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Wildlife area · District 2 ground
Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area for Buckeye State hunters
41 acres managed as a state wildlife area in Sandusky County.
Photo: Niagara66 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Getting to Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area
Access and conduct rules at Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area
Status check: open, with no parcel restricted on Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area. Closed parcels: 1 of 2.
- Vehicles stay on marked roads and in parking areas.
- No camping; only three wildlife areas allow it.
- Closing hours apply to hikers, not to legal hunting or trapping.
- Shooting outside a hunt or a designated range is illegal.
- Hunting deer over bait is illegal here.
- No screw-in steps or nails in trees.
- Only two antlerless deer may come from public hunting areas each year.
From the agency page, public hunting area rules; checked November 6, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area
Inside the Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area record
This state wildlife area in Sandusky County spans 41 acres under the ODNR Division of Wildlife. It belongs to ODNR Wildlife District 2 (Northwest Ohio), whose office is in Findlay. Land tenure in the ODNR layer: covered by an easement and owned outright by the state. Ohio rule 1501:31-15-04(A)(1) names it ("Aldrich pond") as land open to public hunting.
| Source | Size (ac) |
|---|---|
| Hunting-status layer | 41 |
| GIS parcel area | 41 |
| GIS, open parcels only | 41 |
From the ODNR property page, ODNR hunting-status layer, OAC; retrieved 2026-11-05, checked November 6, 2026.
Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area: open seasons for its listed game
ODNR names no particular game for Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area, so the statewide seasons apply; the table shows the common ones.
| Species | Hunt | First day | Last day | 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 |
| 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 |
| Raccoon | Lake Erie trapping | Nov 10, 2026 | Mar 15, 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.
Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area: deer limits and zones by county
Sandusky County is a 3-deer county for 2026-27. The 2025-26 deer total for Sandusky County was 1,485, by ODNR's final report. So far in 2026-27 (through November 3, 2026) the county shows 360.
| County | Deer limit | DSA | Duck zone | Spring turkey | Fall turkey | Deer 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandusky County | 3 deer | No | A | South | Closed | 1,485 |
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.
Ohio hunting ground a short drive from Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area
The nearest other public hunting ground is Ringneck Ridge Wildlife Area, 4 miles off to the south. The six nearest places include 6 wildlife areas. Closed to hunting nearby: Wolf Creek Area – Sandusky Scenic River (scenic river land).
| Public land | Kind | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ringneck Ridge Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 363 | Sandusky | 4 miles | south |
| Sandusky County WA 6 | Wildlife area | 48 | Sandusky | 5 miles | south |
| Sandusky County WA 2 | Wildlife area | 50 | Sandusky | 8 miles | south |
| Ottawa County WA 2 | Wildlife area | 31 | Ottawa | 8 miles | east |
| Sandusky County WA 1 | Wildlife area | 40 | Sandusky | 9 miles | south |
| Sandusky County WA 3 | Wildlife area | 58 | Sandusky | 10 miles | east |
Point: ODNR DNR_Lands_Hunting_Status layer, 2 parcels (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Closed places from the lands.json closed list. Checked November 6, 2026. Statewide public land map.
Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area: towns, shops and the nearest ODNR office
Count on Rocky Ridge, about 6 miles out, for supplies. Fremont, 10 miles out, is larger: 15,814 people in 2024. The nearest ODNR office sits in Oak Harbor, 11 miles from the point.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Ridge | Ottawa | 306 | 6 miles | north |
| Fremont | Sandusky | 15,814 | 10 miles | southeast |
| Wightmans Grove | Sandusky | – | 11 miles | east |
| Curtice | Ottawa | – | 13 miles | northwest |
| Reno Beach | Lucas | – | 15 miles | north |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); ODNR offices and businesses from services.json listings; straight-line miles. Checked November 6, 2026.
Phone numbers and maps for Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area
Wildlife District Two staff work from 952 Lima Ave, Findlay, OH 45840; phone 419-424-5000. County wildlife officer: Charles McMullen, (419) 429-8393. Turn in a poacher at 1-800-POACHER (762-2437).
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, 2 parcels (polygon centroid of the largest part); checked November 6, 2026.
Sun-up to sundown hunting clock for Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area
Furbearers have no hour limit in Ohio, but in the deer gun and muzzleloader weeks coyote hunting near Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area keeps to deer hours.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer window | Ducks and squirrels | Sunrise birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 7:10 a.m. | 5:24 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 5:54 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:20 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:38 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 7:38 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:56 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 7:26 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. | 7:26 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 7:56 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:59 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 7:29 a.m. to 5:44 p.m. | 7:29 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | 7:59 a.m. to 5:14 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.
Photo strip: land and game around Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area
Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area: the nearest public range, then clubs
Erie County holds the ODNR-listed range nearest Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area: Resthaven Wildlife Area Shooting Range (22 miles). The other cards show clubs a 30-mile drive or less away.
From ODNR’s public range list and range pages, ranges’ own pages and directory listings, checked November 6, 2026.
Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area and the Ohio event calendar
Ahead: 1. Already held here: 0.
| Starts | Event | How far | Site | Go | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 21, 2027 | Sandusky County Beardbusters NWTF Banquet · NWTF banquet, Gibsonburg | 6 | Gibsonburg, Sandusky County | Tickets | Source |
Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area, answered one question at a time
Do Sunday rules limit hunting at Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area?
Yes; Ohio sets no Sunday ban.
What licenses and permits cover a hunt on Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area?
Your Ohio license and the right permit. First-time buyers need hunter education or an apprentice license.
What size is Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area on the ODNR books?
Roughly 41 acres all told. Other sources differ a little; see the acreage table.
How many deer may one hunter kill around Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area?
3, as set for Sandusky County. The statewide limit is six, one antlered; public land adds a two-antlerless cap.
Does Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area have lottery hunts?
Not in 2026: hunt it during the open seasons without a draw.
Duck zone and split dates for Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area?
Zone A dates apply: Oct 17 to Nov 1, 2026; Nov 14 to Dec 27, 2026.
Can I camp at Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area?
Camping is prohibited.
Can I hang a stand on Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area?
Stands must be portable; bait and feed are prohibited.
When is hunter orange required on Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area?
In gun and muzzleloader seasons: an orange garment, unless you hunt waterfowl.
When is legal shooting light for deer at Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area?
On the gun opener (November 30, 2026): 7:08 a.m. to 5:35 p.m.
Which phone line answers questions on Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area?
Call 419-424-5000.
Which town on this site is nearest to Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area?
About 6 miles from Rocky Ridge.
Which parts of Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area allow hunting?
It is open throughout.
Last checks before loading up for Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area
Use this page to plan, then reread the official page for Aldrich Pond Wildlife Area the week before the trip.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4; seasons from the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked November 6, 2026.
Other photos on this page: grendelkhan (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Russ (CC BY 2.0).