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Hunt Clark Lake Wildlife Area this 2026-27 season
Hunting ground of 289 acres, run as a state wildlife area in Clark County.
Photo: rklopfer (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Clark Lake Wildlife Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Clark Lake Wildlife Area
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 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.
Inside the Clark Lake Wildlife Area record
The ODNR Division of Wildlife manages Clark Lake Wildlife Area, 289 acres of state wildlife area ground in Clark County. For wildlife work it falls under District 5, run from Xenia. By tenure the ground is owned outright by the state. It appears in OAC 1501:31-15-04(A)(1) as "Clark lake", the legal list of public hunting land.
Layers give between 287 and 289 acres, so the table shows each one.
| Measure | Acres |
|---|---|
| Area map PDF | 289 |
| Hunting-status layer | 289 |
| GIS parcel area | 287 |
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 Clark Lake Wildlife Area
Clark Lake Wildlife Area lottery hunts for 2026
The 2026 lottery list has 2 hunts on Clark Lake Wildlife Area (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.
| Number | Name | Kind | When to apply | Rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2928 | Clark Lake WA beaver/otter trapping | Trapping | In person, Oct. 3 | packet |
| 2965 | Clark Lake WA 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 Clark Lake Wildlife Area
Clark Lake Wildlife Area is open ground in the ODNR status map.
- No driving off the posted roads; park in the lots.
- No campsites on this property.
- Closed 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. from September through May 1 to anything but hunting, trapping and fishing.
- Guns may be fired only in lawful hunting, trapping or range use.
- Feed and bait are not allowed.
- Bring a portable stand; permanent stands are illegal.
- The public-area antlerless limit is two per license year.
- Parts of the season need a controlled-hunt permit.
- A blind drawing decides waterfowl sites.
From the agency page, public hunting area rules; checked November 6, 2026.
What ODNR plants and maintains on Clark Lake Wildlife Area
Clark Lake Wildlife Area dove plots and crops
1 dove field cover about 6 acres here, planted in millet, wheat and egyptian wheat. All are non-controlled, open to any licensed hunter from the opener.
| Field | Acres | Status | Planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clark Lake Dove | 5.7 | Non-Controlled | millet, wheat, egyptian wheat |
From the ODNR dove fields layer; checked November 6, 2026.
Dates and limits for hunting Clark Lake Wildlife Area
The record pairs Clark Lake Wildlife Area with trapping, waterfowl and dove. For ducks and geese it sits in Zone C.
| Game | Window | From | To | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Mourning dove | Dove | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | 15 daily |
| Mourning dove | Dove | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | 15 daily |
| 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 (controlled hunt lotteries); checked November 6, 2026.
Clark Lake Wildlife Area: next-nearest open land, by miles
Closest neighbour on the ODNR map: Buck Creek State Park, 4 miles west. Neighbour mix: 3 state parks, 2 wildlife areas and 1 public access area. Do not mistake these for open ground: Gallagher Springfield Fen State Nature Preserve (nature preserve), Prairie Road Fen Non-Dedicated Natural Area (natural area) and Crabill Fen Non-Dedicated Natural Area (natural area).
| Area | Kind | Acres | County | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buck Creek State Park | State park | 1,896 | Clark | 4 miles | west |
| Madison County WA 1 | Wildlife area | 81 | Madison | 14 miles | east |
| John Bryan State Park | State park | 752 | Greene | 15 miles | southwest |
| Madison Lake Access WA | Access area | 1 | Madison | 15 miles | east |
| Madison Lake State Park | State park | 76 | Madison | 16 miles | east |
| Mad River Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 33 | Champaign | 16 miles | northwest |
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.
