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Alum Creek State Park: seasons, rules and access
Hunting ground of 4,630 acres, run as a state park in Delaware County.
Photo: USDA (Public domain)
Getting to Alum Creek State Park
Alum Creek State Park by the numbers ODNR keeps
The ODNR Division of Parks and Watercraft manages Alum Creek State Park, 4,630 acres of state park ground in Delaware County. For wildlife work it falls under District 1, run from Columbus. Natural features on record: fall color. ODNR also lists camping, boating, disc golf, hiking, powerboating and dog park here, with snowmobile, hiking trails, horseback trails and mountain bike. By tenure the ground is leased. It appears in OAC 1501:31-15-04(A)(2) as "Alum creek", the legal list of public hunting land.
The property page says:
“Located near Ohio's capital city, Alum Creek State Park is a popular boating and camping destination.”
Layers give between 4,630 and 8,353 acres, so the table shows each one.
| Measure | Acres |
|---|---|
| Property Details layer | 4,630 |
| Water (Property Details) | 3,387 |
| Hunting-status layer | 8,353 |
| GIS parcel area | 8,311 |
Our data review flagged this record; the reason is shown below, so check with ODNR before relying on it. Acreage disagreement: `acres` 4630 (ODNR Property Details layer (DNRProperty_Details_Amenities) Land_acres) vs GIS 8311 acres of the ODNR parcels (layer SUM_CALC_ACRES 8353). Lake parks: ODNR land figures exclude the water the parcels cover.
From the ODNR property page, ODNR hunting-status layer, OAC; retrieved 2026-11-05, checked November 6, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Alum Creek State Park
Agency notes on hunting Alum Creek State Park
Quoted from the official listing for Alum Creek State Park:
“The park is also home to many common wildlife species and unique migrating waterfowl.”
Quoted from the agency page; checked November 6, 2026.
Drawn hunts at Alum Creek State Park
The 2026 lottery list has 2 hunts on Alum Creek State Park (1 trapping and 1 waterfowl blind). Entry fee: $3 per hunt, no refunds, one entry each. In-person trapping drawings: October 3, 2026, district offices. A $50 fee applies to most blinds chosen August 15, 2026.
| Hunt # | Drawing | Category | Apply | Rules PDF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2801 | Alum Creek SP beaver/otter trapping | Trapping | In person, Oct. 3 | packet |
| 2961 | Alum Creek SP waterfowl blind drawing | Waterfowl blind | July 1-31 | – |
Hunts from the ODNR controlled hunting access lotteries page and the 2026-27 regulations, pp. 26-27; checked November 6, 2026.
Ground rules for hunting Alum Creek State Park
Not all of Alum Creek State Park is huntable; the restricted tag points you to the map.
- Feed and bait are not allowed.
- The public-area antlerless limit is two per license year.
- Hunt only in the areas the park hunting map shows open.
- Keep 400 feet from camping areas, lots and buildings.
- Never shoot across a park road or trail.
- Blind permits apply to permanent waterfowl blinds.
- Parts of the season need a controlled-hunt permit.
- A blind drawing decides waterfowl sites.
From the agency page, public hunting area rules, OAC 1501:46-15-07; checked November 6, 2026.
Dates and limits for hunting Alum Creek State Park
The record pairs Alum Creek State Park with deer, squirrel, rabbit, waterfowl, upland birds and trapping. For ducks and geese it sits in Zone C.
| Game | Window | From | To | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | Sep 26, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | County limit |
| Deer | Archery (DSA) | Sep 12, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | 6 deer (DSA) |
| Deer | Early gun (DSA) | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | 6 deer (DSA) |
| 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 |
| Chukar | Regular | Nov 6, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | 4 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 |
| Chukar | Youth small game weekend | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 4 daily |
| Chukar | Youth small game weekend | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 4 daily |
| Mink | Trapping | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | No limit |
| Muskrat | Trapping | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | No limit |
| Beaver | Trapping | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | No limit |
| River otter | Trapping | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 1 of the 3 |
| Canada goose | Early Canada goose | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | 5 daily |
| Teal | Early teal | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | 6 daily |
| Ducks | Ducks (split 1) | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 6 ducks daily |
| Ducks | Ducks (split 2) | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 6 ducks daily |
| Geese and brant | Geese (split 1) | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 5 daily |
| Geese and brant | Geese (split 2) | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | 5 daily |
| Ducks | Youth waterfowl | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | Regular limits |
| Ducks | Veterans and military | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | Regular limits |
Dates and limits from the 2026-27 hunting seasons list and the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations; species from the record (ODNR property page hunting text); checked November 6, 2026.
Alum Creek State Park: next-nearest open land, by miles
Closest neighbour on the ODNR map: Delaware State Park, 12 miles northwest. Neighbour mix: 4 wildlife areas and 2 state parks. Do not mistake these for open ground: Seymour Woods Non-Dedicated Natural Area (natural area), Seymour Woods – Olentangy Scenic River (scenic river land) and Olentangy-Issac Scenic River Area (scenic river land).
| Public land | Kind | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware State Park | State park | 1,686 | Delaware | 12 miles | northwest |
| Delaware Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 4,670 | Delaware | 14 miles | north |
| Mt Gilead State Park | State park | 181 | Morrow | 24 miles | north |
| Kokosing Lake Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 1,060 | Knox | 28 miles | northeast |
| Big Island Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 5,872 | Marion | 29 miles | northwest |
| Knox Lake Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 756 | Knox | 31 miles | northeast |
Point: ODNR DNR_Lands_Hunting_Status layer, 1 parcel (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.
