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Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center hunting, rules and county limits
21,884 acres of public military installation ground in Portage County and Trumbull County.
Photo: Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center
Parking, trailheads and gates near Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- East Boat RampParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Visitor's CenterParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center at a glance for hunters
The Ohio Army National Guard manages Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, 21,884 acres of military installation ground in Portage County and Trumbull County. In ODNR terms this is District 3 country, with district staff based in Akron.
From the agency page; retrieved 2026-11-05, checked November 6, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center
How access works on the Garfield training center
Camp James A. Garfield is a National Guard training site of 21,884 acres (MIRTA boundary) in Portage County and Trumbull County; it opens to hunters only through ODNR controlled deer hunts. The federal MIRTA layer names it "NG Camp Ravenna Joint Military Training Center". Hunts are shotgun deer and antlerless shotgun deer, drawn in the July lottery. Deer from these hunts do not count toward the county limit, and the one-antlered-deer rule still applies.
From the official page and DoD MIRTA; checked November 6, 2026.
Permit hunts on Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center
For 2026 the controlled hunts here number 2: 2 deer gun. You pay $3 per hunt applied for, online, in the app or by phone. A controlled-hunt deer is extra: it does not count toward the county or statewide limit.
| Hunt no. | Hunt | Type | Apply | Rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2504 | Camp James A Garfield JMTC shotgun deer | Deer gun | July 1-31 | – |
| 2640 | Camp James A Garfield JMTC anterless shotgun deer | Deer gun | July 1-31 | – |
Hunts from the ODNR controlled hunting access lotteries page and the 2026-27 regulations, pp. 26-27; checked November 6, 2026.
Before the first shot on Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center
- Lottery permit holders only.
- No general public access.
From the agency page; checked November 6, 2026.
Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center season dates, game by game
For deer, here are the 2026-27 windows that apply on Camp James A. Garfield.
| 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 |
Dates and limits from the 2026-27 hunting seasons list and the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations; species from the record (ODNR controlled hunting lotteries (shotgun deer, antlerless shotgun deer)); checked November 6, 2026.
What else lies near Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center on the map
First on the neighbour list is West Branch State Park, 4 miles away and south of here. Six neighbours by kind: 3 wildlife areas, 2 state parks and 1 public hunting area. Off limits to hunting close by: Eagle Creek State Nature Preserve (nature preserve), Mennonite Road-Upper Cuyahoga Scenic River Area (scenic river land) and Mantua Bog State Nature Preserve (nature preserve).
| Name | Kind | Size (ac) | County | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Branch State Park | State park | 5,379 | Portage | 4 miles | south |
| West Branch Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 2,913 | Portage | 6 miles | southwest |
| Brook Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 390 | Trumbull | 7 miles | northeast |
| Braceville Hunting Area | Hunting area | 77 | Trumbull | 7 miles | east |
| Marsh Wetlands SNP | Wildlife area | 152 | Portage | 9 miles | northwest |
| Lake Milton State Park | State park | 1,006 | Mahoning | 9 miles | southeast |
Point: DoD MIRTA polygon (NG Camp Ravenna Joint Military Training Center) (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.
Zone and limit check for Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center
County limit where it lies: 3 deer (Portage County). 2025-26 harvest, Portage County: 3,498 deer. Early 2026-27 tally (to November 3, 2026): 949 deer.
| County | Deer bag | DSA | Duck zone | Turkey | Fall | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portage County | 3 deer | No | B | South | Open | 3,498 |
| Trumbull County | 3 deer | No | B | Northeast | Open | 5,324 |
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.
Stores, deer processors and towns serving Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center
Fuel, ice and groceries: Ravenna is nearest, 9 miles away. Warren tops the list at 38,683 people. Allow for 12 miles of straight-line distance to the Deerfield ODNR office.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravenna | Portage | 11,236 | 9 miles | west |
| Warren | Trumbull | 38,683 | 14 miles | east |
| West Farmington | Trumbull | 534 | 15 miles | northeast |
| Kent | Portage | 27,720 | 15 miles | west |
| Limaville | Stark | – | 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.
Daylight math for Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, 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 Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center rather than a Columbus table.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Waterfowl, squirrel | Rabbit, pheasant, dove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:14 a.m. | 7:17 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 7:47 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall turkey | 7:19 a.m. | 7:08 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 7:08 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 7:08 p.m. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 7:01 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:19 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:29 a.m. | 4:58 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. | 7:29 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:46 a.m. | 4:58 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. | 7:46 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:50 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 7:50 a.m. to 5:06 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 Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center
The Wildlife District Three office is at 912 Portage Lakes Dr, Akron, OH 44319 (330-644-2293). Report problems to Marino Pellegrini, the county wildlife officer, at (330) 245-3040. 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 DoD MIRTA polygon (NG Camp Ravenna Joint Military Training Center) (polygon centroid of the largest part); checked November 6, 2026.
What meets on or near Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center
Rows marked for this land meet on it; upcoming rows also count within about 10 miles. In all, 1 date ahead.
| On | Listing | Miles | Venue and county | Button | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7, 2026 | ODNR Hunter Education Class (Ravenna) · hunter education class, Ravenna | 9 | Ravenna, Portage County | Register | Source |
Pictures from Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center country and its game
Public range and clubs on the road to Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center
Berlin Lake Wildlife Area Shooting Range (free (Class D)) is 13 miles from Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center. 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.
Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, answered one question at a time
Does ODNR draw permits for Camp James A. Garfield?
Yes, 2 hunts in 2026: deer gun. The fee is $3 a hunt.
Which Ohio waterfowl zone covers Camp James A. Garfield?
Waterfowl Zone B: ducks Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026; Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027.
Is there a campground at Camp James A. Garfield?
No campground is listed.
What are the stand and baiting rules on Camp James A. Garfield?
Bait is banned on public land; use portable stands only.
Orange clothing rules at Camp James A. Garfield?
Wear an orange vest, coat or coveralls in all deer gun weeks; duck hunters are exempt.
What time can I start deer hunting at Camp James A. Garfield?
Legal deer light on November 30, 2026: 6:59 a.m. to 5:28 p.m.
Who manages hunting on Camp James A. Garfield day to day?
Phone 330-644-2293.
Which town do I aim for when driving to Camp James A. Garfield?
Ravenna sits 9 miles from the point.
How is a turkey or deer from Camp James A. Garfield checked?
By noon the following day, through HuntFish OH, wildohio.gov or by phone.
Does Ohio law allow Sunday hunts on Camp James A. Garfield?
Ohio law has no Sunday closure.
Do I need more than an Ohio hunting license for Camp James A. Garfield?
A controlled-hunt permit from the ODNR lottery, plus an Ohio license and the deer or waterfowl permits.
How many acres of hunting land is Camp James A. Garfield?
It takes in 21,884 acres of ground.
What deer limit covers Camp James A. Garfield?
The county limit of 3 applies. One antlered deer statewide; public areas cap antlerless deer at two a year.
Wrapping up the Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center plan
Saw a violation on Camp James A. Garfield? Call 1-800-POACHER; tips can stay anonymous.
Sources: source 1 · source 2; seasons from the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked November 6, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); NPS Photo (Public domain).