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Wildlife area · Southwest Ohio woods and fields
Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area hunting guide for 2026-27
5,090 acres on record as a state wildlife area in Highland County and Ross County.
Photo: Pam Broviak (CC0 1.0)
Getting to Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area
- Parking areaParking · 3.7 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 Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area allows and what it bans
The hunting-status layer shows Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area as open throughout.
- Motor vehicles: designated roads and parking only.
- No campsites on this property.
- After 8 p.m. in season only hunters, trappers and anglers may be there.
- Firearms only while hunting or trapping, or on a designated range.
- No bait, salt or feed for deer or birds.
- Climbers and ladders are fine if nothing pierces the tree.
- Antlerless cap: two per license year across public hunting areas.
From the agency page, public hunting area rules; checked November 6, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area
Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area at a glance for hunters
Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area: 5,090 acres in Highland County and Ross County, classed as a state wildlife area and managed by the ODNR Division of Wildlife. By the ODNR description it lies roughly 15 miles east of Hillsboro. Southwest Ohio is its home district; the district office sits in Xenia. ODNR tags the land with lake, woods, crops, streams, meadow and brush. Besides hunting, people come for boating, hiking, birding and fishing. Ownership on file: leased and owned outright by the state. Legal footing: OAC 1501:31-15-04(A)(1) ("Paint creek lake").
The agency describes it this way:
“Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area is located in southwest Ohio, at the south edge of Greenfield on the Paint Creek fork and the southeast edge of Centerfield on the Rattlesnake fork of Paint Creek Lake.”
Mapping methods differ, so size ranges from 5,090 to 5,717 acres.
| Layer or document | Acres |
|---|---|
| ODNR property page | 5,090 |
| Property Details layer | 5,218 |
| Water (Property Details) | 328 |
| Hunting-status layer | 5,717 |
| GIS parcel area | 5,614 |
From the ODNR property page, ODNR hunting-status layer, OAC; retrieved 2026-11-05, checked November 6, 2026.
2026-27 season dates for the game on Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area
Game on record for Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area: deer, squirrel, rabbit, pheasant, quail, waterfowl and raccoon. The waterfowl zone is Zone C.
| Species | Season | Opening | Closing | Bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Squirrels | Regular | Sep 1, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 6 daily |
| Cottontail | Regular | Nov 6, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 4 daily |
| Pheasant | Regular | Nov 6, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | 2 roosters daily |
| Chukar | Regular | Nov 6, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | 4 daily |
| Bobwhite quail | Regular | Nov 6, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 2 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 |
| Pheasant | Youth small game weekend | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 2 roosters daily |
| Pheasant | Youth small game weekend | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 2 roosters daily |
| Chukar | Youth small game weekend | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 4 daily |
| Chukar | Youth small game weekend | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 4 daily |
| Bobwhite quail | Youth small game weekend | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 2 daily |
| Bobwhite quail | Youth small game weekend | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 2 daily |
| Groundhog | No closed season | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | No limit |
| 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 |
| Mourning dove | Dove | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | 15 daily |
| Mourning dove | Dove | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | 15 daily |
| 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.
Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area counties, limits and harvest
Hunters on this ground follow the Highland County limit of 3 deer. Highland County hunters checked 3,389 deer in 2025-26 (1,227 antlered). Running total to November 3, 2026: 642.
| County | Deer | Surveillance | Ducks | Spring zone | Fall season | Deer checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highland County | 3 deer | No | C | South | Open | 3,389 |
| Ross County | 3 deer | No | C | South | Open | 3,402 |
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.
Fields, dogs and ranges on Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area
Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area dove fields, field by field
Dove hunters get 5 managed fields (53 acres); crops include wheat, millet and sunflower. Every field is first come, first served.
| Field | Acres | Status | Planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-34 | 11 | Non-Controlled | sunflower, wheat, millet |
| A-26 | 8.5 | Non-Controlled | sunflower, wheat, millet |
| A-48 | 8.8 | Non-Controlled | sunflower, wheat, millet |
| A-40 | 8.8 | Non-Controlled | wheat, millet |
| A-20 | 16 | Non-Controlled | sunflower, wheat, millet |
From the ODNR dove fields layer; checked November 6, 2026.
Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area and the open ground around it
When parking fills at Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area, Paint Creek State Park waits 7 miles to the southeast. Close by are 3 wildlife areas, 2 state parks and 1 public access area. No hunting at Miller Nature Sanctuary (nature preserve), Rocky Fork Gorge – Etawah Woods State Nature Preserve (nature preserve) and Fort Hill Earthworks – Brokaw Woods Component (nature preserve).
| Area | Kind | Acres | County | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paint Creek State Park | State park | 5,652 | Highland | 7 miles | southeast |
| Ross County WA 5 | Wildlife area | 53 | Ross | 8 miles | northeast |
| Fallsville South Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 379 | Highland | 8 miles | southwest |
| Rocky Fork State Park | State park | 1,384 | Highland | 8 miles | south |
| Fallsville Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 1,785 | Highland | 9 miles | west |
| Paint Creek Fishing Access | Access area | 22 | Fayette | 11 miles | north |
Point: ODNR DNR_Lands_Hunting_Status layer, 3 parcels (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside) of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Closed places from the lands.json closed list. Checked November 6, 2026. Statewide public land map.
