COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Natural Areas and Preserves has announced its controlled deer hunting dates for the 2026-2027 season, naming a premier Pickaway County nature preserve as one of the exclusive locations for this year’s gun hunts.
Stage’s Pond State Nature Preserve, located in Ashville, is one of just five select state nature preserves chosen across Ohio to permit firearms this season.
Protecting Stage’s Pond Ecosystem
According to ODNR officials, the special controlled hunts are deployed as an eco-management tool. High deer populations in specific regions have created heavy browsing pressure, which poses a severe threat to native plant communities and delicate local habitats.
While the majority of the 22 participating counties will host archery-only hunts, Pickaway County’s Stage’s Pond has been designated specifically for controlled gun hunts to efficiently manage the local herd population.
How Pickaway County Hunters Can Apply
Permits for the special hunts are highly coveted and will be awarded strictly through a random lottery system. To enter the drawing for Stage’s Pond, local hunters must follow a strict, in-person application process:
- Mandatory Meeting: Applicants must attend an in-person informational meeting on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
- Location: The meeting will take place at the Stage’s Pond State Nature Preserve office, located at 4792 Hagerty Road, Ashville, OH 43103.
- Lottery Tickets: Following the meeting, eligible hunters can purchase a lottery entry ticket for $5 (cash only). Entry forms sent by mail will not be accepted.
Important Rules & Regulations
Hunters planning to attend the Ashville drawing should note the following state requirements:
- Licenses Required: All participants must possess a valid 2026-2027 Ohio hunting license at the time of ticket purchase. Some hunts may require an adult hunting license.
- Harvest Restrictions: Certain hunts will be designated as “antlerless deer only,” while others will strictly require hunters to harvest an antlerless deer (a doe) before they are permitted to take an antlered deer.
- Hunting Partners: Those selected in the random drawing will be assigned a specific hunting window. Winners are permitted to bring a hunting partner; the partner is not required to attend the August drawing or subsequent orientation.
Successful entrants will be drawn on-site and must remain for a mandatory pre-hunt orientation immediately following the lottery. For additional information regarding specific hunting dates and regulations, local sportsmen can visit ohiodnr.gov.
