Northeast Ohio hunting
Hunting Near Akron
City in Summit County, wildlife district 3. Public ground begins 4.3 miles out at Portage Path Conservation Area.
Photo: Reina Findley (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Akron as a hunting base
As the Summit County seat with a population over 25,000, Akron lands in ODNR District 3, which covers the snowbelt woods and wetlands along Lake Erie, the reclaimed strip-mine hills of the east and the Mosquito Creek, Grand River and Berlin Lake country. Akron is home to some 189,664 people (Census, 2024) spread over 61.9 square miles. Count 4 public properties within 10 miles of Akron, led by Portage Path Conservation Area (4.3 miles out); together about 2,472 acres. Deer hunters based in Akron work under the Summit County bag limit of 4 for 2026-27.
Town point, population and land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; wildlife district from the ODNR County Contacts layer; public land rings from ODNR and PAD-US boundaries (GIS acres); deer limit from the 2026-27 deer bag limit map. Checked November 6, 2026.
Bag limit and zone lines around Akron
Bag rules near Akron start with the county class, four-deer, then the Ohio cap of 6 deer and 1 antlered. Hunters near Akron are outside the Disease Surveillance Area and its extra deer rules. Waterfowl: all of Summit County is in Zone B under the new three-zone layout. Spring turkey uses the South zone rows (2026 dates until ODNR publishes 2027), and fall turkey is open in Summit County. Further, river otter trapping is in Otter Zone B. Hunters from out of state buy the $180.96 nonresident license before any hunt near Akron; the resident version is $19.00. Hunter orange becomes mandatory in the youth gun, regular gun, bonus gun and muzzleloader seasons for nearly everyone afield. Every deer goes through game check by noon the following day.
Deer limits from the 2026-27 deer bag limit map and regulations; DSA from OAC 1501:31-19-03; CWD detections from ODNR; waterfowl zones from the 2026-27 regulations; turkey zones from the turkey rules. Checked November 6, 2026.
Public tracts ranked by distance from Akron
Rows are sorted by distance from Akron to the edge of each property, the way places.json measured them. Within 25 miles of Akron: 5 state wildlife areas, 4 state parks, 2 public access areas, 1 controlled hunt area and 1 military property. By acreage Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center leads the list (21,884 acres). Species lists exist for 10 of these tracts: deer appears on 5, waterfowl on 6, pheasant on 3. Restricted in the status column means ODNR limits hunting there in some way; the property page gives the detail. A check-with-ODNR tag means the agency’s own sources disagree about hunting on that property.
| Place and distance | Land type | Acres | Open? | Quarry | Drawings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portage Path Conservation Area · 4.3 mi | Wildlife area | 90 | Open | Ohio seasons | – |
| Portage Lakes State Park · 4.5 mi | State park | 411 | Restricted | deer, turkey + | 1 lottery |
| Wingfoot Lake Wildlife Area · 9.6 mi | Wildlife area | 614 | Restricted | furbearer trapping | 1 lottery |
| Nimisila Reservoir · 9.9 mi check with ODNR | Controlled hunt area | – | – | waterfowl | 5 lotteries |
| Mogadore Reservoir · 11 mi | Public access area | 1,380 | Restricted | waterfowl | 1 lottery |
| Quail Hollow State Park · 13 mi check with ODNR | State park | 701 | Restricted | deer, turkey + | – |
| Tinkers Creek State Park · 15 mi check with ODNR | State park | 397 | Check rules | woodcock, waterfowl + | – |
| West Branch Wildlife Area · 17 mi | Wildlife area | 2,913 | Restricted | dove, pheasant | – |
| Walborn Reservoir Public Access · 19 mi | Public access area | 1,848 | Restricted | Ohio seasons | – |
| West Branch State Park · 20 mi | State park | 5,379 | Restricted | deer, waterfowl + | 4 lotteries |
| Berlin Lake Wildlife Area · 21 mi | Wildlife area | 8,518 | Restricted | deer, squirrel + | 1 lottery |
| Marsh Wetlands State Nature Preserve · 21 mi | Wildlife area | 152 | Restricted | Ohio seasons | – |
| Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center · 24 mi | Military land | 21,884 | – | deer | 2 lotteries |
Distances and acres from places.json and lands.json (ODNR_LANDS and hunting-status layers, PAD-US 4.1, USFS layers; GIS measures, not surveyed acreage); status from the ODNR hunting-status layer; lotteries from the 2026 controlled hunting access lists. Checked November 6, 2026.
