Home › Ohio › Public land › Paint Creek State Park
State park in Highland County, Ohio
Paint Creek State Park hunting, rules and county limits
A 5,652-acre Ohio state park in Highland County and Ross County.
Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Paint Creek State Park
Parking, trailheads and gates near Paint Creek State Park
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 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.
Getting to know the Paint Creek State Park ground
At 5,652 acres, Paint Creek State Park is a state park in Highland County and Ross County; the ODNR Division of Parks and Watercraft looks after it. The Division of Wildlife handles it from its Xenia office (District 5, Southwest Ohio). Cover on the property page: fall color. Other uses listed: camping, boating, disc golf, hiking, miniature golf and powerboating; trails are marked as hiking trails, horseback trails and mountain bike. The hunting layer shows the parcels as leased and owned outright by the state. The administrative code lists it under 1501:31-15-04(A)(2), written "Paint creek".
From the ODNR property page:
“Located amid the breathtaking scenery of the Paint Creek Valley in southwest Ohio, the 5,652-acre Paint Creek State Park features a 1,148-acre lake with fine fishing, boating and swimming opportunities.”
Pick your number: 4,667 acres at the low end, 5,652 at the high end, by source.
| Source | Acres |
|---|---|
| Property Details layer | 5,652 |
| Water (Property Details) | 1,190 |
| Hunting-status layer | 4,756 |
| GIS parcel area | 4,667 |
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 Paint Creek State Park
Paint Creek State Park hunting rules, line by line
Restricted on the ODNR layer: read the map for Paint Creek State Park before you set up.
- Leave the corn at home: no bait on public land.
- Two antlerless deer at most from all public hunting areas in a license year.
- Only the zones on the official park hunting map are open.
- A 400-foot no-hunting buffer surrounds park facilities.
- Roads and trails are no-shoot lines.
- Ask the park office about a permanent blind permit.
- Certain hunts are drawn by lottery.
- Waterfowl blinds: lottery, then selection day.
From the agency page, public hunting area rules, OAC 1501:46-15-07; checked November 6, 2026.
Lottery permits for Paint Creek State Park
2 drawings cover Paint Creek State Park this year: 1 trapping and 1 raccoon. Each application costs $3 and is non-refundable; apply at wildohio.gov, in HuntFish OH or by phone. Trapping lotteries are drawn in person on October 3, 2026 at the five district offices.
| No. | Lottery hunt | Game | Window | Packet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2983 | Paint Creek SP raccoon hunt & trap | Raccoon | In person, Oct. 3 | – |
| 2942 | Paint Creek State Park 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.
Hunting calendar matched to Paint Creek State Park
The sources name deer, turkey, rabbit, pheasant, waterfowl, raccoon and trapping on Paint Creek State Park; the table shows the 2026-27 dates for that game. Waterfowl dates here are the Zone C dates. The spring turkey dates are from 2026, since ODNR had not published 2027.
| Quarry | Season | Start | End | 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 |
| Cottontail | Regular | Nov 6, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 4 daily |
| Pheasant | Regular | Nov 6, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | 2 roosters 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 |
| 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 |
| 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.
Extras for hunters at Paint Creek State Park
Paint Creek State Park range
Sight in on site: class D. A class D range has no permit fee.
| Range | Class | Type or contact | Supervised trap/skeet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paint Creek State Park | D | (937) 393-4284 | No |
From the range list; checked November 6, 2026.
County limits that apply on Paint Creek State Park
Deer bag in Highland County: 3, with a single antlered deer allowed across Ohio. Final 2025-26 figure for Highland County: 3,389 deer checked. The 2026-27 count stood at 642 on November 3, 2026.
| County | Limit | DSA | Zone | Spring | Fall turkey | 2025-26 deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Paint Creek State Park hunting, as the agency puts it
Hunting notes from the Paint Creek State Park page:
“The reservoir provides habitat for numerous waterfowl and shorebirds as well as the great blue heron.”
“Other songbirds, raccoons, white-tailed deer and the elusive wild turkey inhabit the park.”
Quoted from the agency page; checked November 6, 2026.
