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Access programs
Ohio hunting access programs
Private land through L/HAP, the controlled hunt lotteries, drawn hunts on partner land, dog training areas, ranges on wildlife areas, mobility-impaired access and designated camping.
Photo: Art Anderson (CC BY-SA 3.0)
L/HAP: private land open to the public
The Ohio Landowner/Hunter Access Partnership is funded through the federal VPA-HIP program and opens enrolled private land to the public. When the enrollment layer was read it held 171 properties and 18,058 acres of habitat in 46 counties. Hunters reserve a free daily permit after a free annual endorsement, from September 1 to June 1.
Controlled hunting lotteries
ODNR drew 292 numbered hunts for 2026 plus 20 Tuesday and Thursday waterfowl areas: 112 trapping, 42 waterfowl, 26 deer gun, 21 pheasant, 19 deer archery, 19 waterfowl blind, 18 turkey, 14 raccoon, 14 dove, 7 small game. Some run on land that is not ODNR public hunting ground: Howard Marsh Metropark, Mill Creek MetroParks and Nimisila Reservoir, Camp James A. Garfield and Ottawa NWR.
| Controlled hunt area | County | Hunts |
|---|---|---|
| Howard Marsh Metropark | Lucas | 3 |
| Mill Creek MetroParks | Statewide | 2 |
| Nimisila Reservoir | Summit | 5 |
Facilities on Ohio public land
Dog training areas
21 records carry a designated dog training area in the ODNR layer; the regulations list designated training areas on 20 wildlife areas.
| Land | Training area | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Jesse Owens | Appalachian Hills | 3,942 |
| Salt Fork | Salt Fork | 1,860 |
| Appalachian Hills | Appalachian Hills | 3,942 |
| Berlin Lake | Berlin Lake | 115 |
| Caesar Creek | Caesar Creek | 63 |
| Delaware | Delaware | 420 |
| East Fork | East Fork | 131 |
| Fallsville | Fallsville | 66 |
| Grand River | Grand River | 349 |
| Indian Creek | Indian Creek | 128 |
| Killdeer Plains | Killdeer Plains | 157 |
| Kokosing Lake | Kokosing Lake | 28 |
| Lake La Su An | La Su An | 17 |
| Magee Marsh | Magee Marsh | 1 |
| Oxbow Lake | Oxbow Lake | 20 |
| Resthaven | Northwest Road | 64 |
| Rush Run | Rush Run | 37 |
| Salt Fork | Salt Fork | 1,860 |
| Spencer Lake | Spencer Lake | 107 |
| Tri-Valley | Tri-Valley | 230 |
| Woodbury | Woodbury Field Trial Area | 518 |
Shooting ranges on public land
45 records have a range in the regulations list. Shooters 18 and older need a shooting range permit at class A, B and C ranges.
| Land | Class | County |
|---|---|---|
| Hebron | D | Licking |
| St. Marys | D | Auglaize |
| Beaver Creek | D | Columbiana |
| Fernwood | CO | Jefferson |
| Harrison | O | Harrison |
| Shawnee | D | Scioto, Adams |
| Zaleski | O | Vinton, Athens |
| Barkcamp | D | Belmont |
| Beaver Creek | D | Columbiana |
| Caesar Creek | D | Warren, Clinton |
| Deer Creek | B C D | Pickaway, Fayette |
| Delaware | A C D | Delaware |
| East Harbor | D | Ottawa |
| Geneva | D | Ashtabula |
| Hocking Hills | D | Hocking |
| Hueston Woods | D | Preble, Butler |
| Lake Hope | D | Vinton |
| Paint Creek | D | Highland, Ross |
| Punderson | D | Geauga |
| Rocky Fork | D | Highland |
| Salt Fork | C, D | Guernsey |
| Shawnee | D | Scioto |
| Beaver Creek | D | Greene |
| Berlin Lake | D | Portage, Stark +1 |
| Caesar Creek | D | Greene, Warren +1 |
| Cooper Hollow | D | Jackson |
| Deer Creek | B C D | Fayette, Pickaway +1 |
| Delaware | A C D | Delaware, Marion +1 |
| Fallsville | D | Highland |
| Grand River | closed | Trumbull, Ashtabula |
| Indian Creek | B C D | Brown |
| Monroe Lake | B | Monroe |
| Oxbow Lake | C | Defiance |
| Resthaven | C | Erie, Sandusky |
| Rush Run | C | Preble |
| Salt Fork | C, D | Guernsey |
| Spencer Lake | D | Medina |
| Spring Valley | A C D | Greene, Warren |
| Tranquility | B | Adams |
| Tri-Valley | D | Muskingum, Coshocton |
| Veto Lake | D | Washington |
| Wingfoot Lake | D | Portage |
| Wolf Creek | B C D | Morgan |
| Woodbury | B C D | Coshocton |
| Wyandot | C | Wyandot |
Mobility-impaired access and camping
15 areas allow permitted mobility-impaired hunters to drive designated access roads: Berlin Lake Wildlife Area, Big Island Wildlife Area, Brush Creek Wildlife Area, Cooper Hollow Wildlife Area, Deer Creek Wildlife Area, Delaware Wildlife Area, East Fork Wildlife Area, Fallsville Wildlife Area, Grand River Wildlife Area, Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, Lake La Su An WA, Resthaven Wildlife Area, Spring Valley Wildlife Area, Waterloo Wildlife Area and Woodbury Wildlife Area. Designated camping exists only at Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area, Simco Wildlife Area and Woodbury Wildlife Area.
From lands.json (Dog_Training_Areas, range list, mobility-impaired access list) and the range rules. Checked November 6, 2026.
Access program questions
Is L/HAP land open every day?
September 1 to June 1, 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., with at most 10 days a month per property.
What does a controlled hunt cost?
$3 per application; a waterfowl blind adds a $50 fee at most lakes.
Where can I train a bird dog on public land?
At the 21 designated training areas listed above.
Do I need a permit to shoot at a wildlife area range?
Yes at class A, B and C ranges if you are 18 or older; class D ranges need none.
Which areas allow vehicle access for disabled hunters?
15 areas, listed above, for holders of the mobility-impaired permit.
Farm and field country
Other photos on this page: Scott Bauer, USDA NRCS (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Paul Danese (CC BY-SA 4.0); Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0).