Where Clark Lake Wildlife Area sits in Ohio's rules
The Clark County deer limit is 3 this season, only one of them antlered statewide. Clark County hunters checked 954 deer in 2025-26 (444 antlered). Through November 3, 2026: 251 deer checked.
| County | Bag | CWD area | Waterfowl | Turkey zone | Fall | Harvest 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark County | 3 deer | No | C | South | Closed | 954 |
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 Clark Lake Wildlife Area
Springfield is the closest town on this site to Clark Lake Wildlife Area, 8 miles in a straight line. ODNR staff closest to Clark Lake Wildlife Area work out of Urbana, 17 miles off.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield | Clark | 58,138 | 8 miles | west |
| London | Madison | 10,743 | 12 miles | east |
| Urbana | Champaign | 11,211 | 12 miles | northwest |
| Fairborn | Greene | 35,105 | 21 miles | southwest |
| Xenia | Greene | 26,067 | 24 miles | southwest |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); ODNR offices and businesses from services.json listings; straight-line miles. Checked November 6, 2026.
Clark Lake Wildlife Area 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 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:25 a.m. | 7:27 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 7:57 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 7:27 p.m. | 7:25 a.m. to 7:27 p.m. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 7:08 a.m. | 5:28 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 5:58 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:36 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 7:36 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:47 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 7:47 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:52 a.m. | 5:12 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 5:42 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. | 7:52 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:56 a.m. | 5:20 p.m. | 7:26 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. | 7:26 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. | 7:56 a.m. to 5:20 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 Clark Lake Wildlife Area and its managers
Your district office: 1076 Old Springfield Pike, Xenia, OH 45385, 937-372-9261. The officer assigned to Clark County is Mathew Bourne, (937) 206-9321. Call 1-800-POACHER to report a violation anonymously.
- Area map PDF (published 5/6/2022) · legend: parking area, parking, trail, lake
- ODNR hunting regulations web 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); checked November 6, 2026.
Classes, hunts and dinners near Clark Lake Wildlife Area
About 10 straight-line miles from here there are 2 dates ahead.
| When | Title | Mi | Location | Register or details | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 6, 2026 | Springfield DU Dinner Banquet · DU dinner, Springfield | 8 | Springfield, Clark County | Tickets | Source |
| Jan 30, 2027 | RMEF Honey Creek Chapter Banquet · RMEF banquet, Springfield | 8 | Springfield, Clark County | Tickets | Source |
Images for sizing up a Clark Lake Wildlife Area hunt
Clark Lake Wildlife Area hunters: public range plus clubs
Wildlife District 5 Office Shooting Range is 22 miles from Clark Lake Wildlife Area and is the nearest public range on ODNR’s list. 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 Clark Lake Wildlife Area questions with sourced answers
Stand and bait rules for Clark Lake Wildlife Area?
Portable stands only, with nothing driven into the tree, and no bait: deer baiting is illegal on public hunting areas.
Overnight stays at Clark Lake Wildlife Area?
No overnight camping.
What are deer hunting hours at Clark Lake Wildlife Area on the gun opener?
Deer hours run 7:06 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. on November 30, 2026, worked out for this spot.
Hunter orange rules for Clark Lake Wildlife Area in deer season?
A hunter orange vest or coat during the gun deer seasons; no square-inch rule.
Where is Clark Lake Wildlife Area relative to the nearest town?
Springfield is the nearest, 8 miles off.
What office handles Clark Lake Wildlife Area for ODNR?
937-372-9261 reaches the managers.
Is hunting restricted anywhere on Clark Lake Wildlife Area?
Open: no restricted parcels.
Can I hunt doves on planted fields at Clark Lake Wildlife Area?
1 field(s) are planted for doves.
Does Ohio law allow Sunday hunts on Clark Lake Wildlife Area?
Sunday is a normal hunting day in Ohio.
When must I check game taken on Clark Lake Wildlife Area?
Noon the next day is the deadline for the game check.
How many acres of hunting land is Clark Lake Wildlife Area?
289 acres, from the ODNR area map PDF. The table above lists every source.
Which Ohio license and permits do I need for Clark Lake Wildlife Area?
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 Clark Lake Wildlife Area?
ODNR lists 2: trapping and waterfowl blind. Each costs $3 to enter.
Sign-off notes for Clark Lake Wildlife Area hunters
Report your deer or turkey by noon the next day, and keep your license and permits on you while hunting Clark Lake Wildlife Area.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4 · source 5; seasons from the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked November 6, 2026.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Frank.Vassen (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).