Southwest Ohio hunting
Hunting Near Kettering
City in Montgomery County, wildlife district 5. Public ground begins 5.9 miles out at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Photo: Logan Rickert (CC BY 2.0)
Kettering as a hunting base
Kettering is one of the Ohio cities of 25,000 or more people, inside Montgomery County and ODNR District 5. Population, per the 2024 Census estimate: 57,028 for Kettering. Count 2 public properties within 10 miles of Kettering, led by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (5.9 miles out); together about 371 acres. Deer hunters based in Kettering work under the Montgomery County bag limit of 3 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 Kettering
Bag rules near Kettering start with the county class, three-deer, then the Ohio cap of 6 deer and 1 antlered. Hunters near Kettering are outside the Disease Surveillance Area and its extra deer rules. Waterfowl: all of Montgomery County is in Zone C under the new three-zone layout. Spring turkey uses the South zone rows (2026 dates until ODNR publishes 2027), and fall turkey is closed in Montgomery County. Further, bobwhite quail are open on private land and river otter trapping is in Otter Zone B. Hunters from out of state buy the $180.96 nonresident license before any hunt near Kettering; 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 Kettering
Rows are sorted by distance from Kettering to the edge of each property, the way places.json measured them. Within 25 miles of Kettering: 5 state wildlife areas, 4 state parks and 1 military property. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is the largest block within 25 miles of Kettering, roughly 5,169 acres. Species lists exist for 7 of these tracts: deer appears on 5, waterfowl on 5, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wright-Patterson Air Force Base · 5.9 mi check with ODNR | Military land | 5,169 | – | Ohio seasons | – |
| Beaver Creek Wildlife Area · 7.8 mi | Wildlife area | 373 | Restricted | furbearer trapping | 1 lottery |
| Spring Valley Wildlife Area · 10 mi | Wildlife area | 842 | Open | deer, squirrel + | 3 lotteries |
| Stillwater Wildlife Area · 10 mi | Wildlife area | 5 | Open | Ohio seasons | – |
| Caesar Creek Wildlife Area · 11 mi | Wildlife area | 3,100 | Open | deer, turkey + | 3 lotteries |
| Sycamore State Park · 12 mi | State park | 2,384 | Restricted | deer, turkey + | – |
| Caesar Creek State Park · 13 mi | State park | 3,741 | Restricted | deer, turkey + | 4 lotteries |
| John Bryan State Park · 16 mi check with ODNR | State park | 752 | Check rules | Ohio seasons | – |
| Cowan Lake State Park · 24 mi | State park | 1,075 | Restricted | deer, squirrel + | 2 lotteries |
| Rush Run Wildlife Area · 25 mi | Wildlife area | 1,165 | Open | furbearer trapping, dove + | 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.
Kettering nearest properties in detail
Beaver Creek Wildlife Area, 7.8 mi
Beaver Creek Wildlife Area is a 373-acre state wildlife area located 7 miles northwest of Xenia. Game here: furbearer trapping. Some hunting here goes by lottery: 1 drawn hunt for 2026.
Spring Valley Wildlife Area, 10 mi
This 842-acre wildlife area is situated in the gently rolling agricultural region of southwest Ohio just east of the Little Miami River, eight miles south of Xenia and four miles north of Waynesville. Game here: deer, squirrel, rabbit, pheasant, quail, waterfowl. Some hunting here goes by lottery: 3 drawn hunts for 2026. ODNR plants 4 dove fields on it. Hunters with a mobility permit may drive set lanes.
Caesar Creek Wildlife Area, 11 mi
Caesar Creek Lake Wildlife Area is located in southwestern Ohio, at the junction of Clinton, Greene and Warren counties. Game here: deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, pheasant, quail. Some hunting here goes by lottery: 3 drawn hunts for 2026. ODNR plants 6 dove fields on it.
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 Kettering
In 2025-26 the game check system logged 980 deer from Montgomery County. Through November 3, 2026, 2026-27 hunters had checked 261 deer in Montgomery County. Gun hunters checked 246 deer in Montgomery County during 2025-26, against 459 for crossbow hunters. The 2026 spring turkey count for Montgomery County was 43.
| Season | Deer total | Antlered bucks | Antlerless deer | Archery | Gun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 861 | 326 | 535 | 584 | – |
| 2023-24 | 843 | 398 | 445 | 574 | – |
| 2024-25 | 884 | 374 | 510 | 583 | 301 |
| 2025-26 | 980 | 434 | 546 | 641 | 339 |
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.
