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Wildlife area · Central Ohio woods and fields
Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area hunting guide for 2026-27
46 acres on record as a state wildlife area in Fairfield County.
Photo: WorldIslandInfo.com (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area
What Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area allows and what it bans
ODNR lists Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area as restricted: hunting is limited to parts of it, so the hunting map matters.
- Motor vehicles: designated roads and parking only.
- Camping is prohibited (Appalachian Hills, Simco and Woodbury are the exceptions).
- After 8 p.m. in season only hunters, trappers and anglers may be there.
- Firearms only while hunting or trapping, or on a designated range.
- No bait, salt or feed for deer or birds.
- Climbers and ladders are fine if nothing pierces the tree.
- Antlerless cap: two per license year across public hunting areas.
From the agency page, public hunting area rules; checked November 6, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area
Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area at a glance for hunters
Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area: 46 acres in Fairfield County, classed as a state wildlife area and managed by the ODNR Division of Wildlife. Central Ohio is its home district; the district office sits in Columbus. Ownership on file: owned outright by the state. Legal footing: OAC 1501:31-15-04(A)(1) ("Greenfield dam").
Mapping methods differ, so size ranges from 45 to 46 acres.
| Layer or document | Acres |
|---|---|
| Hunting-status layer | 46 |
| GIS parcel area | 45 |
From the agency page, ODNR hunting-status layer, OAC; retrieved 2026-11-05, checked November 6, 2026.
2026-27 season dates for the game on Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area
Statewide seasons apply on Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area; ODNR lists no game for it. Turkey: spring rows are 2026 dates, 2027 to be announced.
| Species | Season | Opening | Closing | Bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | Sep 26, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | County limit |
| Deer | Youth gun | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | County limit |
| Deer | Gun | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | County limit |
| Deer | Bonus gun | Dec 19, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | County limit |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 5, 2027 | County limit |
| Wild turkey | Fall | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 1 turkey |
| Squirrels | Regular | Sep 1, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 6 daily |
| Cottontail | Regular | Nov 6, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 4 daily |
| Pheasant | Regular | Nov 6, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | 2 roosters daily |
| Cottontail | Youth small game weekend | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 4 daily |
| Cottontail | Youth small game weekend | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 4 daily |
| Pheasant | Youth small game weekend | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 2 roosters daily |
| Pheasant | Youth small game weekend | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 2 roosters daily |
| Raccoon | Hunting | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | No limit |
| Raccoon | Trapping | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | No limit |
Dates and limits from the 2026-27 hunting seasons list and the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations; species from the record (No species named by ODNR for this area); checked November 6, 2026.
Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area counties, limits and harvest
Hunters on this ground follow the Fairfield County limit of 3 deer. Final 2025-26 figure for Fairfield County: 2,351 deer checked. Running total to November 3, 2026: 478.
| County | Deer | Surveillance | Ducks | Spring zone | Fall season | Deer checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield County | 3 deer | No | C | South | Open | 2,351 |
From the deer bag limit map, DSA, waterfowl zones, turkey zones, 2025-26 deer harvest report, harvest to date (ODNR Division of Wildlife); checked November 6, 2026.
Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area and the open ground around it
When parking fills at Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area, Rock Mill Lake Wildlife Area waits 4 miles to the southwest. Close by are 3 public hunting areas, 1 wildlife area and 1 state park. No hunting at Shallenberger Nature Preserve (nature preserve), Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve (nature preserve) and Coyote Run State Nature Preserve (nature preserve).
| Place | Type | Acres | County | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Mill Lake WA | Wildlife area | 89 | Fairfield | 4 miles | southwest |
| Colfax Lake PHA | Hunting area | 73 | Fairfield | 7 miles | east |
| Oakthorpe Lake PHFA | Hunting area | 78 | Fairfield | 10 miles | east |
| Rush Creek Lake PHFA | Hunting area | 1,015 | Fairfield | 12 miles | east |
| Buckeye Lake State Park | State park | 176 | Fairfield | 13 miles | northeast |
| Hebron Fish Hatchery | Fish hatchery | 155 | Licking | 13 miles | northeast |
Point: ODNR DNR_Lands_Hunting_Status layer, 1 parcel (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Closed places from the lands.json closed list. Checked November 6, 2026. Statewide public land map.
