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Hunting area in Fairfield County, Ohio
Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area hunting, rules and county limits
A 73-acre Ohio public hunting area in Fairfield County.
Photo: Aryeh Alex (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area
- Parking areaParking · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 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.
Getting to know the Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area ground
At 73 acres, Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area is a public hunting area in Fairfield County; the ODNR Division of Wildlife looks after it. The Division of Wildlife handles it from its Columbus office (District 1, Central Ohio). The hunting layer shows the parcels as held under a cooperative agreement.
Pick your number: 72 acres at the low end, 73 at the high end, by source.
| Source | Acres |
|---|---|
| Hunting-status layer | 73 |
| GIS parcel area | 72 |
From the ODNR property page, ODNR hunting-status layer; retrieved 2026-11-05, checked November 6, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area
Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area hunting rules, line by line
ODNR marks every parcel of Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area open to hunting.
- Park in designated spots; off-road driving is illegal.
- Leave the tent at home: no camping here.
- Night closure (8 p.m. to 6 a.m. in fall and winter) does not apply to hunters and trappers.
- Plinking is not allowed outside the designated ranges.
- Leave the corn at home: no bait on public land.
- Stands: portable, no devices driven into the bark.
- Two antlerless deer at most from all public hunting areas in a license year.
- Hunting rights come from a cooperative agreement.
From the agency page, public hunting area rules; checked November 6, 2026.
Hunting calendar matched to Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area
The property page is silent on species, so the rows below are the usual statewide seasons. The spring turkey dates are from 2026, since ODNR had not published 2027.
| Quarry | Season | Start | End | 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.
County limits that apply on Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area
Deer bag in Fairfield County: 3, with a single antlered deer allowed across Ohio. ODNR counted 2,351 deer in Fairfield County for 2025-26, 1,342 of them antlerless. The 2026-27 count stood at 478 on November 3, 2026.
| County | Limit | DSA | Zone | Spring | Fall turkey | 2025-26 deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield County | 3 deer | No | C | South | Open | 2,351 |
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.
Public hunting land within reach of Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area
Drive 6 miles northeast and the next public tract is Oakthorpe Lake Public Hunting and Fishing Areas. Around it on the map: 4 public hunting areas and 2 wildlife areas. Within 15 miles but not open to hunters: Rhododendron Us Route 33 Easement Natural Area (natural area), Kessler Swamp State Nature Preserve (nature preserve) and Rhododendron Cove State Nature Preserve (nature preserve).
| Nearby | Type | Acres | County | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakthorpe Lake PHFA | Hunting area | 78 | Fairfield | 6 miles | northeast |
| Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 46 | Fairfield | 7 miles | west |
| Rush Creek Lake PHFA | Hunting area | 1,015 | Fairfield | 7 miles | northeast |
| Flagdale Lake PHA | Hunting area | 132 | Perry | 10 miles | east |
| Rock Mill Lake WA | Wildlife area | 89 | Fairfield | 10 miles | west |
| Twin Churches Lake PHA | Hunting area | 72 | Perry | 10 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.
Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area maps, address and officers
For permits and questions try the Wildlife District One office, 614-644-3925. The Fairfield County wildlife officer is Jade Heizer, (614) 902-4210. Anonymous tip line: 1-800-POACHER.
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.
Towns and outfitters a short drive from Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area
From the point, Lancaster sits 5 miles away. For face-to-face help, the Malta ODNR office lies 32 miles away as the crow flies.
| Place | County | Population | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | Fairfield | 41,671 | 5 miles | west |
| Rockbridge | Hocking | – | 11 miles | south |
| Logan | Hocking | 7,142 | 15 miles | southeast |
| New Lexington | Perry | 4,463 | 16 miles | east |
| Pickerington | Fairfield | 25,814 | 17 miles | northwest |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); ODNR offices and businesses from services.json listings; straight-line miles. Checked November 6, 2026.
Gun-week light and other opener times on Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area
ODNR prints no sunrise table and points hunters to its app, the NOAA calculator and the Naval Observatory; the times for Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area below are worked out with the NOAA solar formula for its own location.
| Date | Opener | Sunrise | Sunset | Big game | Duck window | Pheasant window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:20 a.m. | 7:23 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 7:53 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall turkey | 7:25 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 7:44 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. | 7:25 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 7:03 a.m. | 5:24 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:54 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:31 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 7:31 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:42 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 7:42 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:47 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 7:47 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:51 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 7:51 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.
Dates held at or close to Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area
This ground and its 10-mile ring: 1 date ahead.
| Scheduled | What | Miles off | Where held | Link | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2026 | Fairfield County Dinner · DU dinner, Lancaster | 5 | Lancaster, Fairfield County | Tickets | Source |
Field and woods views near Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area
Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area: the nearest public range, then clubs
Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area hunters reach Hebron Fish Hatchery Shooting Range, the nearest ODNR-listed range, after about 14 miles. Next to it: the nearest club ranges, all inside 30 miles.
From ODNR’s public range list and range pages, ranges’ own pages and directory listings, checked November 6, 2026.
Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area: what Buckeye hunters keep asking
Is every part of Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area open to hunting?
The whole area is open.
What is the deadline to report a deer from Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area?
Report deer and turkeys by noon the day after the kill, online, by phone or in the HuntFish OH app.
Can Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area be hunted all seven days?
No statewide Sunday limit applies.
Is any special pass needed to hunt Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area?
An Ohio hunting license ($19 resident, $180.96 nonresident) plus the permit for your game: deer or turkey permit, fur taker permit, or HIP and stamps for waterfowl.
What size is Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area on the ODNR books?
About 73 acres by the main source; other layers are in the acreage table.
What deer limit covers Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area?
3 deer, the Fairfield County limit. Statewide: 6 deer, 1 antlered; public hunting areas: 2 antlerless at most.
Is any hunting at Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area by permit only?
No; the 2026 lottery list does not include it.
Which zone sets the waterfowl calendar at Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area?
Zone C. Splits: Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026; Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027.
Where can hunters stay overnight at Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area?
No. Camping is banned on wildlife areas except at Appalachian Hills, Simco and Woodbury.
Can I leave a tree stand or use bait on Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area?
No bait, and stands must be portable.
Must I wear orange while hunting Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area in winter?
During the youth gun, gun, bonus gun, DSA early gun and muzzleloader seasons, every hunter except waterfowl hunters wears a hunter orange vest, coat, jacket or coveralls.
When does legal deer light start on Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area?
7:01 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. on November 30, 2026.
Who should I phone about hunting Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area?
Try 614-644-3925.
Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area: the night-before checklist
Gravel lanes and parking lots can flood or close in wet weather; check access to Colfax Lake Public Hunting Area before the drive.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3; 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); YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0).