Public hunting land within reach of Paint Creek State Park
Drive 7 miles northwest and the next public tract is Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area. Around it on the map: 4 wildlife areas, 1 state park and 1 state forest. Within 15 miles but not open to hunters: Rocky Fork Gorge – Etawah Woods State Nature Preserve (nature preserve), Miller Nature Sanctuary (nature preserve) and Fort Hill Earthworks – Brokaw Woods Component (nature preserve).
| Place | Type | Acres | County | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paint Creek Lake WA | Wildlife area | 5,090 | Highland | 7 miles | northwest |
| Ross County WA 5 | Wildlife area | 53 | Ross | 8 miles | north |
| Rocky Fork State Park | State park | 1,384 | Highland | 8 miles | southwest |
| Pike State Forest | State forest | 12,531 | Pike | 10 miles | southeast |
| Ross County WA 2 | Wildlife area | 59 | Ross | 11 miles | northeast |
| Fallsville South Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 379 | Highland | 13 miles | west |
Point: ODNR DNR_Lands_Hunting_Status layer, 3 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.
Paint Creek State Park maps, address and officers
For permits and questions try the Wildlife District Five office, 937-372-9261. The Highland County wildlife officer is Matt Roberts, (937) 205-3020. Anonymous tip line: 1-800-POACHER. Printed on the map: distribution or publication, this source must be referenced. Printed on the map: shoot on, from, or across any road, driveway, or trail within any area administered by the division.
- Hunting map PDF · legend: boat ramp, parking, shooting range, latrine, camping, open to hunting, closed to hunting, trail
- Download the Lake Fishing Map
- Paint Creek State Park 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, 3 parcels (polygon centroid of the largest part); checked November 6, 2026.
Supply towns and ODNR help around Paint Creek State Park
From the point, Cynthiana sits 6 miles away. For a full grocery run, Washington Court House (14,446 people) is the pick. For face-to-face help, the New Vienna ODNR office lies 14 miles away as the crow flies.
| Place | County | Population | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cynthiana | Pike | – | 6 miles | south |
| Greenfield | Highland | 4,350 | 7 miles | north |
| Hillsboro | Highland | 6,599 | 13 miles | west |
| New Vienna | Clinton | 1,097 | 18 miles | west |
| Washington Court House | Fayette | 14,446 | 20 miles | north |
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 Paint Creek State Park
ODNR prints no sunrise table and points hunters to its app, the NOAA calculator and the Naval Observatory; the times for Paint Creek State Park 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 | 7:23 a.m. | 7:26 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 7:56 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall turkey | 7:28 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 7:48 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. | 7:28 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 7:06 a.m. | 5:29 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:59 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. | 7:06 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 | 7:49 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 7:49 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:53 a.m. | 5:21 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 5:51 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 7:53 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.
Field and woods views near Paint Creek State Park
Where to shoot arrows at Paint Creek State Park
Shooting range on Paint Creek State Park: Paint Creek State Park Archery Range, ODNR class D.
From ODNR’s public range list and range pages, ranges’ own pages and directory listings, checked November 6, 2026.
Paint Creek State Park: what Buckeye hunters keep asking
Can Paint Creek State Park be hunted all seven days?
No statewide Sunday limit applies.
Is any special pass needed to hunt Paint Creek State Park?
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. Some hunts here are by lottery permit.
What size is Paint Creek State Park on the ODNR books?
About 5,652 acres by the main source; other layers are in the acreage table. Different layers give slightly different totals.
Which county deer limit applies to Paint Creek State Park?
Highland County allows 3. Statewide: 6 deer, 1 antlered; public hunting areas: 2 antlerless at most.
Is any hunting at Paint Creek State Park by permit only?
Yes. The 2026 list has 2 (trapping and raccoon). Applications are $3.
Which zone sets the waterfowl calendar at Paint Creek State Park?
Zone C. Splits: Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026; Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027.
May I camp while hunting Paint Creek State Park?
Yes, at the campground; no hunting near it.
Can I leave a tree stand or use bait on Paint Creek State Park?
No bait, and stands must be portable.
Must I wear orange while hunting Paint Creek State Park 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 Paint Creek State Park?
7:03 a.m. to 5:42 p.m. on November 30, 2026.
Which number reaches the Paint Creek State Park managers?
(937) 393-4284 reaches the managers.
Nearest town for supplies near Paint Creek State Park?
Cynthiana, 6 miles away in a straight line.
Is every part of Paint Creek State Park open to hunting?
Restricted: only mapped zones are open.
Paint Creek State Park trip, last details
Gravel lanes and parking lots can flood or close in wet weather; check access to Paint Creek State Park before the drive.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4 · source 5 · source 6; seasons from the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked November 6, 2026.
Other photos on this page: btrentler (CC BY 2.0); Captainpisslord (CC0 1.0); Frank.Vassen (CC BY 2.0).