Akron nearest properties in detail
Portage Lakes State Park, 4.5 mi
(11/03/26): Nimisila Reservoir is being temporarily lowered while engineers conduct studies to evaluate the long-term safety and stability of the reservoir's dams. Game here: deer, turkey, rabbit, pheasant, woodcock, waterfowl. Some hunting here goes by lottery: 1 drawn hunt for 2026.
Wingfoot Lake Wildlife Area, 9.6 mi
Wingfoot Wildlife Area is a 614-acre state wildlife area located 1 mile west of Suffield. Game here: furbearer trapping. Some hunting here goes by lottery: 1 drawn hunt for 2026.
Nimisila Reservoir, 9.9 mi
Game here: waterfowl. Some hunting here goes by lottery: 5 drawn hunts for 2026.
Descriptions, species, dove fields and access from each property’s ODNR page and the ODNR property details layer, or the agency page linked on the land page (lands.json); lotteries from the 2026 controlled hunting lists. Checked November 6, 2026.
Deer and turkey numbers around Akron
In 2025-26 the game check system logged 1,922 deer from Summit County. Through November 3, 2026, 2026-27 hunters had checked 721 deer in Summit County. Gun hunters checked 268 deer in Summit County during 2025-26, against 1,182 for crossbow hunters. The 2026 spring turkey count for Summit County was 65.
| Season | Deer total | Antlered bucks | Antlerless deer | Archery | Gun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 1,889 | 798 | 1,091 | 1,634 | – |
| 2023-24 | 1,745 | 758 | 987 | 1,500 | – |
| 2024-25 | 1,823 | 712 | 1,111 | 1,527 | 296 |
| 2025-26 | 1,922 | 769 | 1,153 | 1,616 | 306 |
Final weekly deer harvest reports: 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26; 2026-27 to date from the in-season report; spring turkey from the 2026 spring turkey results; 2025-26 by method from the 2025-26 deer summary. County totals, not town figures. Checked November 6, 2026.
Akron hunting seasons, 2026-27
Ohio runs one statewide calendar for most game, so the rows that change around Akron are the waterfowl zone, the turkey zone and the deer bag limit, which is 4 here.
| Species | Hunt | Area | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | |
| Deer | Youth gun | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Deer | Gun | Statewide | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Deer | Bonus gun | Statewide | Dec 19, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 5, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall | Fall counties | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Squirrels | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Cottontail | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Regular | Statewide | Nov 6, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular | Statewide | Nov 6, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Chukar | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Chukar | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Chukar | Regular | Statewide | Nov 6, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Mourning dove | Dove | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Mourning dove | Dove | Statewide | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Early Canada goose | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Veterans and military | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Youth waterfowl | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Ducks (split 1) | Zone B | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Ducks (split 2) | Zone B | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Geese and brant | Geese (split 1) | Zone B | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Geese and brant | Geese (split 2) | Zone B | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Woodcock | Statewide | Oct 16, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Snipe | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 25, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Snipe | Statewide | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Rails | Rail | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Gallinule | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Crow (Fri-Sun) | Statewide | Jun 5, 2026 | Mar 7, 2027 | |
| Groundhog | No closed season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting (no closed season) | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Trapping (no closed season) | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Mink | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Muskrat | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| River otter | Trapping | Otter Zone B | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Beaver | Trapping | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
From the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations and the 2026-27 hunting seasons list (ODNR Division of Wildlife), checked November 6, 2026.
Akron sporting goods and deer care
Inside 25 miles of Akron: 3 deer or meat processors, 15 taxidermists, 80 gear stores.
