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Hunting Gifford State Forest: what the ODNR record shows
320 acres of public state forest ground in Athens County.
Photo: DanaK~WaterPenny (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Gifford State Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Gifford State Forest
- Parking areaParking · 0.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.1 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 Gifford State Forest is
Expect 320 acres of state forest here, in Athens County, with the ODNR Division of Forestry in charge. In ODNR terms this is District 4 country, with district staff based in Athens. Non-hunters share the ground for fishing and hiking. In the parcel data the land is owned outright by the state. In the Ohio Administrative Code it is "Gifford" (1501:31-15-04(A)(3)).
In the words of its ODNR page:
“This forest was donated to the state in 1959 by William Gifford Selby for experimentation and research.”
Not every ODNR source agrees: the spread is 308 to 320 acres.
| Where the figure comes from | Acres |
|---|---|
| State Forest Guide | 320 |
| Hunting-status layer | 313 |
| GIS parcel area | 308 |
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 Gifford State Forest
Before the first shot on Gifford State Forest
All of Gifford State Forest carries the open status in the ODNR layer.
- Baiting deer is banned on all public hunting areas.
- Public land limit: no more than two antlerless deer a year.
- Hunt anywhere not posted closed.
- Forest roads are no-shoot lines.
- Closing time does not bind hunters.
From the agency page, public hunting area rules, OAC 1501:3-6-03; checked November 6, 2026.
Gifford State Forest season dates, game by game
For deer, rabbit and ruffed grouse, here are the 2026-27 windows that apply on Gifford State Forest. 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 |
| Cottontail | Regular | Nov 6, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 4 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 |
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 Gifford State Forest on the map
First on the neighbour list is Wolf Creek Wildlife Area, 9 miles away and north of here. Six neighbours by kind: 3 wildlife areas, 2 state parks and 1 nature preserve. Off limits to hunting close by: Boord State Nature Preserve (nature preserve), Ladd Natural Bridge State Nature Preserve (nature preserve) and Riddle State Nature Preserve (nature preserve).
| Public land | Kind | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolf Creek Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 3,978 | Morgan | 9 miles | north |
| Acadia Cliffs SNP | Nature preserve | 113 | Washington | 9 miles | southeast |
| Acadia Cliffs Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 273 | Washington | 9 miles | south |
| Strouds Run State Park | State park | 2,606 | Athens | 9 miles | southwest |
| Burr Oak State Park | State park | 2,593 | Morgan | 10 miles | northwest |
| Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 1,226 | Athens | 12 miles | west |
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 Gifford State Forest
County limit where it lies: 2 deer (Athens County). The 2025-26 deer total for Athens County was 917, by ODNR's final report. Early 2026-27 tally (to November 3, 2026): 308 deer.
| County | Deer bag | DSA | Duck zone | Turkey | Fall | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens County | 2 deer | No | C | South | Open | 917 |
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.
Gifford State Forest: towns, shops and the nearest ODNR office
Fuel, ice and groceries: Chesterhill is nearest, 4 miles away. Athens, 13 miles out, is larger: 24,824 people in 2024. The closest ODNR desk: Malta, 10 miles in a straight line.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chesterhill | Morgan | 267 | 4 miles | northeast |
| Trimble | Athens | 329 | 10 miles | west |
| Athens | Athens | 24,824 | 13 miles | southwest |
| Malta | Morgan | 548 | 14 miles | north |
| Murray City | Hocking | 335 | 15 miles | west |
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 Gifford State Forest, 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 Gifford State Forest rather than a Columbus table.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Waterfowl, squirrel | Rabbit, pheasant, dove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:18 a.m. | 7:20 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. | 7:18 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 | 7:00 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:27 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 7:27 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:38 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 7:38 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:44 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 7:44 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:48 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. to 5:44 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | 7:48 a.m. to 5:14 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 Gifford State Forest
The Wildlife District Four office is at 360 E State St, Athens, OH 45701 (740-589-9930). Report problems to Ryan Donnelly, the county wildlife officer, at (740) 541-8266. Report poaching at 1-800-762-2437.
- Area map PDF · legend: parking, trail, pond
- Gifford State Forest 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); checked November 6, 2026.
Pictures from Gifford State Forest country and its game
Gifford State Forest: the nearest public range, then clubs
Morgan County holds the ODNR-listed range nearest Gifford State Forest: Wolf Creek Wildlife Area Shooting Range (10 miles). 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.
Gifford State Forest questions, from permits to parking
Orange clothing rules at Gifford State Forest?
Wear an orange vest, coat or coveralls in all deer gun weeks; duck hunters are exempt.
What time can I start deer hunting at Gifford State Forest?
Legal deer light on November 30, 2026: 6:57 a.m. to 5:36 p.m.
Which phone line answers questions on Gifford State Forest?
Phone (740) 596-5781.
How far is Gifford State Forest from the closest town?
About 4 miles from Chesterhill.
Are parts of Gifford State Forest closed to hunters?
Yes, ODNR marks it open.
Game check rules after a kill on Gifford State Forest?
By noon the following day, through HuntFish OH, wildohio.gov or by phone.
Can I hunt Gifford State Forest on a Sunday in Ohio?
Ohio law has no Sunday closure.
Do I need more than an Ohio hunting license for Gifford State Forest?
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 Gifford State Forest on the ODNR books?
It takes in 320 acres of ground. GIS and map figures vary.
How many deer may one hunter kill around Gifford State Forest?
2, as set for Athens County. One antlered deer statewide; public areas cap antlerless deer at two a year.
Does ODNR draw permits for Gifford State Forest?
None on the 2026 list, so regular seasons apply.
Which Ohio waterfowl zone covers Gifford State Forest?
Waterfowl Zone C: ducks Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026; Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027.
Can I camp at Gifford State Forest?
Camp only where designated.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); btrentler (CC BY 2.0); Gerry (CC BY 2.0).