Deer hunting opportunites at state preserves will be offered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources this fall, including one in Hardin County.
Photo courtesy of Ohio Department of Natural Resources
COLUMBUS – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Natural Areas and Preserves is holding special controlled deer hunts at eight state nature preserves across Ohio during the 2024-25 hunting season.
The locations were identified as areas where deer populations pose a threat to native plant communities, including one at Lawrence Woods in Hardin County. The division is offering both gun and archery hunts this year.
A special archery hunt is planned at Lawrence Woods in Hardin County. A mandatory meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at the preserve parking area, 13278 County Road 190, Kenton. For more information, contact Preserve Manager Ryan Schroeder at 419-445-1775 or email [email protected]
Other special deer hunting events are planned at state preserves in Pickaway, Champaign and Fulton counties (archery); Butler/Preble and Warren counties (late season archery); Hocking County (gun), and Jackson County (gun, muzzleloader and archery). Mandatory meetings will be held at each site. For more information check the DNR website at ohiodnr.gov.
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 must 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.
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. Other special regulations will be addressed at the orientation meetings following the drawings.
