Ohio › Towns › Upper Arlington
Franklin County hunting
Hunting Near Upper Arlington
City within Franklin County. No hunting property inside 10 miles of town; Alum Creek State Park sits 12 miles out.
Photo: Paul Hurtado (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Upper Arlington hunting, the short version
Upper Arlington is not a county seat, but at 25,000-plus residents in Franklin County it earns a page of its own. Upper Arlington is home to some 36,140 people (Census, 2024) spread over 9.8 square miles. Inside 10 miles of Upper Arlington the ground is private, suburban or closed to hunting; Alum Creek State Park, 12 miles out, is the first open property. ODNR sets deer limits county by county, and Franklin County gets 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.
Upper Arlington to the nearest wildlife areas and forests
Each mile figure measures from Upper Arlington to the closest boundary, not the parking lot, so allow for the drive. Out to 25 miles, hunters from Upper Arlington can reach 7 state wildlife areas, 3 state parks and 1 public access area. No tract within 25 miles of Upper Arlington tops Delaware Wildlife Area for size, 4,670 acres. Waterfowl show up on 6 of the 6 species lists near Upper Arlington, deer on 5. The status column repeats the ODNR parcel layer; restricted ground has posted zones, methods or dates.
| Area and miles | Kind | Acres | Status | Game | Controlled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alum Creek State Park · 12 mi | State park | 4,630 | Restricted | deer, squirrel + | 2 lotteries |
| Mackey Ford Wildlife Area · 18 mi | Wildlife area | 200 | Open | deer, squirrel + | – |
| Madison County Wildlife Area 2 · 18 mi | Wildlife area | 77 | Open | Ohio seasons | – |
| Madison Lake Access Wildlife Area · 19 mi | Public access area | 1 | Open | Ohio seasons | – |
| Madison Lake State Park · 19 mi | State park | 76 | Restricted | deer, squirrel + | 1 lottery |
| Madison County Wildlife Area 1 · 20 mi | Wildlife area | 81 | Open | Ohio seasons | – |
| Delaware Wildlife Area · 23 mi | Wildlife area | 4,670 | Open | pheasant, waterfowl + | 1 lottery |
| Delaware State Park · 23 mi | State park | 1,686 | Restricted | deer, squirrel + | 2 lotteries |
| Pickaway County Wildlife Area 5 · 23 mi | Wildlife area | 40 | Open | Ohio seasons | – |
| Deer Creek Wildlife Area · 24 mi | Wildlife area | 4,220 | Open | deer, turkey + | 1 lottery |
| Pickaway County Wildlife Area 10 · 25 mi | Wildlife area | 45 | Open | Ohio seasons | – |
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.
Bag limit and zone lines around Upper Arlington
The Franklin County deer group for 2026-27 reads four-deer, inside the statewide cap of 6 deer with 1 antlered. CWD area rules skip Franklin County: it is not in the DSA. Franklin County hunts waterfowl on the Zone C calendar. For turkeys near Upper Arlington, the spring South zone applies and the county is one of the 70 fall counties. In addition, river otter trapping is in Otter Zone B around Upper Arlington. 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.
Up close: hunting ground by Upper Arlington
Alum Creek State Park, 12 mi
Located near Ohio's capital city, Alum Creek State Park is a popular boating and camping destination. Game listed: deer, squirrel, rabbit, waterfowl, upland game birds, furbearer trapping. The 2026 lottery list names this property 2 times.
Mackey Ford Wildlife Area, 18 mi
The 200-acre wildlife area is located within Pickaway County, 3.5 miles east of Commercial Point and four miles north of South Bloomfield. Game listed: deer, squirrel, rabbit, dove, waterfowl, raccoon.
Madison Lake State Park, 19 mi
Lying within the vast Darby Plains of Ohio, Madison Lake State Park provides a peaceful day-use getaway for visitors of all ages. Game listed: deer, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, fox, groundhog. 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.
Upper Arlington dates by species
Ohio runs one statewide calendar for most game, so the rows that change around Upper Arlington are the waterfowl zone, the turkey zone and the deer bag limit, which is 4 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 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.
Harvest in Franklin County, the county around Upper Arlington
Deer checked in Franklin County: 709 for 2025-26, 818 for 2022-23. So far in 2026-27: 164 deer, reported through November 3, 2026. Method split for Franklin County, 2025-26: gun 164, crossbow 287, longbow 182, muzzleloader 24. Franklin County gave up 12 spring gobblers and bearded birds in 2026.
| Hunt year | Total | Antlered | Antlerless | Archery | Gun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 818 | 376 | 442 | 573 | – |
| 2023-24 | 794 | 355 | 439 | 534 | – |
| 2024-25 | 638 | 257 | 381 | 413 | 225 |
| 2025-26 | 709 | 325 | 384 | 480 | 229 |
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.
