Hamilton County, District 5
Hunting Near Cincinnati
City of Hamilton County, Southwest Ohio. Expect a 16-mile trip to the first public hunting ground, Great Miami River Wildlife Area.
Photo: Andrew Cannizzaro (CC BY 2.0)
The Cincinnati hunting picture
Courthouse town for Hamilton County and one of the larger Ohio cities, Cincinnati falls under the Southwest Ohio district (District 5) of the Division of Wildlife. Cincinnati counted 314,915 residents in the 2024 Census population estimates. Cincinnati is one of 37 Ohio towns here with no public hunting ground inside 10 miles, so plan on driving to Great Miami River Wildlife Area, 16 miles out. Hamilton County is a 4-deer county for 2026-27, so that is the most deer one hunter may tag in the county this season.
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.
Hamilton County rules that reach Cincinnati
Hamilton County falls in the four-deer class this season, and no hunter may pass 6 deer statewide. The DSA does not reach Hamilton County; deer baiting on private land there follows the statewide rule. The Zone C duck and goose calendar covers Hamilton County. Spring gobblers near Cincinnati follow the South zone; fall birds are legal in the county. Other county rules: river otter trapping is in Otter Zone B. License money first: $19.00 for residents, $180.96 for visitors, and a separate deer or turkey permit on top. Pack an orange vest or coat for the gun weeks; Ohio sets no square-inch figure, just the garment. The game check deadline for deer is noon the next 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.
Huntable public land around Cincinnati
Boundary distances from Cincinnati are GIS straight lines; check the ODNR area map before you drive. Counting everything to 25 miles from Cincinnati: 3 state wildlife areas and 2 state parks. Rows marked centre lie beyond the 25-mile ring and are measured to the mapped middle of the property. By acreage East Fork State Park leads the list (4,870 acres). Of the 4 tracts whose ODNR page names its game, 3 mention deer, 2 turkey and 3 waterfowl. Read the status column as ODNR marks the parcels: open, or restricted to certain methods, zones or dates.
| Hunting ground, how far | Kind | Size (ac) | Status | Hunted for | Lottery hunts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Miami River Wildlife Area · 16 mi | Wildlife area | 18 | Open | Ohio seasons | – |
| East Fork Wildlife Area · 19 mi | Wildlife area | 2,705 | Open | deer, squirrel + | 2 lotteries |
| East Fork State Park · 20 mi | State park | 4,870 | Restricted | deer, turkey + | 1 lottery |
| Stonelick State Park · 22 mi | State park | 1,058 | Restricted | deer, turkey + | – |
| Pater Wildlife Area · 23 mi | Wildlife area | 192 | Open | pheasant, dove | 1 lottery |
| Della Gates & Edward Charles Bott Wildlife Area · 29 mi to centre | Wildlife area | 168 | Open | deer, squirrel + | – |
| Rush Run Wildlife Area · 32 mi to centre | Wildlife area | 1,165 | Open | furbearer trapping, dove + | 2 lotteries |
| Grant Lake Wildlife Area · 32 mi to centre | Wildlife area | 412 | Restricted | Ohio seasons | – |
| Indian Creek Wildlife Area · 33 mi to centre | Wildlife area | 1,695 | Open | furbearer trapping, dove + | 2 lotteries |
| Hueston Woods State Park · 33 mi to centre | State park | 2,936 | Restricted | turkey, furbearer trapping + | 4 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.
Three properties close to Cincinnati
Great Miami River Wildlife Area, 16 mi
Great Miami River Wildlife Area is a 18-acre state wildlife area located 10 miles west of Cincinnati.
East Fork Wildlife Area, 19 mi
East Fork Wildlife Area is located in southwestern Ohio, on the southeast edge of Williamsburg. ODNR lists: deer, squirrel, rabbit, quail, waterfowl, raccoon. ODNR runs 2 lottery hunts here in 2026. Dove hunters get 3 planted fields here. Mobility-impaired vehicle access is offered.
East Fork State Park, 20 mi
Located in southwest Ohio, the 7,480-acre (4,870-acre of land and 2,160-acre of water) East Fork State Park is one of the largest state parks in Ohio. ODNR lists: deer, turkey, waterfowl, raccoon, fox, furbearer trapping. ODNR runs 1 lottery hunt here in 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.
Checked deer in Hamilton County, home county of Cincinnati
The 2025-26 final report credits Hamilton County with 1,058 deer; 2022-23 came in at 1,193. This season’s count for Hamilton County stood at 290 through November 3, 2026. The 2025-26 deer summary splits Hamilton County as 147 gun, 589 crossbow and 258 longbow deer. Spring turkey hunters checked 73 birds in Hamilton County in 2026.
| Season | Deer checked | Antlered | Antlerless | Archery | Gun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 1,193 | 403 | 790 | 1,041 | – |
| 2023-24 | 1,168 | 464 | 704 | 1,004 | – |
| 2024-25 | 1,229 | 507 | 722 | 1,033 | 196 |
| 2025-26 | 1,058 | 435 | 623 | 873 | 185 |
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.
