Home › Ohio › Public land › Tappan Lake Hunt Area
Hunting area · Ohio public hunting land
Hunting Tappan Lake Hunt Area: what the ODNR record shows
7,721 acres of public public hunting area ground in Harrison County.
Photo: Brian Rawson-Ketchum (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Tappan Lake Hunt Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Tappan Lake Hunt Area
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.0 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
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 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 Tappan Lake Hunt Area is
Expect 7,721 acres of public hunting area here, in Harrison County, with the ODNR Division of Wildlife in charge. In ODNR terms this is District 3 country, with district staff based in Akron. In the parcel data the land is held under a cooperative agreement.
Not every ODNR source agrees: the spread is 7,692 to 7,721 acres.
| Where the figure comes from | Acres |
|---|---|
| Hunting-status layer | 7,721 |
| GIS parcel area | 7,692 |
From the agency page, ODNR hunting-status layer; retrieved 2026-11-05, checked November 6, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Tappan Lake Hunt Area
Tappan Lake Hunt Area: 2026 controlled hunting
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. | Hunt name | Type | Application | Packet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2823 | Tappan Lake MWCD 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 Tappan Lake Hunt Area
Restricted status means only some of Tappan Lake Hunt Area is open; take the map along.
- Keep trucks on the open roads and in marked lots.
- Leave the tent at home: no camping here.
- 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.
- Partner-owned land under a Division agreement.
- A few hunts are permit-only.
From the agency page, public hunting area rules; checked November 6, 2026.
Tappan Lake Hunt Area season dates, game by game
For trapping, here are the 2026-27 windows that apply on Tappan Lake Hunt Area.
| Game | Kind | Begins | Ends | 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 |
Dates and limits from the 2026-27 hunting seasons list and the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations; species from the record (controlled hunt lotteries); checked November 6, 2026.
What else lies near Tappan Lake Hunt Area on the map
First on the neighbour list is Clendening Lake Hunt Area, 6 miles away and south of here. Six neighbours by kind: 3 wildlife areas, 2 public hunting areas and 1 state forest.
| Nearby | Type | Acres | County | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clendening Lake Hunt Area | Hunting area | 6,613 | Harrison | 6 miles | south |
| Keen Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 85 | Harrison | 8 miles | west |
| Harrison State Forest | State forest | 1,345 | Harrison | 9 miles | east |
| Leesville Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 400 | Carroll | 10 miles | north |
| Leesville Lake Hunt Area | Hunting area | 3,732 | Carroll | 10 miles | north |
| Jockey Hollow Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 3,469 | Harrison | 10 miles | southeast |
Point: ODNR DNR_Lands_Hunting_Status layer, 1 parcel (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.
Zone and limit check for Tappan Lake Hunt Area
County limit where it lies: 3 deer (Harrison County). ODNR counted 4,959 deer in Harrison County for 2025-26, 2,891 of them antlerless. Early 2026-27 tally (to November 3, 2026): 1,017 deer.
| County | Deer bag | DSA | Duck zone | Turkey | Fall | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison County | 3 deer | No | C | South | Open | 4,959 |
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.
Towns and outfitters a short drive from Tappan Lake Hunt Area
Fuel, ice and groceries: Bowerston is nearest, 6 miles away. A bigger stop is Cadiz, population 2,950. The closest ODNR desk: Lore City, 21 miles in a straight line.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowerston | Harrison | 348 | 6 miles | north |
| Tippecanoe | Harrison | – | 7 miles | southwest |
| Jewett | Harrison | 532 | 10 miles | east |
| Cadiz | Harrison | 2,950 | 11 miles | southeast |
| Holloway | Belmont | 324 | 12 miles | south |
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 Tappan Lake Hunt 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 Tappan Lake Hunt Area rather than a Columbus table.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Waterfowl, squirrel | Rabbit, pheasant, dove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:15 a.m. | 7:17 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 7:47 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall turkey | 7:20 a.m. | 7:09 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 7:39 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 7:09 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 7:09 p.m. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 6:59 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:48 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:27 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 7:27 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:38 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | 7:38 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:44 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 7:44 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:47 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 7:47 a.m. to 5:09 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 Tappan Lake Hunt Area
The Wildlife District Three office is at 912 Portage Lakes Dr, Akron, OH 44319 (330-644-2293). Report problems to Nick Turner, the county wildlife officer, at (330) 245-3049. Report poaching at 1-800-762-2437. Map text: Map is for informational purposes only. Map text: Property lines have not been field verified.
- Area map PDF · legend: trail, 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 (polygon centroid of the largest part); checked November 6, 2026.
Pictures from Tappan Lake Hunt Area country and its game
Tappan Lake Hunt Area: the nearest public range, then clubs
Tappan Lake Hunt Area hunters reach Harrison State Forest Shooting Range, the nearest ODNR-listed range, after about 10 miles. 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.
Tappan Lake Hunt Area questions, from permits to parking
Does ODNR draw permits for Tappan Lake Hunt Area?
Yes, 1 hunt in 2026: trapping. The fee is $3 a hunt.
Which Ohio waterfowl zone covers Tappan Lake Hunt Area?
Waterfowl Zone C: ducks Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026; Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027.
Where can hunters stay overnight at Tappan Lake Hunt Area?
Not allowed; only three wildlife areas have camping.
What are the stand and baiting rules on Tappan Lake Hunt Area?
Bait is banned on public land; use portable stands only.
Orange clothing rules at Tappan Lake Hunt 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 Tappan Lake Hunt Area?
Legal deer light on November 30, 2026: 6:57 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Who should I phone about hunting Tappan Lake Hunt Area?
Phone 330-644-2293.
How far is Tappan Lake Hunt Area from the closest town?
Bowerston (6 miles).
Are parts of Tappan Lake Hunt Area closed to hunters?
It is restricted; check the map.
What is the deadline to report a deer from Tappan Lake Hunt Area?
By noon the following day, through HuntFish OH, wildohio.gov or by phone.
Can I hunt Tappan Lake Hunt Area on a Sunday in Ohio?
Ohio law has no Sunday closure.
Do I need more than an Ohio hunting license for Tappan Lake Hunt 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 Tappan Lake Hunt Area on the ODNR books?
It takes in 7,721 acres of ground.
Tappan Lake Hunt Area: the night-before checklist
Saw a violation on Tappan Lake Hunt Area? Call 1-800-POACHER; tips can stay anonymous.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3; seasons from the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Checked November 6, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0); Juliana Chong (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).