What the managers say about Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area
In the agency's own words about Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area:
“Bobwhite quail, ring-necked pheasant, cottontail rabbit, white-tailed deer, fox and gray squirrels, and groundhogs are the major game species.”
“Waterfowl are most common during migration and good numbers of wood duck’s nest and rear their broods on this area each spring and summer.”
Quoted from the agency page; checked November 6, 2026.
Where to fuel up and grab ice near Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area
The handiest town is Greenfield, 6 miles off. Of the five, Washington Court House is the biggest with 14,446 residents (2024 estimate). ODNR Fallsville Wildlife Area headquarters is the nearest Division office, roughly 8 miles away.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenfield | Highland | 4,350 | 6 miles | northeast |
| Hillsboro | Highland | 6,599 | 9 miles | southwest |
| New Vienna | Clinton | 1,097 | 11 miles | west |
| Cynthiana | Pike | – | 11 miles | southeast |
| Washington Court House | Fayette | 14,446 | 16 miles | north |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); ODNR offices and businesses from services.json listings; straight-line miles. Checked November 6, 2026.
Contact and map files for Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area
Wildlife District Five: 1076 Old Springfield Pike, Xenia, OH 45385, tel. 937-372-9261. Wildlife officer for Highland County: Matt Roberts ((937) 205-3020). See a violation? 1-800-POACHER takes calls day and night. From the map sheet: is available on the reservoir and the streams coming into the reservoir. Deer hunting is good throughout the area. From the map sheet: Trapping is most productive around pond areas and along the streams running into the reservoir.
- Area map PDF · legend: boat launch, parking, latrine, camping, pheasant, waterfowl hunting, grassland, woodland
- Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area Map [pdf]
- Driving directions
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, 3 parcels (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside) of the largest part); checked November 6, 2026.
What the cover looks like around Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area
Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area: shooting minutes for each Ohio opener
Three sets of hours apply in Ohio: deer, then waterfowl, squirrel and turkey, then the sunrise-to-sunset upland and dove rule. The table shows all three for Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area.
| Day | Moment | First sun | Last sun | Deer light | Marsh light | Field light |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:24 a.m. | 7:26 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 7:56 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall turkey | 7:29 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 7:48 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. | 7:29 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 7:07 a.m. | 5:29 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 5:59 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:33 a.m. | 5:12 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 5:42 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. | 7:33 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:44 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 7:44 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:50 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 5:44 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | 7:50 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:54 a.m. | 5:21 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 5:51 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 7:54 a.m. to 5:21 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.
Public range and clubs on the road to Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area
Paint Creek State Park Archery Range is 8 miles from Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area and is the nearest public range on ODNR’s list. The remaining cards are clubs within a 30-mile radius.
From ODNR’s public range list and range pages, ranges’ own pages and directory listings, checked November 6, 2026.
Straight answers on Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area for this season
Does ODNR plant for doves on Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area?
5: A-34, A-26 and A-48.
Which town do I aim for when driving to Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area?
Greenfield is the nearest, 6 miles off.
When must I check game taken on Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area?
Game check closes at noon the next day; use the app, the website or the phone line.
Can I hunt anywhere on Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area, or only parts?
Yes, open land.
What paperwork must I carry on Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area?
No entry pass: the Ohio hunting license and the species permit are enough, such as an either-sex deer permit ($31.20 resident).
Is Sunday hunting legal on Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area?
Yes, Sundays are open in season.
Deer bag limit for Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area?
Up to 3, by the county rule. Statewide, only one antlered deer, and no more than two antlerless deer may come from public hunting areas.
Acreage check: how large is Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area?
5,090 acres is the headline figure used on this page. Other measures appear in the table.
When do the duck splits open around Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area?
Use Zone C: Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026; Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027.
Which lottery hunts include Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area?
No 2026 lottery hunts are listed for it; hunt it during the regular seasons.
Are tree stands and bait allowed at Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area?
Portable stands are fine; baiting deer is not.
Overnight stays at Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area?
No camping here; stay in a nearby town.
Shooting hours for deer on Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area this season?
For the gun opener: 7:03 a.m. until 5:42 p.m.
Sign-off notes for Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area hunters
Confirm the county limit, the zone and the open dates for Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area before you load the truck.
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: USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); ilouque (CC BY 2.0); born1945 (CC BY 2.0).