Lake County hunting
Hunting Near Mentor
City within Lake County. No hunting property inside 10 miles of town; Aquilla Wildlife Area sits 13 miles out.
Photo: Jason Miklacic (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Mentor hunting, the short version
Mentor is not a county seat, but at 25,000-plus residents in Lake County it earns a page of its own. Mentor is home to some 47,113 people (Census, 2024) spread over 27.8 square miles. Inside 10 miles of Mentor the ground is private, suburban or closed to hunting; Aquilla Wildlife Area, 13 miles out, is the first open property. ODNR sets deer limits county by county, and Lake County gets 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.
County rules behind Mentor
The Lake County deer group for 2026-27 reads three-deer, inside the statewide cap of 6 deer with 1 antlered. CWD area rules skip Lake County: it is not in the DSA. Lake County hunts waterfowl on the Zone B calendar. For turkeys near Mentor, the spring Northeast zone applies and the county is one of the 70 fall counties. In addition, river otter trapping is in Otter Zone A around Mentor. Paperwork for a deer hunt here: a hunting license ($19.00 resident, $180.96 nonresident) plus a deer permit ($31.20 resident either-sex). In the youth gun, gun, bonus gun and muzzleloader weeks every hunter except waterfowlers wears a hunter orange vest, coat, jacket or coveralls. Game check for deer closes at noon on the day after the kill.
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.
Mentor to the nearest wildlife areas and forests
Each mile figure measures from Mentor to the closest boundary, not the parking lot, so allow for the drive. Out to 25 miles, hunters from Mentor can reach 5 state wildlife areas, 2 state parks and 1 public hunting area. No tract within 25 miles of Mentor tops Ladue Hunting Area for size, 8,427 acres. Waterfowl show up on 3 of the 4 species lists near Mentor, deer on 3. The status column repeats the ODNR parcel layer; restricted ground has posted zones, methods or dates. Tagged rows have conflicting ODNR sources on whether or where hunting is allowed.
| Area and miles | Kind | Acres | Status | Game | Controlled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquilla Wildlife Area · 13 mi | Wildlife area | 60 | Restricted | Ohio seasons | – |
| Hambden Orchard Wildlife Area · 13 mi | Wildlife area | 842 | Open | Ohio seasons | – |
| Punderson State Park · 17 mi check with ODNR | State park | 741 | Check rules | deer, waterfowl + | 1 lottery |
| Auburn Marsh Wildlife Area · 20 mi | Wildlife area | 466 | Restricted | Ohio seasons | – |
| Geneva State Park · 21 mi | State park | 698 | Restricted | furbearer trapping, raccoon | 1 lottery |
| Ladue Hunting Area · 23 mi | Public hunting area | 8,427 | Restricted | deer, turkey + | 4 lotteries |
| Conant Wildlife Area · 23 mi | Wildlife area | 74 | Open | Ohio seasons | – |
| Grand River Wildlife Area · 25 mi | Wildlife area | 7,664 | Open | deer, turkey + | 1 lottery |
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.
Up close: hunting ground by Mentor
Aquilla Wildlife Area, 13 mi
Aquilla Wildlife Area is a 60-acre state wildlife area located 2 miles southeast of Chardon.
Hambden Orchard Wildlife Area, 13 mi
Hambden Orchard Wildlife Area is a 842-acre state wildlife area located 1 mile south of Hambden.
Punderson State Park, 17 mi
The landscape surrounding Punderson State Park features evidence of the last glacier to scrape across Ohio. Game listed: deer, waterfowl, raccoon, furbearer trapping. The 2026 lottery list names this property 1 time.
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.
Harvest in Lake County, the county around Mentor
Deer checked in Lake County: 1,245 for 2025-26, 1,066 for 2022-23. So far in 2026-27: 417 deer, reported through November 3, 2026. Method split for Lake County, 2025-26: gun 296, crossbow 654, longbow 187, muzzleloader 41. Lake County gave up 61 spring gobblers and bearded birds in 2026.
| Hunt year | Total | Antlered | Antlerless | Archery | Gun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 1,066 | 388 | 678 | 833 | – |
| 2023-24 | 1,163 | 459 | 704 | 896 | – |
| 2024-25 | 1,123 | 414 | 709 | 823 | 300 |
| 2025-26 | 1,245 | 479 | 766 | 878 | 367 |
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.