Kettering hunting seasons, 2026-27
For Kettering the table lists 53 seasons for 2026-27: deer, turkey, small game, upland birds, waterfowl, doves, woodcock and furbearers.
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Youth small game weekend | Quail counties | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Youth small game weekend | Quail counties | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Regular | Quail counties | Nov 6, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| 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.
Kettering sporting goods and deer care
Inside 25 miles of Kettering: 2 deer or meat processors, 10 taxidermists, 68 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 Kettering
From Kettering, ODNR Spring Valley Wildlife Area headquarters is the closest Division of Wildlife office (11 miles). Closest wildlife area headquarters to the Montgomery County centre: Spring Valley Wildlife Area headquarters, phone (937) 488-3115. ODNR assigns Trent Weaver as the Montgomery 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.
Kettering: three ranges within a short drive
Nearest to Kettering is SimTrainer Indoor Range and Firearms Training Center (4 miles), with two more after it.
With the shooting range permit for adults ($5.00 a day), Kettering shooters can use Spring Valley Wildlife Area Shooting Range, 11 miles away. See it
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 6, 2026.
Dates on the hunting calendar near Kettering
About 30 miles out from Kettering there are 4 dates ahead.
| Scheduled | What | Away | Where held | Link | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 6, 2026 | ODNR Hunter Education Class (Xenia) · hunter education class, Xenia | 11 | Xenia, Greene County | Register | Source |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Springfield DU Dinner Banquet · DU dinner, Springfield | 25 | Springfield, Clark County | Tickets | Source |
| Nov 7, 2026 | ODNR Trapper Education Class (Camden) · trapper education class, Camden | 27 | Camden, Preble County | Register | Source |
| Jan 30, 2027 | RMEF Honey Creek Chapter Banquet · RMEF banquet, Springfield | 25 | Springfield, Clark County | Tickets | Source |
Already run
| Date run | Event | Where held | Result | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 24, 2026 | Clark Co CHC UKC Nite Hunt (Hunt 2) · UKC nite hunt, Medway | Medway, Clark County | GRNITECH'PR'Hillbilly Rooster TW | Source |
| Jul 24, 2026 | Clark Co CHC UKC Nite Hunt (Hunt 1) · UKC nite hunt, Medway | Medway, Clark County | CH GRNITECH(5)'PR'Phillips Hardtime Scooter ENG | Source |
Legal light in Kettering
The sun comes up roughly a quarter hour later in Defiance than in Marietta, so use the times worked out for Kettering rather than a Columbus table.
| Day | Marker | Sun up | Sun down | Deer hours | Duck hours | Upland hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:27 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 7:29 p.m. | 7:27 a.m. to 7:29 p.m. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 7:10 a.m. | 5:31 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 6:01 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:37 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 5:44 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | 7:37 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:48 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 7:18 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 7:48 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:54 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. | 7:54 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:57 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 7:27 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 7:27 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | 7:57 a.m. to 5:23 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 Kettering area
Does ODNR publish a deer count for Kettering itself?
Not for towns. The county figure is the closest: 980 deer in Montgomery County for 2025-26.
How many public tracts lie within 25 miles of Kettering?
10 of them, the first being Wright-Patterson Air Force Base at 5.9 mi.
How many antlerless deer may I take near Kettering?
The county class is three-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 Kettering?
On private land here, yes: baiting deer is legal outside the DSA. On any public hunting area it stays illegal.
Do Kettering goose hunters use Zone A, B or C dates?
Zone C dates for the whole county.
Does Montgomery County get a fall turkey hunt?
It does not; fall birds are legal only in the 70 listed counties.
How do I tell which seasons are live near Kettering?
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 15.
Which wildlife officer patrols Montgomery County?
ODNR lists Trent Weaver for Montgomery County, phone (937) 545-6768.
Is legal light at Kettering the same as in Columbus?
Not to the minute. The times on this page are worked out for the Kettering town point with the NOAA solar formula; on November 6, 2026 sunrise there was 7:10 a.m.
How many gun and outdoor shops are around Kettering?
68 gun, archery or outdoor listings inside 25 miles.
Do any areas near Kettering need a lottery permit?
6 of the 10 properties within 25 miles host 2026 lottery hunts; the land table counts them per property.
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 Kettering
Everything above is for Kettering; the county page adds every public acre and the full harvest history for Montgomery County.
Other photos on this page: Logan Rickert (CC BY 2.0); Logan Rickert (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); James St. John (CC BY 2.0).