The Division of Wildlife desk for Upper Arlington
Need a Division of Wildlife desk near Upper Arlington? ODNR Wildlife District 1: Central Ohio is 3 miles off. The wildlife area headquarters nearest the middle of Franklin County is Deer Creek Wildlife Area headquarters in Mt. Sterling. The county contacts layer names Brad Kiger as Franklin County’s 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.
Ohio hunting events around Upper Arlington
Inside roughly 30 straight-line miles: 7 dates ahead (NWTF banquet, RMEF banquet, hunter education class and sportsman’s expo), soonest first. First up is ODNR Hunter Education Class (Ashley) on November 6.
| On | Listing | Distance | Venue and county | Button | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 6, 2026 | ODNR Hunter Education Class (Ashley) · hunter education class, Ashley | 27 | Ashley, Delaware County | Register | Source |
| Nov 19, 2026 | ODNR Hunter Education Class (Waldo) · hunter education class, Waldo | 30 | Register | Source | |
| Jan 16, 2027 | RMEF Central Ohio Chapter Banquet · RMEF banquet, Orient | 16 | Orient, Pickaway County | Tickets | Source |
| Jan 29, 2027 | Buckeye Conservation Chapter NWTF Banquet · NWTF banquet, Pickerington | 19 | Pickerington, Fairfield County | Event details | Source |
| Mar 19–21, 2027 | Open Season Sportsman's Expo Ohio 2027 · sportsman’s expo, Columbus | 5 | Columbus, Franklin County | Ticket page | Source |
| Mar 20, 2027 | RMEF Two Rivers Chapter Banquet · RMEF banquet, Delaware | 18 | Delaware, Delaware County | Tickets | Source |
| Apr 11, 2027 | Buckeye Toms Banquet · NWTF banquet, Marengo | 29 | Marengo, Morrow County | Tickets | Source |
Upper Arlington hunting services
Within 25 miles of Upper Arlington the listings include 47 gun or outdoor stores, 8 taxidermists, 1 deer or meat processor 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.
Upper Arlington shooters: the three nearest ranges
L.E.P.D. Firearms and Range tops the Upper Arlington list at 3 miles.
Deer Creek Wildlife Area Shooting Range, about 27 miles away, is the public range nearest Upper Arlington. More
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 6, 2026.
Upper Arlington hours on key season dates
Furbearers have no hour limit in Ohio, but in the deer gun and muzzleloader weeks coyote hunting near Upper Arlington keeps to deer hours.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Deer | Waterfowl | Small game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:22 a.m. | 7:25 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 7:55 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 7:25 p.m. | 7:22 a.m. to 7:25 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall turkey | 7:27 a.m. | 7:17 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 7:47 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. | 7:27 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 7:06 a.m. | 5:26 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:56 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:34 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 7:34 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:45 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 7:45 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:50 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 7:50 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:54 a.m. | 5:17 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 5:47 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 7:54 a.m. to 5:17 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 Upper Arlington hunting questions answered
What does the services list show for Upper Arlington?
Inside 25 miles of Upper Arlington: 47 shops, 1 processors, 8 taxidermists and 0 guides or preserves.
Are there controlled hunts near Upper Arlington?
5 properties within 25 miles of Upper Arlington hold 7 2026 controlled hunts, starting with Alum Creek State Park.
Did deer numbers in Franklin County rise or fall in 2025-26?
They rose, from 638 to 709.
Which wildlife area, forest or hunting area is closest to Upper Arlington?
The nearest mapped tract is Alum Creek State Park, a state park, 12 miles out from the middle of town.
What is my deer limit if I hunt the Upper Arlington area?
Franklin County has a county limit of 4 deer; ODNR lists its class as four-deer for 2026-27. Statewide the ceiling is 6 deer, 1 antlered.
Is Franklin 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.
Which duck splits apply in Franklin County?
The Zone C rows in the season table on this page, both splits.
How do turkey zones work around Upper Arlington?
Spring splits Ohio into a South zone and a Northeast zone, and Franklin County is in the South zone. Fall hunting is open here too.
What opens next for hunters near Upper Arlington?
Red fox (Hunting) opens November 10. Meanwhile 14 rows stood open on November 6, 2026.
Where can Upper Arlington hunters buy maps or ask ODNR staff?
Start at ODNR Wildlife District 1: Central Ohio in Columbus, roughly 3 miles from Upper Arlington.
When must deer hunters near Upper Arlington quit for the evening?
Thirty minutes past sunset, which put the close at 5:56 p.m. on November 6, 2026.
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 Upper Arlington
Everything above is for Upper Arlington; the county page adds every public acre and the full harvest history for Franklin County.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); OhioOakTree (CC BY-SA 4.0); Art Anderson (CC BY-SA 3.0); Scott Bauer, USDA NRCS (Public domain).