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3-deer county
Fairfield County for Hunters
From September squirrels to the January muzzleloader days, this Fairfield County page collects deer limits, harvest counts, bird zones, public land and ODNR contacts for the county.
Photo: Ibagli (Public domain)
Fairfield County deer rules and harvest
Fairfield County sits in the 3-deer class on the 2026-27 bag limit map, which caps what one hunter may take inside the county. Cross into Franklin (4) and Hocking (2) and a different county limit takes over. Deer from several counties can be combined up to six, but just one may carry an antler 3 inches or longer.
Hunters choose between the either-sex permit ($31.20 resident, $218.40 nonresident) and the $15.00 deer management permit, which ODNR now honours all season. A deer from a controlled hunting access lottery sits outside the county count.
Disease Surveillance Area status for Fairfield County
No part of Fairfield County is in the DSA, and ODNR has listed no wild CWD case from the county through June 2026. The nearest county with DSA ground is Delaware, about 42 miles away centre to centre. Bringing deer parts home from the DSA or another state means following the carcass rules.
Deer tallies for Fairfield County over four seasons
Last season ended with 2,351 deer checked in Fairfield County, 2% fewer than the 2,403 of the year before. That places it 40th of 88 counties for 2025-26. Bows and crossbows took 46% of the 2025-26 total, and antlered deer made up 43%. ODNR's in-season report gives 478 deer for the county through November 3, 2026. Of the 2025 seasons, gun produced the most deer here: 890.
| Season | Deer tagged | Antlered | Antlerless | Bowhunters | Gunners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 2,223 | 917 | 1,306 | 1,106 | — |
| 2023-24 | 2,059 | 912 | 1,147 | 1,061 | — |
| 2024-25 | 2,403 | 1,022 | 1,381 | 1,101 | 1,302 |
| 2025-26 | 2,351 | 1,009 | 1,342 | 1,087 | 1,264 |
2025 deer by season type in Fairfield County
| Season | Bucks | Does | Button bucks | Total | 3-yr avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gun | 280 | 526 | 84 | 890 | 768 |
| Crossbow | 406 | 252 | 46 | 704 | 704 |
| Longbow | 207 | 139 | 11 | 357 | 367 |
| Bonus Gun | 42 | 100 | 13 | 155 | 161 |
| Muzzleloader | 43 | 65 | 14 | 122 | 118 |
| Youth | 57 | 38 | 12 | 107 | 95 |
| Total | 1,044 | 1,130 | 180 | 2,354 | 2,228 |
Bag limit from the 2026-27 deer bag limit map and deer rules (digest pp. 6-11); DSA from OAC 1501:31-19-03 and CWD rules; detections from the ODNR CWD page and tests from the 2025-26 CWD summary; harvest from the 2022-23 final weekly report; 2023-24 final weekly report; 2024-25 final weekly report; 2025-26 final weekly report, the 2026-27 report through Nov. 3 and the 2025-26 deer summary; permit prices from the license list. Checked November 6, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Fairfield County Hunting Guide
Fairfield County openers and closing days
Spring turkey is missing from this table because the 2026 season is over and ODNR had not published 2027 dates when Fairfield County was checked; the turkey section below gives the 2026 dates.
| Game | Split or method | Zone | Opening | Closing | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | |
| Deer | Youth gun | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Deer | Gun | Statewide | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Deer | Bonus gun | Statewide | Dec 19, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 5, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall | Fall counties | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Squirrels | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Cottontail | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Regular | Statewide | Nov 6, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular | Statewide | Nov 6, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Chukar | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Chukar | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Chukar | Regular | Statewide | Nov 6, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Mourning dove | Dove | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Mourning dove | Dove | Statewide | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Early Canada goose | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Veterans and military | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Youth waterfowl | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Ducks (split 1) | Zone C | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Ducks (split 2) | Zone C | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Geese and brant | Geese (split 1) | Zone C | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Geese and brant | Geese (split 2) | Zone C | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Woodcock | Statewide | Oct 16, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Snipe | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 25, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Snipe | Statewide | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Rails | Rail | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Gallinule | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Crow (Fri-Sun) | Statewide | Jun 5, 2026 | Mar 7, 2027 | |
| Groundhog | No closed season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting (no closed season) | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Trapping (no closed season) | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Mink | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Muskrat | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| River otter | Trapping | Otter Zone B | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Beaver | Trapping | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
From the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations and the 2026-27 hunting seasons list (ODNR Division of Wildlife), checked November 6, 2026.
