Ohio · Public Land · 2026 Edition
Ohio Public Hunting Land 2026: WMAs & Access Rules
3 wildlife management areas tracked here, from 5,872 to 19,252 acres. A hunting license covers you on Ohio WMA land the same as anywhere else in the state — but read the access rules below before you assume that's all you need.
01 — Wildlife management areas
| Area | County | Acres | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodbury Wildlife Area | Coshocton | 19,252 | Deer, Turkey, Small game |
| Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area | Wyandot & Marion | 9,054 | Pheasant, Waterfowl, Deer |
| Big Island Wildlife Area | Marion | 5,872 | Pheasant, Rabbit, Dove |
Woodbury is Ohio's biggest public hunting and fishing ground by a wide margin at over 19,000 acres, and one of the few with on-site camping (primitive sites, license required, capped at 14 consecutive days) and its own shooting range. Killdeer Plains and Big Island sit close together in north-central Ohio and both center on stocked and wild ring-necked pheasant — Killdeer Plains runs an active pheasant release program, while Big Island's marsh and prairie complex along the Scioto River is regarded as some of the state's best wild pheasant ground. This list is a starting point, not ODNR's full wildlife-area inventory, which runs well over 100 properties statewide.
02 — Access rules beyond your hunting license
A valid Ohio hunting license covers hunting on wildlife areas the same as anywhere else in the state — no separate WMA passport like Oklahoma runs, and no statewide permit system like Texas either. Two things add on top of the license, though. Many wildlife areas also run lottery-based Controlled Hunts — separate, limited-slot hunts for deer, turkey, pheasant and other species layered on top of the general season — apply for those individually if you want a shot at one. And any on-site shooting range needs its own Shooting Range Permit, free once you register it against an annual hunting or fishing license.
03 — Where to go next
Verified · Ohio Division of Wildlife · Last verified 2026-08-08
Publisher's note. WMA list and access rules read from ODNR, retrieved 2026-08-08. Review due 2027-08-01. This is a starting list, not the agency's full WMA inventory — confirm current rules for a specific area before you hunt it.