Supply towns and ODNR help around Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area
The handiest town is Lancaster, 4 miles off. For a full grocery run, Reynoldsburg (42,897 people) is the pick. ODNR Division of Wildlife Headquarters is the nearest Division office, roughly 27 miles away.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | Fairfield | 41,671 | 4 miles | south |
| Pickerington | Fairfield | 25,814 | 11 miles | northwest |
| Rockbridge | Hocking | – | 14 miles | southeast |
| Reynoldsburg | Franklin | 42,897 | 16 miles | northwest |
| Circleville | Pickaway | 14,433 | 20 miles | southwest |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); ODNR offices and businesses from services.json listings; straight-line miles. Checked November 6, 2026.
Contact and map files for Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area
Wildlife District One: 1500 Dublin Rd, Columbus, OH 43215, tel. 614-644-3925. Wildlife officer for Fairfield County: Jade Heizer ((614) 902-4210). See a violation? 1-800-POACHER takes calls day and night.
Address and phone from the agency page and the ODNR Property Details layer; district offices from the ODNR Districts layer; officers from the officer list; point from ODNR DNR_Lands_Hunting_Status layer, 1 parcel (polygon centroid); checked November 6, 2026.
Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area: shooting minutes for each Ohio opener
Three sets of hours apply in Ohio: deer, then waterfowl, squirrel and turkey, then the sunrise-to-sunset upland and dove rule. The table shows all three for Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area.
| Day | Moment | First sun | Last sun | Deer light | Marsh light | Field light |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:21 a.m. | 7:23 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 7:53 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. | 7:21 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. | 5:06 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 7:42 a.m. to 5:06 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 | 7:52 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 7:52 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.
What the cover looks like around Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area
Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area hunters: public range plus clubs
The closest ODNR-listed range to Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area is Hebron Fish Hatchery Shooting Range, about 13 miles off as the crow flies. The remaining cards are clubs within a 30-mile radius.
From ODNR’s public range list and range pages, ranges’ own pages and directory listings, checked November 6, 2026.
Hunting events on and around Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area
Held on this property or within about 10 miles: 1 date ahead. Checked November 5, 2026.
| Day | Name | Away | Place | Next step | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2026 | Fairfield County Dinner · DU dinner, Lancaster | 4 | Lancaster, Fairfield County | Tickets | Source |
Straight answers on Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area for this season
What orange garment do I need on Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area?
Yes in the deer gun and muzzleloader seasons: a solid or camouflage orange vest, coat, jacket or coveralls (waterfowl hunters excepted).
Are tree stands and bait allowed at Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area?
Portable stands are fine; baiting deer is not.
Which number reaches the Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area managers?
The number on file is 614-644-3925.
Shooting hours for deer on Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area this season?
For the gun opener: 7:01 a.m. until 5:38 p.m.
Can I hunt anywhere on Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area, or only parts?
Some zones are off limits.
Which town do I aim for when driving to Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area?
Lancaster, 4 miles away in a straight line.
Is Sunday hunting legal on Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area?
Yes, Sundays are open in season.
Do I have to report game shot on Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area?
Game check closes at noon the next day; use the app, the website or the phone line.
How many acres of hunting land is Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area?
46 acres is the headline figure used on this page.
What paperwork must I carry on Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area?
No entry pass: the Ohio hunting license and the species permit are enough, such as an either-sex deer permit ($31.20 resident).
Which lottery hunts include Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area?
No 2026 lottery hunts are listed for it; hunt it during the regular seasons.
Which county deer limit applies to Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area?
Fairfield County allows 3. Statewide, only one antlered deer, and no more than two antlerless deer may come from public hunting areas.
May I camp while hunting Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area?
No camping here; stay in a nearby town.
Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area trip, last details
Confirm the county limit, the zone and the open dates for Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area before you load the truck.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3; seasons from the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked November 6, 2026.
Other photos on this page: ShenandoahNPS (Public domain); Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0).