Fairfield County bird and trapping seasons
Fairfield County duck and goose seasons
All of Fairfield County falls in waterfowl Zone C, one of the three duck and goose zones ODNR drew for 2026-27. Zone C ducks reopen on December 12 after the October split and last until January 31, 2027. Goose hunters in Zone C have until February 15, 2027. Before the zone seasons, all of Ohio gets early teal and goose from September 5 to September 13, 2026, then youth and military days on October 3 to October 4, 2026. Mourning dove hunting has two statewide splits, September 1 to November 8, 2026 and December 12, 2026 to January 1, 2027, and woodcock fall between them. The Ohio wetlands stamp ($15.00) and federal duck stamp ($25.00) go with HIP for anyone 16 or older after ducks or geese.
| Zone | Duck windows | Goose windows |
|---|---|---|
| Zone C | Oct 17-25 Dec 12-Jan 31 | Oct 17-25 Nov 21-Feb 15 |
Fairfield County turkey numbers
In the South zone, which includes Fairfield County, spring 2026 ran April 25 to May 24, 2026; no 2027 dates were out at our check. The youth spring weekend was April 18 to April 19, 2026 in 2026. The 2026 spring count for Fairfield County was 49 birds (102 in 2023); that ranked 74th in Ohio. Fairfield County opens to fall turkey on October 1, 2026 and closes October 25, 2026; one turkey, shotgun only. 2 fall birds were reported from Fairfield County in 2025.
| Spring | Total | Adult males | Jakes | Bearded hens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 102 | 79 | 21 | 2 |
| 2024 | 91 | 73 | 16 | 2 |
| 2025 | 73 | 54 | 18 | 1 |
| 2026 | 49 | 42 | 7 | 0 |
| Fall | Turkeys |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
Small game and trapping in Fairfield County
Fairfield County is outside the quail counties, so bobwhites are off limits. Statewide small game dates apply: squirrel from September 1, cottontail and pheasant from November 6. River otter Zone B covers Fairfield County. Furbearers open November 10, 2026, beaver and otter December 26, 2026. The otter season limit reads: 3 total, max. 1 from Zone B. Mink and muskrat close on February 28, 2027.
Zones from OAC 1501:31-7-07 and the digest waterfowl pages; seasons from the 2026-27 season dates; turkey from the turkey rules with spring and fall results (2023 spring; 2024 spring; 2025 spring; 2026 spring; 2023 fall; 2024 fall; 2025 fall); quail from OAC 1501:31-15-21; otter zones from the trapping pages; stamps from the license list. Checked November 6, 2026.
Where the public ground is in Fairfield County
About 793 acres, or 0.2% of Fairfield County, is mapped public hunting land; that puts it 60th of 88. By acreage, Rush Creek Lake Public Hunting and Fishing Areas leads the places in Fairfield County, 1,015 acres in total. Count in 181 acres of huntable state park, at Buckeye Lake State Park.
| Kind | Mapped acres |
|---|---|
| State wildlife areas | 134 |
| Public hunting areas | 659 |
| State parks (hunting) | 181 |
There are also 3,407 acres of state nature preserve land, closed to hunting and left out above. The L/HAP program has 1 enrolled property here; hunters reserve a free daily permit online. Lottery hunts: Rush Creek Lake Public Hunting and Fishing Areas, Buckeye Lake State Park and Rock Mill Lake Wildlife Area host 4 controlled hunts in 2026.
Fairfield County hunting places
Wildlife areas and forests near Fairfield County
- Hanby Wildlife Area14 miles · Perry County
- Hebron Fish Hatchery15 miles · Licking County
- Flagdale Lake Public Hunting Area16 miles · Perry County
- A W Marion State Park16 miles · Pickaway County
- Twin Churches Lake Public Hunting Area16 miles · Perry County
- Lake Logan State Park16 miles · Hocking County
GIS acres from the ODNR lands layer, PAD-US 4.1 and the Census county file as compiled in counties.json (polygons, not official acreage; large water removed); lands and acreage from each land record; L/HAP counts from the ODNR L/HAP page; controlled hunts from the 2026 controlled hunt list. Checked November 6, 2026.
Calendar and past events for Fairfield County
On November 5, 2026 the county showed 2 dates ahead and no past row.
| Scheduled | What | Where held | Link | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2026 | Fairfield County Dinner · DU dinner, Lancaster | Lancaster, Fairfield County | Tickets | Source |
| Jan 29, 2027 | Buckeye Conservation Chapter NWTF Banquet · NWTF banquet, Pickerington | Pickerington, Fairfield County | Event details | Source |
Calling ODNR about Fairfield County
The county answers to the Central Ohio district of the Division of Wildlife, based in Columbus. Fairfield County has its own state wildlife officer, Jade Heizer, listed at (614) 902-4210. Deer Creek Wildlife Area headquarters (Mt. Sterling) is the closest wildlife area office, roughly 34 miles from the county centre.
