ODNR offers special deer hunts on eight state nature preserves

COLUMBUS, OH – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Natural Areas and Preserves is holding special deer hunts at eight state nature preserves across Ohio during the 2024-25 hunting season. These locations were identified as areas where deer populations pose a threat to native plant communities. The division is offering both gun and archery hunts this year.

Special gun hunts will be offered at Boch Hollow and Stage’s Pond state nature preserves. Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve will offer archery, gun, and muzzleloader hunting opportunities. The remaining hunts at Caesar Creek, Davey Woods, Goll Woods, Hueston Woods, and Lawrence Woods state nature preserves, will be archery only.

Ohio’s nature preserve system protects some of the state’s rarest and highest quality ecology. Excessive browsing, when deer feed on leaves and plants, can negatively impact many sensitive habitats and has been linked to increasing the spread of non-native, invasive plant species.

Hunters must attend a mandatory meeting for each preserve they would like to hunt. After each meeting, hunters will have an opportunity to purchase a $5 ticket to be entered into the preserve’s special hunt drawing. Hunters who wish to apply for hunts at multiple sites will have to attend multiple meetings and purchase additional tickets. Entry forms will not be accepted by mail.

After the drawing, successful entrants will be asked to remain for a pre-hunt orientation. Other special hunt requirements include:

Hunters must possess a valid 2024-2025 hunting license to purchase tickets.Names will be randomly drawn and those selected will be assigned a specific time to hunt. For archery hunts, an orientation will be conducted immediately following the drawing.Hunters will be permitted to hunt with a partner; the partner is not required to attend the drawing or orientation.Hunters interested in the Lake Katharine gun, muzzleloader, and archery hunts will have to purchase separate lottery tickets for each event.

Some of the hunts this year will be “antlerless deer only,” while others will allow the taking of antlered deer but only after harvesting an antlerless deer first. Harvesting helps manage the deer population. Other special regulations will be addressed at the orientation meetings following the drawings.

This year’s hunt locations and meeting dates are as follows:

Boch Hollow (Hocking County) - Gun

Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 24, 11:30 a.m.Meeting Location: 7211 Bremen Rd., Logan, OH 43138For more information, contact Preserve Manager Levi Miller at (740) 380-8919 or levi.miller@dnr.ohio.gov

Caesar Creek (Warren County) - Late Season Archery

Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 24, 12 p.m.Meeting Location: Preserve Parking Lot, 4080 Corwin Rd., Oregonia, OH 45054For more information, contact Preserve Manager Eric Sagasser at (937) 418-8710 or eric.sagasser@dnr.ohio.gov

Davey Woods (Champaign County) - Archery

Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 24, 4 p.m.Meeting Location: Preserve parking area, 7661 Lonesome Rd., St. Paris, OH 43072For more information, contact Preserve Manager Michelle Comer at (937) 537-6173 or michelle.comer@dnr.ohio.gov

Goll Woods (Fulton County) - Archery

Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 24, 9 a.m.Meeting Location: Preserve Office, 26093 County Road F, Archbold, OH 43502For more information, contact Preserve Manager Ryan Schroeder at (419) 445-1775 or ryan.schroeder@dnr.ohio.gov

Hueston Woods (Butler and Preble counties) - Late Season Archery

Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 24, 8 a.m.Meeting Location: State Park Conference Center, 6301 Park Office Rd., College Corner, OH 45003For more information, contact Preserve Manager Eric Sagasser at (937) 418-8710 or eric.sagasser@dnr.ohio.gov or Preserve Manager Michelle Comer at (937) 537-6173 or michelle.comer@dnr.ohio.gov

Lake Katharine (Jackson County) - Gun, Muzzleloader, and Archery

Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 17, 10 a.m.Meeting Location: Preserve Office, 1703 Lake Katharine Road, Jackson, OH 45640For more information, contact Preserve Manager Coleman Minney at 740-979-9707 or Coleman.Minney@dnr.ohio.gov

Lawrence Woods (Hardin County) - Archery

Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 24, 2 p.m.Meeting Location: Preserve parking area, 13278 County Road 190, Kenton, OH 43226For more information, contact Preserve Manager Ryan Schroeder at (419) 445-1775 or ryan.schroeder@dnr.ohio.gov

Stage’s Pond (Pickaway County) - Gun

Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 24, 9 a.m.Meeting Location: Preserve office, 4792 Hagerty Rd., Ashville, OH 43103For more information, contact Preserve Manager Levi Miller at (740) 380-8919 or levi.miller@dnr.ohio.gov

The ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves is dedicated to preserving and protecting Ohio’s unique natural heritage and restoring the finest land and water resources in the state by managing a system of 147 state nature preserves and 15 scenic rivers.

In 2024, join ODNR as we celebrate 75 years of protecting Ohio’s natural resources and providing outstanding and award-winning recreational opportunities.

The ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.