Home › Ohio › Public land › Knox Lake Wildlife Area
Wildlife area · Ohio public hunting land
Hunting Knox Lake Wildlife Area: what the ODNR record shows
756 acres of public state wildlife area ground in Knox County.
Photo: Ohio Department of Natural Resources (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Knox Lake Wildlife Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Knox Lake Wildlife Area
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 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 · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 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 Knox Lake Wildlife Area is
Expect 756 acres of state wildlife area here, in Knox County, with the ODNR Division of Wildlife in charge. In ODNR terms this is District 1 country, with district staff based in Columbus. In the parcel data the land is owned outright by the state. In the Ohio Administrative Code it is "Knox lake" (1501:31-15-04(A)(1)).
In the words of its ODNR page:
“This 756-acre wildlife area is in central Ohio, located about 1½ miles northeast of Fredericktown.”
Not every ODNR source agrees: the spread is 476 to 764 acres.
| Where the figure comes from | Acres |
|---|---|
| ODNR property page | 756 |
| Area map PDF | 476 |
| Hunting-status layer | 764 |
| GIS parcel area | 763 |
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 Knox Lake Wildlife Area
Official word on Knox Lake Wildlife Area game
Two lines from the agency page on hunting Knox Lake Wildlife Area, quoted as written:
“Knox Lake is a great place to spot migrating waterfowl in during the spring and fall migrations.”
Quoted from the agency page; checked November 6, 2026.
Lottery permits for Knox Lake Wildlife Area
For 2026 the controlled hunts here number 1: 1 trapping. You pay $3 per hunt applied for, online, in the app or by phone. Furbearer and beaver-otter permits are drawn at district offices on the first Saturday in October.
| No. | Lottery hunt | Game | Window | Packet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8004 | Knox Lake beaver-otter trapping | Trapping | In person, Oct. 3 | packet |
Hunts from the ODNR controlled hunting access lotteries page and the 2026-27 regulations, pp. 26-27; checked November 6, 2026.
Before the first shot on Knox Lake Wildlife Area
All of Knox Lake Wildlife Area carries the open status in the ODNR layer.
- Keep trucks on the open roads and in marked lots.
- Camping is prohibited (Appalachian Hills, Simco and Woodbury are the exceptions).
- Hours: other visitors leave by 8 p.m. from September 1 to May 1.
- No casual shooting: guns are for hunting, trapping or a Division range.
- Baiting deer is banned on all public hunting areas.
- Tree stands must be portable, with no nails or screw-in steps.
- Public land limit: no more than two antlerless deer a year.
- A few hunts are permit-only.
From the agency page, public hunting area rules; checked November 6, 2026.
Knox Lake Wildlife Area season dates, game by game
For deer, turkey, waterfowl, small game and trapping, here are the 2026-27 windows that apply on Knox Lake Wildlife Area. Zone C sets the duck and goose splits. 2027 spring turkey dates are pending, so the 2026 dates are shown.
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 (ODNR property page hunting text); checked November 6, 2026.
What else lies near Knox Lake Wildlife Area on the map
First on the neighbour list is Kokosing Lake Wildlife Area, 4 miles away and west of here. Six neighbours by kind: 2 wildlife areas, 2 state parks and 1 state forest. Off limits to hunting close by: Knox Woods State Nature Preserve (nature preserve), Kokosing Scenic River (scenic river land) and Clear Fork Gorge State Nature Preserve (nature preserve).
| Place | Type | Acres | County | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kokosing Lake Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 1,060 | Knox | 4 miles | west |
| Richland County WA 1 | Wildlife area | 89 | Richland | 9 miles | northeast |
| Malabar Farm State Park | State park | 875 | Richland | 11 miles | northeast |
| Mohican-Memorial State Forest | State forest | 4,541 | Ashland | 12 miles | northeast |
| Pleasant Hill Lake Hunt Area | Hunting area | 2,198 | Richland | 12 miles | northeast |
| Mt Gilead State Park | State park | 181 | Morrow | 17 miles | west |
Point: ODNR DNR_Lands_Hunting_Status layer, 1 parcel (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside)). Straight-line distances. Closed places from the lands.json closed list. Checked November 6, 2026. Statewide public land map.