Mentor dates by species
Ohio runs one statewide calendar for most game, so the rows that change around Mentor are the waterfowl zone, the turkey zone and the deer bag limit, which is 3 here.
| Animal | Kind of hunt | Covers | Start | Finish | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 A | 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.
Mentor hunting services
Within 25 miles of Mentor the listings include 30 gun or outdoor stores, 4 taxidermists, 2 deer or meat processors and 0 guide or preserve listings.
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.
The Division of Wildlife desk for Mentor
Need a Division of Wildlife desk near Mentor? ODNR Grand River Wildlife Area headquarters is 28 miles off. The wildlife area headquarters nearest the middle of Lake County is Grand River Wildlife Area headquarters in West Farmington. The county contacts layer names Ryan Pawlus as Lake County’s wildlife officer.
Akron district office
912 Portage Lakes Drive
Akron 44319
District manager is Pete Novotny
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.
Mentor shooters: the three nearest ranges
Miles are measured from the Census point of Mentor.
Punderson State Park Archery Range, about 17 miles away, is the public range nearest Mentor.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 6, 2026.
Ohio hunting events around Mentor
Inside roughly 30 straight-line miles: 1 date ahead (RMEF banquet), soonest first. First up is RMEF Lake Erie Chapter Banquet on March 13.
| On | Listing | Distance | Venue and county | Button | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 2027 | RMEF Lake Erie Chapter Banquet · RMEF banquet, Chardon | 10 | Chardon, Geauga County | Tickets | Source |
Past listings
| Date run | Event | Where held | Result | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 18, 2026 | Ashtabula Co CHA UKC Nite Hunt (Hunt 1) · UKC nite hunt, Jefferson | Jefferson, Ashtabula County | NITECH'PR'Hard Bark Peppers TW | Source |
Mentor legal shooting light
Furbearers have no hour limit in Ohio, but in the deer gun and muzzleloader weeks coyote hunting near Mentor keeps to deer hours.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Deer | Waterfowl | Small game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:15 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 7:48 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall turkey | 7:21 a.m. | 7:09 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 7:39 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 7:09 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 7:09 p.m. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 7:03 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:21 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:31 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 7:31 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:49 a.m. | 4:58 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. | 7:49 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:52 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 7:52 a.m. to 5:05 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.
Common Mentor hunting questions answered
Which duck splits apply in Lake County?
The Zone B rows in the season table on this page, both splits.
How do turkey zones work around Mentor?
Spring splits Ohio into a South zone and a Northeast zone, and Lake County is in the Northeast zone. Fall hunting is open here too.
What opens next for hunters near Mentor?
Red fox (Hunting) opens November 10. Meanwhile 14 rows stood open on November 6, 2026.
Where can Mentor hunters buy maps or ask ODNR staff?
Start at ODNR Grand River Wildlife Area headquarters in West Farmington, roughly 28 miles from Mentor.
When must deer hunters near Mentor quit for the evening?
Thirty minutes past sunset, which put the close at 5:46 p.m. on November 6, 2026.
What does the services list show for Mentor?
Inside 25 miles of Mentor: 30 shops, 2 processors, 4 taxidermists and 0 guides or preserves.
Are there controlled hunts near Mentor?
4 properties within 25 miles of Mentor hold 7 2026 controlled hunts, starting with Punderson State Park.
Did deer numbers in Lake County rise or fall in 2025-26?
They rose, from 1,123 to 1,245.
Which wildlife area, forest or hunting area is closest to Mentor?
The nearest mapped tract is Aquilla Wildlife Area, a wildlife area, 13 miles out from the middle of town.
What is my deer limit if I hunt the Mentor area?
Lake County has a county limit of 3 deer; ODNR lists its class as three-deer for 2026-27. Statewide the ceiling is 6 deer, 1 antlered.
Is Lake County part of Disease Surveillance Area 2021-01?
No. Its counties are Allen, Hardin, Marion and Wyandot in full, plus townships in Crawford, Delaware, Hancock, Morrow and Union.
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.
Keep planning from Mentor
Hunting out of Mentor? Keep the county limit handy and confirm dates in the regulations.
Other photos on this page: Tim Evanson (CC BY-SA 2.0); jamieotterbein (CC BY-SA 2.0); OhioOakTree (CC BY-SA 4.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).