88 Counties · 401 Public Areas · 197 Towns · 234 RangesOhio hunting records
States
AlabamaArizonaArkansasColoradoGeorgiaIdahoKentuckyLouisianaMichiganMinnesotaMissouriNew YorkNorth CarolinaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaTennesseeTexasWisconsin
OhioState Hunting Spots

Home › Ohio › Public land › Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area

Buckeye state wildlife area with open hunting

Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area for Buckeye State hunters

One state wildlife area of 1,226 acres in Athens County, open to licensed hunters.

Get driving directionsAll Athens County spots

Pictured is Lake Hope State Park, in the same country as Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area.

Photo: pilssken (CC0 1.0)

Getting to Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area

Get driving directionsParking on Google MapsTrailheads on Google Maps

Parking, trailheads and gates near Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area

  • Parking areaParking · 1.9 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.2 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.

Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area by the numbers ODNR keeps

Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area covers 1,226 acres in Athens County, a state wildlife area run by the ODNR Division of Wildlife. Questions go to District 4 in Athens, the district that covers it. Parcels are protected by a conservation easement. You will find it as "Taylor ridge" in OAC 1501:31-15-04(A)(1).

Sources disagree on size, from 1,207 to 1,226 acres; this page uses 1,226 (ODNR lands layer SUM_CALC_ACRES).

RecordAcres
Hunting-status layer1,226
GIS parcel area1,207

From the agency page, ODNR hunting-status layer, OAC; retrieved 2026-11-05, checked November 6, 2026.

Nearby

Places to hunt and shoot around Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area

Wallace H. O’Dowd Wildlife Area

Public land · 3 mi from Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area

Directions
Athens Ranger District, Wayne National Forest

Public land · 5 mi from Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area

Directions
Burr Oak State Park

Public land · 6 mi from Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area

Directions
Wolf Creek Wildlife Area

Public land · 11 mi from Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area

Directions
Strouds Run State Park

Public land · 11 mi from Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area

Directions
Imhoff Preserve Wildlife Area

Public land · 11 mi from Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area

Directions

Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area: rules that apply on the ground

No restricted parcels: Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area is open land in the status layer.

  • Drive and park only on designated roads and lots.
  • No camping; only three wildlife areas allow it.
  • From May 2 to August 31 the night closure runs 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  • Target practice only at a designated Division of Wildlife range.
  • No salt, grain or feed may be put out.
  • Portable stands only; nothing inserted into a tree.
  • Count your does: two antlerless deer from public areas per year.

From the agency page, public hunting area rules; checked November 6, 2026.

When the Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area game is in season

No game is named in the sources for Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area; statewide dates hold. Spring gobbler dates listed are the 2026 ones.

GameSeasonOpensClosesLimit
DeerArcherySep 26, 2026Feb 7, 2027County limit
DeerYouth gunNov 21, 2026Nov 22, 2026County limit
DeerGunNov 30, 2026Dec 6, 2026County limit
DeerBonus gunDec 19, 2026Dec 20, 2026County limit
DeerMuzzleloaderJan 2, 2027Jan 5, 2027County limit
Wild turkeyFallOct 1, 2026Oct 25, 20261 turkey
SquirrelsRegularSep 1, 2026Jan 31, 20276 daily
CottontailRegularNov 6, 2026Feb 28, 20274 daily
PheasantRegularNov 6, 2026Jan 10, 20272 roosters daily
CottontailYouth small game weekendOct 24, 2026Oct 25, 20264 daily
CottontailYouth small game weekendOct 31, 2026Nov 1, 20264 daily
PheasantYouth small game weekendOct 24, 2026Oct 25, 20262 roosters daily
PheasantYouth small game weekendOct 31, 2026Nov 1, 20262 roosters daily
RaccoonHuntingNov 10, 2026Jan 31, 2027No limit
RaccoonTrappingNov 10, 2026Jan 31, 2027No limit

Dates and limits from the 2026-27 hunting seasons list and the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations; species from the record (No species named by ODNR for this area); checked November 6, 2026.

