District 1 · Columbus
Hunting Near Hilliard
City of Franklin County, Central Ohio. Expect a 14-mile trip to the first public hunting ground, Alum Creek State Park.
Photo: Paul Hurtado (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The Hilliard hunting picture
More than 25,000 people live in Hilliard, a Franklin County city served by the Columbus district office. Hilliard counted 38,832 residents in the 2024 Census population estimates. Hilliard is one of 37 Ohio towns here with no public hunting ground inside 10 miles, so plan on driving to Alum Creek State Park, 14 miles out. Franklin County is a 4-deer county for 2026-27, so that is the most deer one hunter may tag in the county this season.
Town point, population and land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; wildlife district from the ODNR County Contacts layer; public land rings from ODNR and PAD-US boundaries (GIS acres); deer limit from the 2026-27 deer bag limit map. Checked November 6, 2026.
Franklin County rules that reach Hilliard
Franklin County falls in the four-deer class this season, and no hunter may pass 6 deer statewide. The DSA does not reach Franklin County; deer baiting on private land there follows the statewide rule. The Zone C duck and goose calendar covers Franklin County. Spring gobblers near Hilliard follow the South zone; fall birds are legal in the county. Other county rules: river otter trapping is in Otter Zone B. License money first: $19.00 for residents, $180.96 for visitors, and a separate deer or turkey permit on top. Pack an orange vest or coat for the gun weeks; Ohio sets no square-inch figure, just the garment. The game check deadline for deer is noon the next day.
Deer limits from the 2026-27 deer bag limit map and regulations; DSA from OAC 1501:31-19-03; CWD detections from ODNR; waterfowl zones from the 2026-27 regulations; turkey zones from the turkey rules. Checked November 6, 2026.
Huntable public land around Hilliard
Boundary distances from Hilliard are GIS straight lines; check the ODNR area map before you drive. Counting everything to 25 miles from Hilliard: 7 state wildlife areas, 3 state parks and 1 public access area. By acreage Delaware Wildlife Area leads the list (4,670 acres). Of the 6 tracts whose ODNR page names its game, 5 mention deer, 1 turkey and 6 waterfowl. Read the status column as ODNR marks the parcels: open, or restricted to certain methods, zones or dates.
| Hunting ground, how far | Kind | Size (ac) | Status | Hunted for | Lottery hunts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alum Creek State Park · 14 mi | State park | 4,630 | Restricted | deer, squirrel + | 2 lotteries |
| Madison County Wildlife Area 2 · 15 mi | Wildlife area | 77 | Open | Ohio seasons | – |
| Madison Lake Access Wildlife Area · 15 mi | Public access area | 1 | Open | Ohio seasons | – |
| Madison Lake State Park · 16 mi | State park | 76 | Restricted | deer, squirrel + | 1 lottery |
| Madison County Wildlife Area 1 · 17 mi | Wildlife area | 81 | Open | Ohio seasons | – |
| Mackey Ford Wildlife Area · 20 mi | Wildlife area | 200 | Open | deer, squirrel + | – |
| Pickaway County Wildlife Area 5 · 22 mi | Wildlife area | 40 | Open | Ohio seasons | – |
| Delaware Wildlife Area · 23 mi | Wildlife area | 4,670 | Open | pheasant, waterfowl + | 1 lottery |
| Delaware State Park · 23 mi | State park | 1,686 | Restricted | deer, squirrel + | 2 lotteries |
| Deer Creek Wildlife Area · 23 mi | Wildlife area | 4,220 | Open | deer, turkey + | 1 lottery |
| Pickaway County Wildlife Area 10 · 25 mi | Wildlife area | 45 | Open | Ohio seasons | – |
Distances and acres from places.json and lands.json (ODNR_LANDS and hunting-status layers, PAD-US 4.1, USFS layers; GIS measures, not surveyed acreage); status from the ODNR hunting-status layer; lotteries from the 2026 controlled hunting access lists. Checked November 6, 2026.
Three properties close to Hilliard
Alum Creek State Park, 14 mi
Located near Ohio's capital city, Alum Creek State Park is a popular boating and camping destination. ODNR lists: deer, squirrel, rabbit, waterfowl, upland game birds, furbearer trapping. ODNR runs 2 lottery hunts here in 2026.
Madison Lake State Park, 16 mi
Lying within the vast Darby Plains of Ohio, Madison Lake State Park provides a peaceful day-use getaway for visitors of all ages. ODNR lists: deer, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, fox, groundhog. ODNR runs 1 lottery hunt here in 2026.
Mackey Ford Wildlife Area, 20 mi
The 200-acre wildlife area is located within Pickaway County, 3.5 miles east of Commercial Point and four miles north of South Bloomfield. ODNR lists: deer, squirrel, rabbit, dove, waterfowl, raccoon.
Descriptions, species, dove fields and access from each property’s ODNR page and the ODNR property details layer, or the agency page linked on the land page (lands.json); lotteries from the 2026 controlled hunting lists. Checked November 6, 2026.
Checked deer in Franklin County, home county of Hilliard
The 2025-26 final report credits Franklin County with 709 deer; 2022-23 came in at 818. This season’s count for Franklin County stood at 164 through November 3, 2026. The 2025-26 deer summary splits Franklin County as 164 gun, 287 crossbow and 182 longbow deer. Spring turkey hunters checked 12 birds in Franklin County in 2026.
| Season | Deer checked | Antlered | Antlerless | Archery | Gun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 818 | 376 | 442 | 573 | – |
| 2023-24 | 794 | 355 | 439 | 534 | – |
| 2024-25 | 638 | 257 | 381 | 413 | 225 |
| 2025-26 | 709 | 325 | 384 | 480 | 229 |
Final weekly deer harvest reports: 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26; 2026-27 to date from the in-season report; spring turkey from the 2026 spring turkey results; 2025-26 by method from the 2025-26 deer summary. County totals, not town figures. Checked November 6, 2026.