Calendar of 2026-27 seasons reaching Cincinnati
For Cincinnati the table lists 51 seasons for 2026-27: deer, turkey, small game, upland birds, waterfowl, doves, woodcock and furbearers.
| Game | Season | Applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 C | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Ducks (split 2) | Zone C | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Geese and brant | Geese (split 1) | Zone C | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Geese and brant | Geese (split 2) | Zone C | 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.
Cincinnati gun shops, butchers and taxidermy
Gear shopping is covered from Cincinnati: 61 stores and 5 taxidermists sit within 25 miles.
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 offices and officers for Cincinnati
The ODNR office nearest Cincinnati is ODNR Rush Run Wildlife Area headquarters, about 31 miles away. Wildlife area staff for this part of Southwest Ohio work out of Rush Run Wildlife Area headquarters in Somerville. VACANT is the wildlife officer ODNR lists for Hamilton County.
Xenia district office
1076 Old Springfield Pike
Xenia 45385
District manager: Todd Haines
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.
Cincinnati hunters: clubs and public ranges close by
Nearest to Cincinnati is Cincinnati Revolver Club (3 miles), with two more after it.
With the shooting range permit for adults ($5.00 a day), Cincinnati shooters can use Rush Run Wildlife Area Shooting Range, 32 miles away. Hours
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 6, 2026.
Dates on the hunting calendar near Cincinnati
Kinds within 30 miles: NWTF banquet. Count: 1 date ahead; next is Queen City Strutters NWTF Banquet.
| Scheduled | What | Miles off | Where held | Link | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 3, 2027 | Queen City Strutters NWTF Banquet · NWTF banquet, Anderson | 4 | Anderson, Hamilton County | Tickets | Source |
Shooting hours for Cincinnati
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 Cincinnati.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Waterfowl, squirrel | Rabbit, pheasant, dove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:28 a.m. | 7:31 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 8:01 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. | 7:28 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall turkey | 7:33 a.m. | 7:23 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 7:53 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. | 7:33 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 7:10 a.m. | 5:33 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 6:03 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:37 a.m. | 5:17 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 5:47 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 7:37 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:48 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 7:48 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:53 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 5:48 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. | 7:53 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:57 a.m. | 5:26 p.m. | 7:27 a.m. to 5:56 p.m. | 7:27 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. | 7:57 a.m. to 5:26 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.
Cincinnati hunting FAQ
How many public hunting acres surround Cincinnati?
None inside 10 miles; 10,302 GIS acres lie within 25, beginning at Great Miami River Wildlife Area.
Does ODNR publish a deer count for Cincinnati itself?
Not for towns. The county figure is the closest: 1,058 deer in Hamilton County for 2025-26.
Does the Cincinnati area fall inside Ohio’s CWD surveillance zone?
It does not. Hamilton County lies wholly outside Disease Surveillance Area 2021-01.
What deer limit applies to hunters from Cincinnati?
4 deer in Hamilton County, within the Ohio total of 6 deer and 1 antlered.
Are fall turkeys legal game near Cincinnati?
Yes, Hamilton County made the list of 70 fall counties; birds were legal October 1 to October 25, 2026.
Which waterfowl calendar do Cincinnati duck hunters follow?
Zone C. One calendar covers the whole county.
Which wildlife officer patrols Hamilton County?
ODNR lists VACANT for Hamilton County, phone (513) 446-7028.
Which Hamilton County seasons are running for Cincinnati hunters now?
Deer, Squirrels, Cottontail, Pheasant and Chukar had open rows in Hamilton County on November 6, 2026. After that: Red fox (Hunting) opens November 10.
How many gun and outdoor shops are around Cincinnati?
61 gun, archery or outdoor listings inside 25 miles.
Is legal light at Cincinnati the same as in Columbus?
Not to the minute. The times on this page are worked out for the Cincinnati town point with the NOAA solar formula; on November 6, 2026 sunrise there was 7:10 a.m.
What lottery hunts are within 25 miles of Cincinnati?
4 drawn hunts on 3 properties within 25 miles. Deer taken on them do not count toward the county limit.
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.
Beyond Cincinnati
Plan the Cincinnati trip: county limit first, then the season, then the land page for access rules.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Scott Bauer, USDA NRCS (Public domain); James St. John (CC BY 2.0).