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Wildlife area in Holmes County, Ohio
Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area hunting, rules and county limits
A 161-acre Ohio state wildlife area in Holmes County.
Photo: S. Clyde (Public domain)
Getting to Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area
Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area: size, setting and history
At 161 acres, Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area is a state wildlife area in Holmes County; the ODNR Division of Wildlife looks after it. The Division of Wildlife handles it from its Akron office (District 3, Northeast Ohio). Cover on the property page: streams, wetlands and marsh. Other uses listed: birding and fishing. The state started assembling it in 2000. The hunting layer shows the parcels as protected by a conservation easement and owned outright by the state. The administrative code lists it under 1501:31-15-04(A)(1), written "Lower killbuck creek".
From the ODNR property page:
“This 161-acre wildlife area is located in northeastern Ohio in Holmes County.”
Pick your number: 134 acres at the low end, 169 at the high end, by source.
| Source | Acres |
|---|---|
| ODNR property page | 161 |
| Property Details layer | 134 |
| Water (Property Details) | 26 |
| Hunting-status layer | 169 |
| GIS parcel area | 169 |
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 Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area
Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area hunting rules, line by line
ODNR marks every parcel of Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area open to hunting.
- Park in designated spots; off-road driving is illegal.
- Camping is prohibited (Appalachian Hills, Simco and Woodbury are the exceptions).
- 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.
From the agency page, public hunting area rules; checked November 6, 2026.
Hunting calendar matched to Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area
The sources name waterfowl, raccoon and trapping on Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area; the table shows the 2026-27 dates for that game. Waterfowl dates here are the Zone C dates.
| Quarry | Season | Start | End | 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 | 3 per season |
| 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.
County limits that apply on Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area
Deer bag in Holmes County: 3, with a single antlered deer allowed across Ohio. Final 2025-26 figure for Holmes County: 5,717 deer checked. The 2026-27 count stood at 1,683 on November 3, 2026.
| County | Limit | DSA | Zone | Spring | Fall turkey | 2025-26 deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holmes County | 3 deer | No | B, C | South | Open | 5,717 |
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.
Notes from the Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area listing
Hunting notes from the Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area page:
“Wood duck, mallard, Canada geese, muskrat, and raccoon are the principal game and furbearer species.”
Quoted from the agency page; checked November 6, 2026.
Public hunting land within reach of Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area
Drive 10 miles south and the next public tract is Six Mile Dam – Walhonding River Fishing Access. Around it on the map: 3 wildlife areas, 2 public access areas and 1 public hunting area. Within 15 miles but not open to hunters: Brinkhaven Oak Barrens Dedicated Nature Preserve (nature preserve), Galehouse Scenic River Land (scenic river land) and Brown's Lake Bog State Nature Preserve (nature preserve).
| Place | Type | Acres | County | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Six Mile Dam – Walhonding River Fishing Access | Access area | 24 | Coshocton | 10 miles | south |
| Killbuck Walhonding Public Access | Access area | 20 | Coshocton | 11 miles | south |
| Mohawk Lake Hunt Area | Hunting area | 3,667 | Coshocton | 12 miles | southwest |
| Mohican River Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 475 | Knox | 12 miles | southwest |
| Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 5,703 | Wayne | 14 miles | north |
| Shreve Lake Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 228 | Wayne | 15 miles | north |
Point: ODNR DNR_Lands_Hunting_Status layer, 2 parcels (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.
Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area maps, address and officers
For permits and questions try the Wildlife District Three office, 330-644-2293. The Holmes County wildlife officer is Cory Burroughs, (330) 245-3045. Anonymous tip line: 1-800-POACHER.
- Area map PDF · legend: parking, waterfowl hunting, wetland, marsh, lake
- ODNR hunting regulations web map
- Map pin
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, 2 parcels (polygon centroid of the largest part); checked November 6, 2026.
Supply towns and ODNR help around Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area
From the point, Millersburg sits 6 miles away. For a full grocery run, Coshocton (11,114 people) is the pick. For face-to-face help, the Warsaw ODNR office lies 13 miles away as the crow flies.
| Place | County | Population | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millersburg | Holmes | 3,264 | 6 miles | northeast |
| Warsaw | Coshocton | 650 | 10 miles | south |
| Holmesville | Holmes | 375 | 11 miles | north |
| Coshocton | Coshocton | 11,114 | 17 miles | southeast |
| Loudonville | Ashland | 2,778 | 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 Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area
ODNR prints no sunrise table and points hunters to its app, the NOAA calculator and the Naval Observatory; the times for Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife 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 | 7:18 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 | 7:23 a.m. | 7:12 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 7:42 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 7:12 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 7:12 p.m. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 7:03 a.m. | 5:21 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:51 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:21 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:31 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. | 7:31 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:47 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 7:47 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:51 a.m. | 5:12 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 5:42 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. | 7:51 a.m. to 5:12 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.
Field and woods views near Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area
Zeroing a slug gun on the way to Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area
The closest ODNR-listed range to Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area is Woodbury Wildlife Area Shooting Range, about 15 miles off as the crow flies. 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.
Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area: what Buckeye hunters keep asking
Can Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area be hunted all seven days?
No statewide Sunday limit applies.
Is any special pass needed to hunt Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife 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.
How big is the Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area property in acres?
About 161 acres by the main source; other layers are in the acreage table. Different layers give slightly different totals.
Which county deer limit applies to Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area?
Holmes County allows 3. Statewide: 6 deer, 1 antlered; public hunting areas: 2 antlerless at most.
Is any hunting at Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area by permit only?
No; the 2026 lottery list does not include it.
Which zone sets the waterfowl calendar at Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area?
Zone C. Splits: Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026; Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027.
May I camp while hunting Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife 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 Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area?
No bait, and stands must be portable.
Must I wear orange while hunting Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife 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 Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area?
7:01 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. on November 30, 2026.
Which number reaches the Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area managers?
(330) 644-2293 reaches the managers.
Nearest town for supplies near Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area?
Millersburg, 6 miles away in a straight line.
Is every part of Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area open to hunting?
The whole area is open.
Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area trip, last details
Gravel lanes and parking lots can flood or close in wet weather; check access to Lower Killbuck Creek Wildlife Area before the drive.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4 · source 5; seasons from the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked November 6, 2026.
Other photos on this page: born1945 (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).