OHIO — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced it's holding special deer hunts at nine state preserves. 

What You Need To Know

  • ODNR said it chose the nine preserves because they are areas where native plant communities are threatened by the high deer population

  • There will be special gun hunts offered at Boch Hollow and Stage's Pond state natural preserves, whereas Lake Katharine State Natural Preserve will be for archery and gun hunting

  • The remaining preserves — Caesar Creek, Davey Woods, Gallagher Fen, Goll Woods, Hueston Woods and Lawrence Woods — will only be for archery

ODNR said it chose the nine preserves because they are areas where native plant communities are threatened by the high deer population. 

There will be special gun hunts offered at Boch Hollow and Stage's Pond state natural preserves, whereas Lake Katharine State Natural Preserve will be for archery and gun hunting. The remaining preserves — Caesar Creek, Davey Woods, Gallagher Fen, Goll Woods, Hueston Woods and Lawrence Woods — will only be for archery.

However, before hunters head to the preserves, they must attend a mandatory meeting for each hunt. Once completed, they can purchase a $5 ticket to be entered into the special hunt drawing. For those who want to attend multiple hunts, that means they have to attend additional meetings, as well as purchase multiple tickets. ODNR said it won't access entry forms by mail. 

Other than the meeting, hunters must meet these requirements to take part in the special hunt:

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

  • Possess a valid 2023-24 hunting license
  • Hunters interested in both the Lake Katharine gun and archery hunts will have to purchase separate lottery tickets for each event

Names will be drawn at random, and those who are selected will be assigned a specific time to hunt. ODNR said for archery hunts, orientation will be conducted immediately after the drawing. ODNR also said hunters may take a partner with them, and the partner doesn't need to attend the drawing or orientation. 

The 2023 hunt locations and meeting times are as follows: 

Lake Katharine Gun and Archery

  • Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 19, 10 a.m.
  • Location: Preserve Office, 1703 Lake Katharine Rd. in Jackson, Ohio    

Caesar Creek Archery

  • Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Sept. 9, 9 a.m.
  • Meeting Location: Preserve Parking Lot, 4080 Corwin Rd., Oregonia, Ohio

Goll Woods Archery

  • Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 26, 9 a.m.
  • Meeting Location: Preserve Office, 26093 County Rd. in Archbold, Ohio                  

Lawrence Woods Archery

  • Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 26, 2 p.m.
  • Meeting Location: Preserve parking area, 13278 County Rd. 190 in Kenton, Ohio

Gallagher Fen Archery

  • Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 26, 9 a.m.
  • Meeting Location: Preserve parking area, 4709 Old Columbus Rd. in Springfield, Ohio

Hueston Woods Archery

  • Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Sept. 9, 2 p.m.
  • Meeting Location: State Park Conference Center, 6301 Park Office Rd. in College Corner, Ohio

Davey Woods Archery

  • Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 26, 1 p.m.
  • Meeting Location: Preserve parking area, 7661 Lonesome Rd. in St. Paris, Ohio

Boch Hollow Gun

  • Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 12, 12:30 p.m.
  • Meeting Location: 7211 Bremen Rd. in Logan, Ohio

Stage's Pond Gun

  • Mandatory Meeting: Saturday, Aug. 23, 9 a.m.
  • Meeting Location: Preserve office, 4792 Hagerty Rd. in Ashville, Ohio