County rules around Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area

Athens County allows 2 deer per hunter in 2026-27. The 2025-26 deer total for Athens County was 917, by ODNR's final report. This season to November 3, 2026, 308 deer have been checked there.

CountyDeer limitCWDZoneSpringFallHarvest
Athens County2 deerNoCSouthOpen917

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.

Mapped hunting places beside Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area

Wallace H. O'Dowd Wildlife Area lies 3 miles northwest of the Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area point, the nearest open land. Nearby public places: 2 wildlife areas, 2 state parks and 2 public hunting areas. Neighbours closed to hunting: Riddle State Nature Preserve (nature preserve).

Public landKindAcresCountyDistanceDirection
Wallace H. O'Dowd WAWildlife area6,696Hocking3 milesnorthwest
Burr Oak State ParkState park2,593Morgan6 milesnortheast
Poston Plant Lands Hunting AreaHunting area1,175Athens10 milessouthwest
Wolf Creek Wildlife AreaWildlife area3,978Morgan11 milesnortheast
Strouds Run State ParkState park2,606Athens11 milessoutheast
Imhoff Preserve Wildlife AreaHunting area106Perry11 milesnorthwest

Point: ODNR DNR_Lands_Hunting_Status layer, 1 parcel (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Closed places from the lands.json closed list. Checked November 6, 2026. Statewide public land map.

Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area: who to call and which map to carry

District help: Wildlife District Four, 360 E State St, Athens, OH 45701, 740-589-9930. Athens County is patrolled by officer Ryan Donnelly ((740) 541-8266). Poaching tips go to 1-800-POACHER, any hour.

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); checked November 6, 2026.

Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area: towns, shops and the nearest ODNR office

Measured straight, Trimble is 2 miles from Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area. Athens, 12 miles out, is larger: 24,824 people in 2024. Allow for 11 miles of straight-line distance to the Malta ODNR office.

TownCounty2024 populationAwayWhich way
TrimbleAthens3292 mileseast
Murray CityHocking3352 mileswest
NelsonvilleAthens4,5556 milessouthwest
HaydenvilleHocking–11 mileswest
AthensAthens24,82412 milessouth
ODNR Wolf Creek Wildlife Area headquarters

ODNR office · Malta, Morgan County · about 11 mi away

(740) 962-2048 Map the trip See their page
D C Gunworks

sporting goods · Nelsonville, Athens County · about 6 mi away

(740) 753-9911 Map the trip
Pro Shot Shooting System & Arq

sporting goods · Athens, Athens County · about 12 mi away

(740) 541-3481 Map the trip See their page
Southern Valley Taxidermy

taxidermy · Logan, Hocking County · about 13 mi away

(740) 385-3706 Map the trip
New Creations Taxidermy & Deer Processing

deer processing · Logan, Hocking County · about 16 mi away

(740) 385-3337 Map the trip See their page
New Creations Taxidermy & Deer Processing

taxidermy · Logan, Hocking County · about 16 mi away

(740) 385-3337 Map the trip See their page

Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); ODNR offices and businesses from services.json listings; straight-line miles. Checked November 6, 2026.

First and last legal minutes across Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area seasons

Around Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area, deer light opens 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 30 minutes after sunset; rabbit and pheasant hunters keep strict sunrise to sunset.

DayMarkerSun upSun downDeer hoursDuck hoursUpland hours
Sep 26, 2026Archery deer opens7:18 a.m.7:21 p.m.6:48 a.m. to 7:51 p.m.6:48 a.m. to 7:21 p.m.7:18 a.m. to 7:21 p.m.
Oct 1, 2026Fall turkey7:23 a.m.7:13 p.m.6:53 a.m. to 7:43 p.m.6:53 a.m. to 7:13 p.m.7:23 a.m. to 7:13 p.m.
Nov 6, 2026Rabbit and pheasant7:01 a.m.5:23 p.m.6:31 a.m. to 5:53 p.m.6:31 a.m. to 5:23 p.m.7:01 a.m. to 5:23 p.m.
Nov 30, 2026Deer gun week7:28 a.m.5:06 p.m.6:58 a.m. to 5:36 p.m.6:58 a.m. to 5:06 p.m.7:28 a.m. to 5:06 p.m.
Dec 12, 2026Second duck split7:39 a.m.5:05 p.m.7:09 a.m. to 5:35 p.m.7:09 a.m. to 5:05 p.m.7:39 a.m. to 5:05 p.m.
Dec 21, 2026Shortest day7:45 a.m.5:08 p.m.7:15 a.m. to 5:38 p.m.7:15 a.m. to 5:08 p.m.7:45 a.m. to 5:08 p.m.
Jan 2, 2027Muzzleloader7:49 a.m.5:15 p.m.7:19 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.7:19 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.7:49 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