Calendar of 2026-27 seasons reaching Hilliard
ODNR splits duck and goose hunting into Zones A, B and C for 2026-27, which is why the bird rows for Hilliard show zone dates and not statewide ones.
| Game | Season | Applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Hilliard gun shops, butchers and taxidermy
Gear shopping is covered from Hilliard: 47 stores and 8 taxidermists sit within 25 miles.
Listings from Yellow Pages, store locators, Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry and the ODNR office list (services.json); not every listing was checked as open, so call first. Checked November 6, 2026.
ODNR offices and officers for Hilliard
The ODNR office nearest Hilliard is ODNR Wildlife District 1: Central Ohio, about 6 miles away. Wildlife area staff for this part of Central Ohio work out of Deer Creek Wildlife Area headquarters in Mt. Sterling. Brad Kiger is the wildlife officer ODNR lists for Franklin County.
District offices from the ODNR wildlife contacts page and Districts layer; county wildlife officers from the ODNR County Contacts layer; nearest offices measured from the town point (services.json); ranger district offices from the USFS office layer (places.json). Checked November 6, 2026.
Hilliard: closest lines for a slug-gun zero
L.E.P.D. Firearms and Range is the closest range to central Hilliard, 6 miles away.
The public range nearest Hilliard on the ODNR list is Deer Creek Wildlife Area Shooting Range, about 26 miles away. Hours
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 6, 2026.
What hunters can attend near Hilliard
Kinds within 30 miles: NWTF banquet, RMEF banquet, hunter education class and sportsman’s expo. Count: 6 dates ahead; next is ODNR Hunter Education Class (Ashley).
| Day | Name | Miles off | Place | Next step | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 6, 2026 | ODNR Hunter Education Class (Ashley) · hunter education class, Ashley | 27 | Ashley, Delaware County | Register | Source |
| Nov 19, 2026 | ODNR Hunter Education Class (Waldo) · hunter education class, Waldo | 30 | Register | Source | |
| Jan 16, 2027 | RMEF Central Ohio Chapter Banquet · RMEF banquet, Orient | 16 | Orient, Pickaway County | Tickets | Source |
| Jan 29, 2027 | Buckeye Conservation Chapter NWTF Banquet · NWTF banquet, Pickerington | 23 | Pickerington, Fairfield County | Event details | Source |
| Mar 19–21, 2027 | Open Season Sportsman's Expo Ohio 2027 · sportsman’s expo, Columbus | 10 | Columbus, Franklin County | Ticket page | Source |
| Mar 20, 2027 | RMEF Two Rivers Chapter Banquet · RMEF banquet, Delaware | 18 | Delaware, Delaware County | Tickets | Source |
Hilliard hours on key season dates
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 Hilliard.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Waterfowl, squirrel | Rabbit, pheasant, dove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:23 a.m. | 7:25 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 7:55 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 7:25 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 7:25 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall turkey | 7:27 a.m. | 7:17 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 7:47 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. | 7:27 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 7:07 a.m. | 5:26 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 5:56 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:34 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 7:34 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:45 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 7:45 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:51 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 7:51 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:54 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 5:48 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. | 7:54 a.m. to 5:18 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.
Hilliard hunting FAQ
How do controlled hunting lotteries work near Hilliard?
Apply online for $3 each; deer, waterfowl, dove and small game hunts are drawn in summer. 7 hunts use land within 25 miles of Hilliard.
Is there a hunting preserve or guide near Hilliard?
0 guide or preserve listings inside 25 miles of Hilliard.
How many public hunting acres surround Hilliard?
None inside 10 miles; 9,556 GIS acres lie within 25, beginning at Alum Creek State Park.
How does 2025-26 compare with earlier seasons in Franklin County?
The chart on this page runs from 2022-23 (818) to 2025-26 (709).
Does the Hilliard area fall inside Ohio’s CWD surveillance zone?
It does not. Franklin County lies wholly outside Disease Surveillance Area 2021-01.
What deer limit applies to hunters from Hilliard?
4 deer in Franklin County, within the Ohio total of 6 deer and 1 antlered.
Are fall turkeys legal game near Hilliard?
Yes, Franklin County made the list of 70 fall counties; birds were legal October 1 to October 25, 2026.
Which waterfowl calendar do Hilliard duck hunters follow?
Zone C. One calendar covers the whole county.
Which ODNR district runs things around Hilliard?
ODNR District 1, Central Ohio, with its office in Columbus; district manager Korey Brown.
Which Franklin County seasons are running for Hilliard hunters now?
Deer, Squirrels, Cottontail, Pheasant and Chukar had open rows in Franklin County on November 6, 2026. After that: Red fox (Hunting) opens November 10.
Which hours did deer hunters have at Hilliard on November 6?
6:37 a.m. to 5:56 p.m., worked out for Hilliard with the NOAA solar formula.
Answers from places.json, lands.json, regs.json, harvest.json and services.json, the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations and the 2026-27 hunting seasons list. Checked November 6, 2026.
Beyond Hilliard
Plan the Hilliard trip: county limit first, then the season, then the land page for access rules.
Other photos on this page: OhioOakTree (CC BY-SA 4.0); Art Anderson (CC BY-SA 3.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Scott Bauer, USDA NRCS (Public domain).