Lancaster is the county seat; Fairfield County had 167,762 residents in the 2024 Census estimate across 504 square miles of land.
Base towns in Fairfield County
Open a town page to see public ground around Lancaster and Pickerington.
- Lancaster41,671 people
- Pickerington25,814 people
Fairfield County has 1 deer processor, 3 taxidermists, 7 sporting goods stores and 1 guide or preserve in the services list.
Processors taking deer around Fairfield County
Shoulder mounts made near Fairfield County
Guns and bows, Fairfield County
Guided hunts near Fairfield County
District offices, officers and wildlife area headquarters from the digest wildlife officer page and the ODNR county contacts and work units layers (counties.json); population from the Census 2024 estimates; services from store locators, Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry and Yellow Pages listings (not individually verified). Checked November 6, 2026.
Slug zero and clay practice in Fairfield County
Fairfield County has 3 ranges in this guide, every one a club, shop or private ground.
Hebron Fish Hatchery Shooting Range in Licking County is the nearest public range on ODNR’s list, about 15 miles away. Full page
Ranges from ODNR’s public range list, ranges’ own sites, the ATA club list and directory listings, checked November 6, 2026.
Fairfield County legal shooting light
ODNR prints no sunrise table and points hunters to its app, the NOAA calculator and the Naval Observatory; the times for Fairfield County below are worked out with the NOAA solar formula for its own location.
| Day | Moment | First sun | Last sun | Deer light | Marsh light | Field light |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:20 a.m. | 7:23 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 7:53 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall turkey | 7:25 a.m. | 7:15 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. | 7:25 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 7:04 a.m. | 5:25 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:31 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 7:31 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:42 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 7:42 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:48 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 7:48 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:51 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 7:51 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. |
Hours rules from the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations; sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula (Eastern Time); checked November 6, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Fairfield County license costs and rules
An Ohio hunting license costs $19.00 for residents and $180.96 for nonresidents; youth and senior licenses are $10.00. Hunter orange in Ohio means a whole garment: a vest, coat, jacket or coveralls, solid or camo orange, during the firearm deer seasons, for everyone but waterfowl hunters.
Ohio allows deer baiting on private ground outside the Disease Surveillance Area; public land, turkey hunting and migratory bird hunting stay bait-free. Game check deadlines, by app, website, phone line or license agent: noon the next day for deer, and for turkeys 11:30 p.m. the same day. There is no Sunday restriction in the Ohio rules; hunters may go out on Sundays in any open season. Buying a license for the first time means a hunter education card, unless you go the apprentice route with a licensed adult 21 or older. Score sheets go to the Buckeye Big Buck Club, the private keeper of Ohio deer records.
From the license and permit list, hunter orange rule, baiting rules, game check, season calendar, hunter education and the Buckeye Big Buck Club notice in the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked November 6, 2026.
Common Fairfield County questions
What deer bag limit did ODNR give Fairfield County for 2026-27?
3 deer per hunter; the map group reads three-deer.
Which Fairfield County townships fall inside the DSA?
None.
Which of the new A, B and C waterfowl zones covers Fairfield County?
Zone C.
Has ODNR posted spring 2027 turkey dates for Fairfield County?
Not at our check; the 2026 dates are shown and labelled.
How many acres of public hunting ground does Fairfield County hold?
Roughly 793 acres, measured from mapped polygons.
Which state wildlife officer patrols Fairfield County?
Jade Heizer, (614) 902-4210.
How many deer were checked in Fairfield County in 2025-26?
2,351 on the final weekly report.
How long does a Fairfield County field stay baited after cleanup?
10 days after complete removal.
Is a square-inch orange minimum enforced in Fairfield County?
No; the rule names the garment.
Which river otter zone covers Fairfield County?
Zone B.
Answers from the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, the deer bag limit map, the DSA rule, the waterfowl zone rule, shooting hours and the sources above. Checked November 6, 2026.
Keeping Fairfield County current
Fairfield County rules last checked November 6, 2026; watch for ODNR updates on spring turkey 2027 and for new weekly deer reports.
Other photos on this page: WorldIslandInfo.com (CC BY 2.0); Aryeh Alex (CC BY 2.0); Art Anderson (CC BY-SA 3.0); Scott Bauer, USDA NRCS (Public domain).