Listings from Yellow Pages, store locators, Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry and the ODNR office list (services.json); not every listing was checked as open, so call first. Checked November 6, 2026.
ODNR contacts nearest Akron
From Akron, ODNR Wildlife District 3: Northeast Ohio is the closest Division of Wildlife office (5 miles). Closest wildlife area headquarters to the Summit County centre: Berlin Lake Wildlife Area headquarters, phone (330) 654-2392. ODNR assigns Daniel Shroyer as the Summit County wildlife officer.
District offices from the ODNR wildlife contacts page and Districts layer; county wildlife officers from the ODNR County Contacts layer; nearest offices measured from the town point (services.json); ranger district offices from the USFS office layer (places.json). Checked November 6, 2026.
Akron: three ranges within a short drive
Miles are measured from the Census point of Akron.
Wingfoot Wildlife Area Shooting Range, about 8 miles away, is the public range nearest Akron. See it
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 6, 2026.
Ohio hunting events around Akron
About 30 miles out from Akron there are 3 dates ahead.
| On | Listing | Away | Venue and county | Button | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7, 2026 | ODNR Hunter Education Class (Ravenna) · hunter education class, Ravenna | 16 | Ravenna, Portage County | Register | Source |
| Mar 15, 2027 | Sippo Valley Longbeards NWTF Banquet · NWTF banquet, Massillon | 20 | Massillon, Stark County | Tickets | Source |
| Apr 11, 2027 | Wayne County Longbeards NWTF Banquet · NWTF banquet, Kidron | 26 | Kidron, Wayne County | Tickets | Source |
Legal light in Akron
The sun comes up roughly a quarter hour later in Defiance than in Marietta, so use the times worked out for Akron rather than a Columbus table.
| Day | Marker | Sun up | Sun down | Deer hours | Duck hours | Upland hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:16 a.m. | 7:19 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 7:49 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall turkey | 7:21 a.m. | 7:10 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 7:40 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 7:02 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:48 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:20 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:30 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:47 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 7:47 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:51 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 7:51 a.m. to 5:08 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.
Quick answers for the Akron area
Do Akron goose hunters use Zone A, B or C dates?
Zone B dates for the whole county.
Does Summit County get a fall turkey hunt?
It does: October 1 to October 25, 2026, shotguns only per the data.
How do I tell which seasons are live near Akron?
Look at the last column of the season table: it compares each row with the date you open the page. On November 6, 2026 the count was 14.
Where can Akron hunters buy maps or ask ODNR staff?
Start at ODNR Wildlife District 3: Northeast Ohio in Akron, roughly 5 miles from Akron.
When must deer hunters near Akron quit for the evening?
Thirty minutes past sunset, which put the close at 5:48 p.m. on November 6, 2026.
What does the services list show for Akron?
Inside 25 miles of Akron: 80 shops, 3 processors, 15 taxidermists and 2 guides or preserves.
Do any areas near Akron need a lottery permit?
7 of the 13 properties within 25 miles host 2026 lottery hunts; the land table counts them per property.
Did deer numbers in Summit County rise or fall in 2025-26?
They rose, from 1,823 to 1,922.
How many public tracts lie within 25 miles of Akron?
13 of them, the first being Portage Path Conservation Area at 4.3 mi.
How many antlerless deer may I take near Akron?
The county class is four-deer; on public hunting areas a hunter may take at most 2 antlerless deer per license year, with listed exceptions.
May deer be baited on private ground around Akron?
On private land here, yes: baiting deer is legal outside the DSA. On any public hunting area it stays illegal.
Answers from places.json, lands.json, regs.json, harvest.json and services.json, the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations and the 2026-27 hunting seasons list. Checked November 6, 2026.
Next steps out of Akron
Everything above is for Akron; the county page adds every public acre and the full harvest history for Summit County.
Other photos on this page: OhioOakTree (CC BY-SA 4.0); Art Anderson (CC BY-SA 3.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).