio Deer Permit. If a hunter is drawn for multiple sessions, a permit will be issued for each session and each permit is $100.
Any hunters who are drawn but unable to meet the Sept. 20, 2024 deadline to submit all registration documents will not be able to participate in the 2024-2025 pilot program. If permit spots remain open after the Sept. 20 deadline, the City of Athens will complete another drawing of the unselected lottery applicants and reach out to those whose names are drawn and issue permits as able.
Lands and session dates: If a permit is issued, it will be for a specified session and specified land. Lands that are available to hunt and session dates are below.
During the lottery application process, applicants will select the lands they are interested in hunting in order of preference.
If a permit is issued, it will be for a specified session and specified land. Lands that are available to hunt, number of hunters allowed on land during the same session, and session dates are below:
Number of hunters allowed on each parcel of land:
Gwande and Dowler Preserves (37.9 acres): 1 permitted hunter (2 if with a licensed apprentice or youth hunter)Camp Rotan (22.1 acres): 1 permitted hunter (2 if with a licensed apprentice or youth hunter)Strouds Ridge Preserve (COAD Tract)- North (47.9 acres): 1 permitted hunter (2 if with a licensed apprentice or youth hunter)Strouds Ridge Preserve (COAD Tract) - South (72.8 acres): 1 permitted hunter (2 if with a licensed apprentice or youth hunter)Strouds Ridge (Hope Drive Tract) - West (72.3 acres): 1 permitted hunter (2 if with a licensed apprentice or youth hunter)Strouds Ridge (Hope Drive Tract) - East (102.5 acres): 1 permitted hunter (2 if with a licensed apprentice or youth hunter)Armitage Well Field (86.4 acres):1 permitted hunter (2 if with a licensed apprentice or youth hunter)13878 Canaanville Hills - West (71.6 acres): 1 permitted hunter (2 if with a licensed apprentice or youth hunter)13878 Canaanville Hills - East (46.7 acres): 1 permitted hunter (2 if with a licensed apprentice or youth hunter)Former Landfill on Vore Ridge Road - West (20.3 acres): 1 permitted hunter (2 if with a licensed apprentice or youth hunter)Former Landfill on Vore Ridge Road - East (27.5 acres): 1 permitted hunter (2 if with a licensed apprentice or youth hunter)Murphy Donation Tract (75.7 acres across the river from Armitage Well Field): 1 permitted hunter (2 if with a licensed apprentice or youth hunter)If you are interesting in hunting with another licensed adult (not apprentice) you both will need to register for the lottery and you both can indicate you would like to hunt the same land. Good options for hunting with a partner, but in separate areas, are Strouds Ridge Preserve COAD (North and South), Strouds Ridge Preserve Hope Drive (West and East), Armitage Well Field and Murphy Donation tract, Canaanville Hills (West and East), and Vore Ridge Road (West and East).
Hunting session dates are as follows:
Session 1: Sept. 28-Oct. 19 (doe only)Session 2: Oct. 20-Nov. 9(doe only)Session 3: Nov. 10-Dec. 1 (doe only)Session 4: Dec. 9-Jan. 12, 2025 (either sex; follow state law for tag limits)Session 5: Jan. 13-Feb. 2 (either sex; follow state law for tag limits)
Images of the parcels of land with designated parking areas as well as acreage are available at ci.athens.oh.us/732/City-of-Athens-Pilot-Controlled-Deer-Arc
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