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Wildlife area · Ohio public hunting land
Hunting Aquilla Wildlife Area: what the ODNR record shows
60 acres of public state wildlife area ground in Geauga County.
Photo: Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Aquilla Wildlife Area
What kind of place Aquilla Wildlife Area is
Expect 60 acres of state wildlife area here, in Geauga County, with the ODNR Division of Wildlife in charge. Head about 2 miles southeast from Chardon to reach it. In ODNR terms this is District 3 country, with district staff based in Akron. Habitat named by ODNR includes natural lake. Non-hunters share the ground for kayaking and fishing. ODNR history: first acres bought in 1953, more added until 2000, funded by several state funds. In the parcel data the land is owned outright by the state. In the Ohio Administrative Code it is "Aquilla" (1501:31-15-04(A)(1)).
Not every ODNR source agrees: the spread is 60 to 61 acres.
| Where the figure comes from | Acres |
|---|---|
| ODNR property page | 60 |
| Hunting-status layer | 60 |
| GIS parcel area | 61 |
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 Aquilla Wildlife Area
Before the first shot on Aquilla Wildlife Area
Restricted status means only some of Aquilla Wildlife Area is open; take the map along.
- Keep trucks on the open roads and in marked lots.
- No campsites on this property.
- Hours: other visitors leave by 8 p.m. from September 1 to May 1.
- No casual shooting: guns are for hunting, trapping or a Division range.
- Baiting deer is banned on all public hunting areas.
- Tree stands must be portable, with no nails or screw-in steps.
- Public land limit: no more than two antlerless deer a year.
From the agency page, public hunting area rules; checked November 6, 2026.
Aquilla Wildlife Area season dates, game by game
Without a species list for Aquilla Wildlife Area, use the statewide calendar below. 2027 spring turkey dates are pending, so the 2026 dates are shown.
| Game | Kind | Begins | Ends | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
What else lies near Aquilla Wildlife Area on the map
First on the neighbour list is Hambden Orchard Wildlife Area, 4 miles away and northeast of here. Six neighbours by kind: 3 wildlife areas, 2 public hunting areas and 1 state park. Off limits to hunting close by: Spring Brook Sanctuary State Nature Preserve (nature preserve), Burton Wetlands State Nature Preserve (nature preserve) and White Pine Bog Forest State Nature Preserve (nature preserve).
| Area | Kind | Acres | County | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hambden Orchard Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 842 | Geauga | 4 miles | northeast |
| Punderson State Park | State park | 741 | Geauga | 7 miles | south |
| Auburn Marsh Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 466 | Geauga | 11 miles | south |
| Ladue Hunting Area | Hunting area | 8,427 | Geauga | 12 miles | south |
| West Farmington Hunting Area | Hunting area | 263 | Trumbull | 14 miles | southeast |
| Conant Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 74 | Ashtabula | 14 miles | east |
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.
Zone and limit check for Aquilla Wildlife Area
County limit where it lies: 3 deer (Geauga County). Geauga County hunters checked 3,215 deer in 2025-26 (1,147 antlered). Early 2026-27 tally (to November 3, 2026): 874 deer.
| County | Deer bag | DSA | Duck zone | Turkey | Fall | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geauga County | 3 deer | No | B | Northeast | Open | 3,215 |
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.
Where to fuel up and grab ice near Aquilla Wildlife Area
Fuel, ice and groceries: Chardon is nearest, 3 miles away. Of the five, Mentor is the biggest with 47,113 residents (2024 estimate). The closest ODNR desk: West Farmington, 15 miles in a straight line.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chardon | Geauga | 5,233 | 3 miles | northwest |
| Burton | Geauga | 1,408 | 6 miles | south |
| Painesville | Lake | 20,660 | 13 miles | north |
| Mentor | Lake | 47,113 | 13 miles | northwest |
| West Farmington | Trumbull | 534 | 15 miles | southeast |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); ODNR offices and businesses from services.json listings; straight-line miles. Checked November 6, 2026.
Daylight math for Aquilla Wildlife Area, worked from its own point
The sun comes up roughly a quarter hour later in Defiance than in Marietta, so use the times worked out for Aquilla Wildlife Area rather than a Columbus table.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Waterfowl, squirrel | Rabbit, pheasant, dove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:15 a.m. | 7:17 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 7:47 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall turkey | 7:20 a.m. | 7:09 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 7:39 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 7:09 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 7:09 p.m. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 7:02 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:20 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:30 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 7:30 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:48 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 7:48 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:51 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 7:51 a.m. to 5:05 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.
Maps and contacts for Aquilla Wildlife Area
The Wildlife District Three office is at 912 Portage Lakes Dr, Akron, OH 44319 (330-644-2293). Report problems to Matt Madgar, the county wildlife officer, at (330) 245-3035. Report poaching at 1-800-762-2437.
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, 1 parcel (polygon centroid); checked November 6, 2026.
Classes, hunts and dinners near Aquilla Wildlife Area
Rows marked for this land meet on it; upcoming rows also count within about 10 miles. In all, 1 date ahead.
| When | Title | Miles | Location | Register or details | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 2027 | RMEF Lake Erie Chapter Banquet · RMEF banquet, Chardon | 3 | Chardon, Geauga County | Tickets | Source |
Pictures from Aquilla Wildlife Area country and its game
Aquilla Wildlife Area: the nearest public range, then clubs
Punderson State Park Archery Range is 7 miles from Aquilla Wildlife Area and is the nearest public range on ODNR’s list. Private and club lines no more than 30 miles away complete the set.
From ODNR’s public range list and range pages, ranges’ own pages and directory listings, checked November 6, 2026.
Aquilla Wildlife Area questions, from permits to parking
Does ODNR draw permits for Aquilla Wildlife Area?
None on the 2026 list, so regular seasons apply.
Which Ohio waterfowl zone covers Aquilla Wildlife Area?
Waterfowl Zone B: ducks Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026; Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027.
Overnight stays at Aquilla Wildlife Area?
Not allowed; only three wildlife areas have camping.
What are the stand and baiting rules on Aquilla Wildlife Area?
Bait is banned on public land; use portable stands only.
Orange clothing rules at Aquilla Wildlife Area?
Wear an orange vest, coat or coveralls in all deer gun weeks; duck hunters are exempt.
What time can I start deer hunting at Aquilla Wildlife Area?
Legal deer light on November 30, 2026: 7:00 a.m. to 5:27 p.m.
What office handles Aquilla Wildlife Area for ODNR?
Phone 330-644-2293.
How far is Aquilla Wildlife Area from the closest town?
Chardon is the nearest, 3 miles off.
Are parts of Aquilla Wildlife Area closed to hunters?
It is restricted; check the map.
When must I check game taken on Aquilla Wildlife Area?
By noon the following day, through HuntFish OH, wildohio.gov or by phone.
Can I hunt Aquilla Wildlife Area on a Sunday in Ohio?
Ohio law has no Sunday closure.
Do I need more than an Ohio hunting license for Aquilla Wildlife Area?
Carry a valid Ohio hunting license; add a deer, turkey or fur taker permit, and for ducks the federal duck stamp, the $15 Ohio wetlands stamp and HIP.
What size is Aquilla Wildlife Area on the ODNR books?
It takes in 60 acres of ground. GIS and map figures vary.
Sign-off notes for Aquilla Wildlife Area hunters
Saw a violation on Aquilla Wildlife Area? Call 1-800-POACHER; tips can stay anonymous.
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: ShenandoahNPS (Public domain); James St. John (CC BY 2.0); Clay Heaton (CC BY-SA 3.0).