Fall turkey hours end at sunset.

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.

Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area district scenes and wildlife photos

Wild turkey in the grass
Wild turkey in the grass (file photo)
Eastern gray squirrel
Eastern gray squirrel (file photo)
Eastern wild turkey gobbler
Eastern wild turkey gobbler (file photo)

Public range and clubs on the road to Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area

Morgan County holds the ODNR-listed range nearest Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area: Wolf Creek Wildlife Area Shooting Range (12 miles). After it come club ranges that sit inside 30 miles.

Wolf Creek Wildlife Area
Shooting Range
Division of Wildlife range

Malta, Morgan County · 12 mi

Handles:

rifle, handgun, shotgun,
trap, archery, class
B, C, D

Range permit 18+ · ohiodnr.gov, checked Nov 5, 2026

Hocking College Shooting Range
indoor range

Nelsonville, Athens County · 7 mi

Access not stated · gunranges.org, checked Nov 5, 2026

Federal Valley Pheasant Farm
trap and skeet club

Amesville, Athens County · 9 mi

Handles: shotgun

Access not stated · boisegunclub.com, checked Nov 5, 2026

From ODNR’s public range list and range pages, ranges’ own pages and directory listings, checked November 6, 2026.

Closest wildlife areas to Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area, ranked by miles

Wildlife area

Wallace H. O'Dowd WA

6,696 acres, 3 mi

Wildlife area

Wolf Creek Wildlife Area

3,978 acres, 11 mi

Wildlife area

Waterloo Wildlife Area

2,659 acres, 13 mi

Wildlife area

Fox Lake Wildlife Area

421 acres, 14 mi

Wildlife areas Pheasant releases State forests

Things people ask before driving to Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area

Are there controlled hunts on Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area?

No drawn hunts here in 2026.

How many deer may one hunter kill around Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area?

2, as set for Athens County. Only one buck per season in Ohio, and two antlerless deer at most from public land.

Can I camp at Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area?

No; book a room in a nearby town.

What are this season's duck dates for Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area?

It is in Zone C; duck splits run Oct 17 to Oct 25, 2026; Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027.

Do I need hunter orange on Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area during gun week?

Ohio requires a visible orange garment during deer gun seasons; camo orange counts.

May I bait deer on Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area?

Portable stands yes, bait no.

Which phone line answers questions on Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area?

The Wildlife District Four office, 740-589-9930.

Deer hours at Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area on the first gun day?

Thirty minutes before sunrise to thirty after sunset; on November 30, 2026 that is 6:58 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. here (NOAA solar formula).

Is Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area fully open to hunters in the ODNR layer?

All parcels are open in the status layer.

Where do hunters buy supplies near Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area?

About 2 miles from Trimble.

Are Sundays open for hunting on Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area?

Ohio has no statewide Sunday restriction, so Sundays follow the regular seasons unless a lottery permit sets the day.

Game check rules after a kill on Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area?

Check it in by noon the next day; no check station visit is needed.

Acreage check: how large is Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area?

1,226 acres, according to the ODNR lands layer SUM_CALC_ACRES.

Last checks before loading up for Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area

Rules, closures and lottery details for Taylor Ridge Wildlife Area can change mid-season; posted signs and the ODNR page have the last word.

Ohio hunting land map All public land Athens County Wildlife areas

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: James St. John (CC BY 2.0); DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0).