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State park · Ohio public hunting land
Hunting Forked Run State Park: what the ODNR record shows
791 acres of public state park ground in Meigs County.
Photo: Warren LeMay (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Forked Run State Park
Parking, trailheads and gates near Forked Run State Park
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.5 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.
What kind of place Forked Run State Park is
Expect 791 acres of state park here, in Meigs County, with the ODNR Division of Parks and Watercraft in charge. In ODNR terms this is District 4 country, with district staff based in Athens. Habitat named by ODNR includes lake, fall color, forest and brush. Non-hunters share the ground for camping, kayaking, boating, disc golf, hiking and paddling and use the hiking trails. In the parcel data the land is owned outright by the state. In the Ohio Administrative Code it is "Forked run" (1501:31-15-04(A)(2)).
In the words of its ODNR page:
“Forested hills, a picturesque lake, and the Ohio River characterize 791-acre Forked Run State Park.”
Not every ODNR source agrees: the spread is 791 to 848 acres.
| Where the figure comes from | Acres |
|---|---|
| Property Details layer | 791 |
| Water (Property Details) | 120 |
| Hunting-status layer | 848 |
| GIS parcel area | 830 |
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 Forked Run State Park
Official word on Forked Run State Park game
Two lines from the agency page on hunting Forked Run State Park, quoted as written:
“The forest and fields provide habitat for a variety of wildlife species including gray fox, raccoon, opossum, gray squirrel, white-tailed deer, and wild turkey.”
Quoted from the agency page; checked November 6, 2026.
Before the first shot on Forked Run State Park
Restricted status means only some of Forked Run State Park is open; take the map along.
- Baiting deer is banned on all public hunting areas.
- Public land limit: no more than two antlerless deer a year.
- Stay inside the mapped hunting zones of the park.
- Stay 400 feet away from shelters and parking lots.
- Do not fire from or over a road, driveway or trail.
- Permanent duck blinds require a park permit.
From the agency page, public hunting area rules, OAC 1501:46-15-07; checked November 6, 2026.
Forked Run State Park season dates, game by game
For deer, turkey, squirrel, ruffed grouse, raccoon, fox and trapping, here are the 2026-27 windows that apply on Forked Run State Park. 2027 spring turkey dates are pending, so the 2026 dates are shown. Grouse hunting needs a controlled-hunt permit.
| 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 |
| Red fox | Hunting | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | No limit |
| Red fox | Trapping | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | No limit |
| Gray fox | Hunting | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | No limit |
| Gray fox | Trapping | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | No limit |
| Raccoon | Hunting | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | No limit |
| Raccoon | Trapping | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | No 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 |
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.
What else lies near Forked Run State Park on the map
First on the neighbour list is Ohio River Forked Run State Park, 1 mile away and south of here. Six neighbours by kind: 4 public access areas, 1 state park and 1 state forest. Off limits to hunting close by: Woodland Fernleaf False Foxglove State Nature Preserve (nature preserve), Desonier State Nature Preserve (nature preserve) and Ladd Natural Bridge State Nature Preserve (nature preserve).
| Public land | Kind | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio River Forked Run SP | State park | 15 | Meigs | 1 mile | south |
| Ohio River Access – Forked Run WA | Access area | 34 | Meigs | 1 mile | south |
| Shade River State Forest | State forest | 2,859 | Meigs | 2 miles | northwest |
| Ohio River Access – Shade River WA | Access area | 29 | Meigs | 3 miles | southwest |
| Ohio River Lock & Dam 21 WA | Access area | 15 | Meigs | 5 miles | south |
| Ohio River Access – Old Town Creek WA | Access area | 33 | Meigs | 10 miles | south |
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.
Zone and limit check for Forked Run State Park
County limit where it lies: 2 deer (Meigs County). The 2025-26 deer total for Meigs County was 1,060, by ODNR's final report. Early 2026-27 tally (to November 3, 2026): 361 deer.
| County | Deer bag | DSA | Duck zone | Turkey | Fall | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meigs County | 2 deer | No | C | South | Open | 1,060 |
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.
Forked Run State Park: towns, shops and the nearest ODNR office
Fuel, ice and groceries: Tuppers Plains is nearest, 6 miles away. Athens, 23 miles out, is larger: 24,824 people in 2024. The closest ODNR desk: Athens, 23 miles in a straight line.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuppers Plains | Meigs | – | 6 miles | northwest |
| Pomeroy | Meigs | 1,505 | 14 miles | west |
| Rutland | Meigs | 412 | 19 miles | west |
| Athens | Athens | 24,824 | 23 miles | northwest |
| Chesterhill | Morgan | 267 | 28 miles | north |
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 Forked Run State Park, 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 Forked Run State Park rather than a Columbus table.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Waterfowl, squirrel | Rabbit, pheasant, dove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:17 a.m. | 7:20 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall turkey | 7:22 a.m. | 7:12 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 7:42 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 7:12 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 7:12 p.m. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 6:59 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:26 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 7:26 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:37 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 7:37 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:42 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 7:42 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:46 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. | 7:46 a.m. to 5:15 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 Forked Run State Park
The Wildlife District Four office is at 360 E State St, Athens, OH 45701 (740-589-9930). Report problems to Chris Gilkey, the county wildlife officer, at (614) 563-4492. Report poaching at 1-800-762-2437.
- Hunting map PDF · legend: lake
- Forked Run Hiking Map
- Point on 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.
Pictures from Forked Run State Park country and its game
Forked Run State Park: the nearest public range, then clubs
The closest ODNR-listed range to Forked Run State Park is Veto Lake Wildlife Area Shooting Range, about 18 miles off as the crow flies. 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.
Forked Run State Park questions, from permits to parking
Can I hunt Forked Run State Park on a Sunday in Ohio?
Ohio law has no Sunday closure.
Do I need more than an Ohio hunting license for Forked Run State Park?
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 Forked Run State Park on the ODNR books?
It takes in 791 acres of ground. GIS and map figures vary.
How many deer may one hunter kill around Forked Run State Park?
2, as set for Meigs County. One antlered deer statewide; public areas cap antlerless deer at two a year.
Does ODNR draw permits for Forked Run State Park?
None on the 2026 list, so regular seasons apply.
Which Ohio waterfowl zone covers Forked Run State Park?
Waterfowl Zone C: ducks Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026; Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027.
Can I camp at Forked Run State Park?
Campsites exist on the property; hunt away from them.
What are the stand and baiting rules on Forked Run State Park?
Bait is banned on public land; use portable stands only.
Orange clothing rules at Forked Run State Park?
Wear an orange vest, coat or coveralls in all deer gun weeks; duck hunters are exempt.
What time can I start deer hunting at Forked Run State Park?
Legal deer light on November 30, 2026: 6:56 a.m. to 5:36 p.m.
Which phone line answers questions on Forked Run State Park?
Phone (740) 378-6206.
How far is Forked Run State Park from the closest town?
About 6 miles from Tuppers Plains.
Are parts of Forked Run State Park closed to hunters?
It is restricted; check the map.
Last checks before loading up for Forked Run State Park
Saw a violation on Forked Run State Park? Call 1-800-POACHER; tips can stay anonymous.
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: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); Gerry (CC BY 2.0).