Zone and limit check for Knox Lake Wildlife Area
County limit where it lies: 3 deer (Knox County). Final 2025-26 figure for Knox County: 6,704 deer checked. Early 2026-27 tally (to November 3, 2026): 1,440 deer.
| County | Deer bag | DSA | Duck zone | Turkey | Fall | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County | 3 deer | No | C | South | Open | 6,704 |
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.
Supply towns and ODNR help around Knox Lake Wildlife Area
Fuel, ice and groceries: Fredericktown is nearest, 3 miles away. For a full grocery run, Mount Vernon (17,329 people) is the pick. The closest ODNR desk: Ashley, 28 miles in a straight line.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fredericktown | Knox | 2,658 | 3 miles | southwest |
| Mount Vernon | Knox | 17,329 | 9 miles | south |
| Lucas | Richland | 586 | 14 miles | north |
| Loudonville | Ashland | 2,778 | 17 miles | northeast |
| Mount Gilead | Morrow | 3,543 | 17 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 Knox Lake Wildlife Area, 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 Knox Lake Wildlife Area rather than a Columbus table.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Waterfowl, squirrel | Rabbit, pheasant, dove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 7:05 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:33 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 7:33 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:44 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 7:44 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:50 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 7:50 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:53 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 7:53 a.m. to 5:13 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 Knox Lake Wildlife Area
The Wildlife District One office is at 1500 Dublin Rd, Columbus, OH 43215 (614-644-3925). Report problems to Austin Levering, the county wildlife officer, at (614) 400-0731. Report poaching at 1-800-762-2437. Map text: UTM NAD 83 Zone 17 projection. Map text: Contour intervals are in 3 ft increments.
- Area map PDF · legend: boat ramp, parking, accessible, lake
- 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 (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside)); checked November 6, 2026.
Pictures from Knox Lake Wildlife Area country and its game
Knox Lake Wildlife Area: the nearest public range, then clubs
The closest ODNR-listed range to Knox Lake Wildlife Area is Delaware Wildlife Area Shooting Range, about 29 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.
Knox Lake Wildlife Area questions, from permits to parking
Does ODNR draw permits for Knox Lake Wildlife Area?
Yes, 1 hunt in 2026: trapping. The fee is $3 a hunt.
Which Ohio waterfowl zone covers Knox Lake Wildlife Area?
Waterfowl Zone C: ducks Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026; Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027.
May I camp while hunting Knox Lake Wildlife Area?
Not allowed; only three wildlife areas have camping.
What are the stand and baiting rules on Knox Lake Wildlife Area?
Bait is banned on public land; use portable stands only.
Orange clothing rules at Knox Lake Wildlife Area?
Wear an orange vest, coat or coveralls in all deer gun weeks; duck hunters are exempt.
What time can I start deer hunting at Knox Lake Wildlife Area?
Legal deer light on November 30, 2026: 7:03 a.m. to 5:35 p.m.
Which number reaches the Knox Lake Wildlife Area managers?
Phone 614-644-3925.
How far is Knox Lake Wildlife Area from the closest town?
Fredericktown, 3 miles away in a straight line.
Are parts of Knox Lake Wildlife Area closed to hunters?
Yes, ODNR marks it open.
Do I have to report game shot on Knox Lake Wildlife Area?
By noon the following day, through HuntFish OH, wildohio.gov or by phone.
Can I hunt Knox Lake Wildlife Area on a Sunday in Ohio?
Ohio law has no Sunday closure.
Do I need more than an Ohio hunting license for Knox Lake Wildlife Area?
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. Some hunts here are by lottery permit.
What size is Knox Lake Wildlife Area on the ODNR books?
It takes in 756 acres of ground. GIS and map figures vary.
Other photos on this page: Paul Danese (CC BY-SA 4.0); btrentler (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).