Where Alum Creek State Park sits in Ohio's rules
The Delaware County deer limit is 3 this season, only one of them antlered statewide. The 2025-26 deer total for Delaware County was 1,877, by ODNR's final report. Through November 3, 2026: 501 deer checked.
| County | Bag | CWD area | Waterfowl | Turkey zone | Fall | Harvest 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware County | 3 deer | Some townships | C | South | Open | 1,877 |
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.
Alum Creek State Park: towns, shops and the nearest ODNR office
Delaware is the closest town on this site to Alum Creek State Park, 7 miles in a straight line. Dublin, 12 miles out, is larger: 49,456 people in 2024. ODNR staff closest to Alum Creek State Park work out of Columbus, 11 miles off.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | Delaware | 46,521 | 7 miles | northwest |
| Westerville | Franklin | 38,612 | 8 miles | south |
| Dublin | Franklin | 49,456 | 12 miles | southwest |
| Gahanna | Franklin | 35,544 | 14 miles | south |
| Upper Arlington | Franklin | 36,140 | 15 miles | south |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); ODNR offices and businesses from services.json listings; straight-line miles. Checked November 6, 2026.
Alum Creek State Park legal-hour chart by opener
Ohio deer hunters may shoot from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; ducks, geese, squirrels and fall turkeys stop at sunset; rabbits, pheasants, quail and doves wait for sunrise.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Deer | Waterfowl | Small game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | DSA archery opens | 7:09 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 8:18 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 7:48 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 7:48 p.m. |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:22 a.m. | 7:24 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 7:54 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 7:24 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 7:24 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall turkey | 7:27 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. | 7:27 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. |
| Oct 10, 2026 | DSA early gun | 7:36 a.m. | 7:02 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 7:02 p.m. | 7:36 a.m. to 7:02 p.m. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 7:06 a.m. | 5:25 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:34 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 7:34 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:45 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 7:45 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:51 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 7:51 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:54 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 7:54 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.
Reaching Alum Creek State Park and its managers
Your district office: 1500 Dublin Rd, Columbus, OH 43215, 614-644-3925. The officer assigned to Delaware County is Maurice Irish, (614) 902-4221. Call 1-800-POACHER to report a violation anonymously. The map PDF adds: distribution or publication, this source must be referenced. The map PDF adds: shoot on, from, or across any road, driveway, or trail within any area administered by the division.
- Hunting map PDF · legend: boat ramp, parking, latrine, camping, waterfowl hunting, no hunting, hunting area, open to hunting
- Alum Creek State Park Map
- Alum Creek Hiking Map
- Open the point in Google Maps
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 of the largest part); checked November 6, 2026.
Alum Creek State Park and the Ohio event calendar
About 10 straight-line miles from here there is 1 date ahead.
| Starts | Event | Mi | Site | Go | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 20, 2027 | RMEF Two Rivers Chapter Banquet · RMEF banquet, Delaware | 7 | Delaware, Delaware County | Tickets | Source |
Images for sizing up a Alum Creek State Park hunt
Public range and clubs on the road to Alum Creek State Park
Delaware County holds the ODNR-listed range nearest Alum Creek State Park: Delaware Wildlife Area Shooting Range (15 miles). Club and private ranges within 30 miles fill the other cards.
From ODNR’s public range list and range pages, ranges’ own pages and directory listings, checked November 6, 2026.
Common Alum Creek State Park questions with sourced answers
Does Ohio law allow Sunday hunts on Alum Creek State Park?
Sunday is a normal hunting day in Ohio.
Game check rules after a kill on Alum Creek State Park?
Noon the next day is the deadline for the game check.
Acreage check: how large is Alum Creek State Park?
4,630 acres, from the ODNR Property Details layer. The table above lists every source.
Which Ohio license and permits do I need for Alum Creek State Park?
A hunting license and species permits, as anywhere in Ohio; no separate area permit for general hunting. Some hunts here are by lottery permit.
Can I apply for a drawn hunt at Alum Creek State Park?
ODNR lists 2: trapping and waterfowl blind. Each costs $3 to enter.
How many deer may one hunter kill around Alum Creek State Park?
3, as set for Delaware County. Remember the one-antlered rule and the two-antlerless public land cap.
Can I camp at Alum Creek State Park?
There is a campground; check the park page.
When can ducks be hunted on Alum Creek State Park this year?
Ducks in Zone C open Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026; Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027.
Hunter orange rules for Alum Creek State Park in deer season?
A hunter orange vest or coat during the gun deer seasons; no square-inch rule.
Stand and bait rules for Alum Creek State Park?
Portable stands only, with nothing driven into the tree, and no bait: deer baiting is illegal on public hunting areas.
Which phone line answers questions on Alum Creek State Park?
Phone (740) 548-4631.
What are deer hunting hours at Alum Creek State Park on the gun opener?
Deer hours run 7:04 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. on November 30, 2026, worked out for this spot.
Is hunting restricted anywhere on Alum Creek State Park?
Parts are closed or limited; carry the map.
Last checks before loading up for Alum Creek State Park
Report your deer or turkey by noon the next day, and keep your license and permits on you while hunting Alum Creek State Park.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4 · source 5 · source 6; seasons from the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked November 6, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Captainpisslord (CC0 1.0); btrentler (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).