Ohio hunting
Public hunting land in Ohio
Caliber maps 237 public hunting areas in Ohio, with Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife's license fees, hunter education rules and official links in one place. Find the closest land to you on a list or a map, free.
Ohio · 237 areas
Wayne National Forest
National forest · 243,092 acres
Woodbury Wildlife Area
State wildlife area · 19,248 acres
Egypt Valley Wildlife Area
State wildlife area · 17,793 acres
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife refuge · 14,635 acres
Crown City Wildlife Area
State wildlife area · 11,285 acres
Largest areas shown. Caliber sorts all 237 by distance from you.
- 232
- State wildlife areas
- 2
- National forests
- 3
- National wildlife refuges
Ohio hunting licenses and rules
- Wildlife agency
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife
- Phone
- 1-800-WILDLIFE (800) 945-3543
- Resident license
- $19.00 — Resident 1-Year Hunting License (adult, ages 18-64)
- Nonresident license
- $180.96 — Nonresident 1-Year Hunting License (adult); deer/turkey permits extra
- Hunter education
- A hunter education course is required for any regular hunting license; apprentice licenses are exempt when accompanied by a licensed hunter.
- Good to know
- Deer, turkey, waterfowl and fur-taker activities need separate permits/stamps; season dates are in the 2026-27 regulations PDF.
Fees and rules as published by Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, checked Oct 31, 2026. They change, so confirm on the agency's site. This isn't legal advice.
Official links
- Hunting licenses
- Season dates
- Regulations
- Public hunting lands
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife website
Practicing for hunter ed?
Caliber has unofficial hunter education practice questions with explanations.
Try sample questions →Largest public hunting areas in Ohio
The 12 biggest of 237 areas. Caliber has every one, with a map, and sorts them by distance from you.
| Area | Type | Acres | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne National Forest | National forest | 243,092 | Open |
| Woodbury Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 19,248 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Egypt Valley Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 17,793 | Open |
| Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 14,635 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Crown City Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 11,285 | Open |
| Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 9,011 | Open |
| Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 8,581 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Grand River Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 7,583 | Open |
| Wallace H. O'Dowd Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 6,749 | Open |
| Cooper Hollow Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 6,166 | Open |
| Berlin Lake Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 6,065 | Open |
| Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area | State wildlife area | 5,805 | Open |
State wildlife areas · 232
Run for wildlife and, usually, hunting. Many need a state license plus a land-use permit or have their own season dates, draw hunts or weapon limits.
National forests · 2
Hunting is generally allowed under state hunting laws, except near developed sites and where posted. Some areas close for fire or wildlife.
National wildlife refuges · 3
Refuges allow hunting only where and when each refuge opens it, often with its own permit and rules. Check the refuge's hunt page before you go.
Ohio hunting FAQ
Where can I find public hunting land in Ohio?
Caliber lists 237 public hunting areas in Ohio: 232 state wildlife areas, 2 national forests, 3 national wildlife refuges. Open Caliber, enter your ZIP and see the closest areas on a list or a map. Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife also publishes its own public hunting land information on its website.
How much is a hunting license in Ohio?
As published by Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife (checked Oct 31, 2026): resident, $19.00 — Resident 1-Year Hunting License (adult, ages 18-64); nonresident, $180.96 — Nonresident 1-Year Hunting License (adult); deer/turkey permits extra. Fees change, so confirm on the agency's licensing page before you buy.
Do I need hunter education to hunt in Ohio?
A hunter education course is required for any regular hunting license; apprentice licenses are exempt when accompanied by a licensed hunter. Check Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife for exemptions and current rules.
When is hunting season in Ohio?
Seasons vary by species, zone and year, so Caliber links to Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife's official season-date page instead of listing dates. Always check current regulations before you hunt.
Find Ohio hunting land near you
All 237 Ohio areas on a list or a map, sorted by distance, plus a free bullet drop calculator and DOPE book. Free on iPhone.
Free download · Optional Caliber Pro upgrade · iPhone and iPad
Public hunting land in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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Area data: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1, public domain. Access as recorded in PAD-US. Always check current regulations, seasons and access rules with Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife and the managing agency before you hunt.
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- Shooting range directory
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