Deer Hunt Drawing for State River Properties

Deer Hunts are being offered on
Nine State Scenic River Properties

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Natural Areas and Preserves is holding special archery hunts at nine locations bordering state scenic rivers.  Including the Little Miami, Stillwater, and Big and Little Darby state scenic rivers. These hunts offer excellent hunting conditions to reducing the impact of deer whom are browsing on native plants.
 
Hunters are requires to attend a mandatory meeting for each scenic river hunt they are interested in. During each meeting, hunters will have an opportunity to purchase a $5 ticket to be entered into the scenic river lands special hunt drawing. Hunters who wish to apply for hunts at multiple sites will have to attend multiple meetings and purchase multiple tickets.
 

Mailed entry forms will not be permitted. The permits for the controlled hunts will be awarded during in-person drawings. Names are drawn at random. Each winner will be permitted to choose a two-week hunt period.  Orientation will be conducted immediately following the lottery.

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Successful applicants will be permitted to hunt with a partner; the partner is not required to attend the drawing or orientation.
 
Hunters must present a valid 2024-2025 hunting license to purchase tickets.

Hunt Locations and Dates

Each location will hold its own drawing at the location and dates provided below. 

Hunt locations and drawing dates are:
 
Stillwater River: drawing for these hunts will be held at the Barn at Stillwater Prairie, located at 9750 State Route 185 in Covington. The drawing will be held on Thursday, Aug. 15 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets will be available for purchase between 5:30-6:20 p.m.

• Abshire-Graves (Darke County) – On the Stillwater River, this 22-acre site is located on State Route 185 in Versailles.
• Cool-Davis (Miami County) – This 20-acre site is located on the northeast corner of the State Route 185 bridge crossing over the Stillwater River in Miami County.

Big and Little Darby Creek: drawings for these hunts will be held at the Plain City Youth Agriculture Building, located in Pastime Park at 370 N. Chillicothe Street in Plain City. The drawing will be held on Thursday, Aug. 22 @ 6:30 p.m. Tickets will be available for purchase between 5:15-6:20 p.m.

• Terra Nova (Union County) – On Big Darby Creek, this 24-acre site is located on North Lewisburg Road in North Lewisburg.
• Milford Center (Union County) – On Big Darby Creek, this 90-acre site is located between Middleburg-Plain City Road and North Darby Coe Road, just southeast of Collins Road.
• Agnes Andreae and Little Darby Forrest preserves (Madison County) – Both sites are located on the Little Darby Creek. This hunt is being conducted in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy and for a combined 232 acres just west of the village of West Jefferson off State Route 29.

Little Miami River: drawing for these hunts will be held at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Caesar Creek Visitors Center, located at 4020 North Clarksville Road in Waynesville. The drawing will be held on Thursday, Aug. 29at 6 p.m. Tickets will be available for purchase between 5:15-6 p.m.

• Deerfield Gorge (Warren County) – On the Little Miami River, this 136-acre site is located on King Avenue in Maineville.
• Caesar Creek (Warren County) – On the Little Miami River, this 70-acre site for Caesar Creek is located on County Road 30 (Middletown Road) in Waynesville.
• Hall’s Creek Little Miami River Access (Warren County) – On the Little Miami River, this 37-acre site for Hall’s Creek is located on Mason Morrow Millgrove Road in Morrow.
• Roxanna (Greene County) – On the Little Miami River, this 53- acre site is located on U.S. Route 42 in Spring Valley.

Again Mailed entry forms will not be permitted. These are in person drawings that will have the orientation immediately following the drawing for the winners.

For more information about hunting seasons and regulations, call 800-WILDLIFE or visit wildohio.gov.

Happy Hunting! Get out and Go Hunt Ohio!

Want to see other special hunts for 2024-2025? Check out this article: Ohio Special Deer Hunt Dates and Locations

Need to start peeping for hunting season? Check out this article: Deer Season Comes to an End: 7 ways to Reflect and Prepare for Next Year

Looking for a better place to hunt? Check out this article: 5 of the Best Places To Hunt In Ohio: Hunting Public Land