Hunting Archery Duck Deer

The following is the Southwestern Ohio Hunting Report prepared by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

• Tranquility Wildlife Area (Adams County) – Located 16 miles south of Hillsboro on State Route 770. County Road 100 (Old Route 32) runs along the southern boundary of the area. The headquarters office for the area is located at 10221 Careytown Road, New Vienna. For more information about the area call (937) 987-2508. The office is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

SQUIRREL hunting can be found to the north and west of the shooting range. These areas have a large concentration of oaks and hickories that squirrels use for feeding and den sites. Den sites are good places to find squirrels as they are going from and returning to the den in the morning and evening. Parking is available at the shooting range. Be sure to bring your rifle or pistol and enjoy sometime at the shooting range when you are finished with your hunt.

WHITE-TAILED DEER archery hunting at Tranquility Wildlife Area looks spectacular for the upcoming season. Hunting pressure is expected to be very light with high populations of deer. Deer bedding areas are in the tall grass prairie fields located on Hawkins Road. Other places to look for deer are in the mature woods along Big Run Road and the areas surrounding any parking lots off of Fairview Road and Shooting Range Road.

WILD TURKEY fall season hunting will be excellent this year at Tranquility Wildlife Area. Wild turkey archery season began Oct. 24 and ends Nov. 27.

RUFFED GROUSE hunting should be enhanced this year. The warmer and dryer spring this year improved the reproduction of turkeys and ruffed grouse. A great location to hunt both turkeys and grouse would be from the D-10 parking lot on County Road 14. Look for turkeys scratching for acorns around the bottoms of oaks trees. The grouse will be located in the thicker cover in the forest. Turkey hunting will be better in the more mature forest areas. While hunting be on the watch for WOODCOCK.

• Indian Creek Wildlife Area (Brown County) – Located 1/2 mile east of Fayetteville off of State Route 50. Maps for this area can be found on-line at ohiodnr.com/wildlife, at the Indian Creek Wildlife Area’s Headquarters, or by calling (513) 875-2111.

SQUIRREL hunting is excellent in the mature forest on the southwestern portion of the wildlife area. Acorns are spotty but the hickories have produced well this year. The best way to access the area is from the Campbell Road from the two parking lots on the very west side of the area.

WHITE-TAILED DEER archery hunting should be fruitful for those willing to wait the deer out on travel corridors. Indian Creek has very little natural topography to concentrate deer travel so look for the abundant food supplies for a good place to hunt.

WILD TURKEY can be found throughout the area and move a lot so expect to see them when you least expect to. Look for places where the forest floor looks like it has been raked and look for droppings. Wild turkey archery season began Oct. 24 and ends Nov. 27.

WOODCOCK season opened Oct. 14 and ends Nov. 27. Woodcocks can be found along the creek edges and the thicker brush areas on Indian Creek. Bring a dog and take your time as they can be tough to find during the dry early fall.

WATERFOWL - Geese have been using the marsh and wood ducks can be found there in the early duck season.

• Bott Wildlife Area (Brown County) – Located just five miles south of Blanchester off of Woodville Road. Maps for the area are available at the area headquarters at 4258 Snowhill Road in Fayetteville, on our web site at ohiodnr.com/wildlife, or by calling (513) 875-2111.

SQUIRREL hunting is excellent in the large woodlots that dominate the area. Look for squirrels near the white oak trees as the acorns have matured. The easiest way to access the area is from the main parking lot.

WHITE-TAILED DEER archery hunting opportunities exist at this wildlife area. Look for oak trees as the acorns have matured … one of the whitetails favorite woodland foods. Also, look for deer browsing along the green field edges. Access the area from the main parking lot off of Woodville Road.

• East Fork Wildlife Area (Clermont County) – Located 1/2 mile south of Williamsburg off of St. Rt. 32.

SQUIRREL hunting is great in the mature woods found on Williamsburg-Bantam Road and Twin Bridges Road. Gain access to the area from the parking lot at the end of Williamsburg- Bantam Road. Once in the woods begin looking for large hickory and white oak trees as squirrels are busy cutting nuts from these trees.

WHITE-TAILED DEER archery hunting is expected to be good as the number of deer is good throughout the area. Look into the narrow valleys where the deer have concentrated their travel routes and continue to practice with your bow all season long.

WILD TURKEY fall season hunters will be good. Access the largest section of this area from Williamsburg-Bantam Road and Twin Bridges Road. Parking is available at the end of Williamsburg Bantam Road. Look for areas that are hard to get to for good hunting opportunities. Wild turkey archery season began Oct. 24 and ends Nov. 27.

• Oldaker Wildlife Area (Highland County) – Located 1/2 mile west of Russell. Maps for the area are available at the area headquarters at 4258 Snowhill Road, Fayetteville; on our web site at ohiodnr.com/wildlife; or by calling (513) 875-2111. There is a small parking lot area off of Oldaker Road in Highland County.

WOODCOCK can be found scatter around this flat, wet woodland. Consider hunting it in a pattern to insure you cover the area well. The lower areas that are densely covered in vegetation are keys to woodcock.

SQUIRREL hunting is good in this small wildlife area. Nut or mast producing trees such as hickory, oak, and beech are producing well this year. Listen for the distinct sounds of squirrel cutting, a deep scratching sound the squirrel teeth make as it cuts the nut from the tree or cuts into the nut.

WHITE-TAILED DEER hunting should be good as the mast producing trees are producing well this year. Deer can be found focusing on the oak trees that have produced this year. Deer will begin to establish trails to and from different feeding areas on this small wildlife area. For best results when hunting deer, complete fall scouting while some of the leaves are still on the trees.

WILD TURKEYS frequent the small area and deer like to be around the wary birds. The fall season is open for bow hunting until the day before gun season.

• Fallsville Wildlife Area South Unit (Highland County) – Located four miles north of Hillsboro between West Lane and Careytown Roads. When traveling on St Rt 62 north of Hillsboro turn onto West Lane there is another parking lot 1.5 miles south of the wildlife area headquarters on Careytown Road.

WHITE-TAILED DEER archery hunters should find plenty of deer sign on Fallsville South. Hunting pressure is usually heavy due to the small size of this unit at 379 acres. Look for sign around corn fields and the big woods located in the center of the area. The best way to access the woods is from the West Lane Parking lot. This parking lot is located on the east side of the area and with a predominately west wind, the breeze would be in your face and not blowing your scent into the woods and spooking deer.

SQUIRREL hunting is best in the large stand of mature at the center of the area. The best access to this woodlot would be from the parking lot on West lane. West lane is located two miles north of Hillsboro off of SR 62. Look for hickory trees with freshly chewed nut hulls around the tree.

WILD TURKEY hunting opportunities at Fallsville South can be very good. Turkeys roost in the big woodlot in the center of the area. Access this woodlot from Careytown Road and walk east, you can also reach the woodlot from West Lane parking lot and walk west. Expect to encounter other hunters on this area because of the size or this area. When visiting Fallsville South on your turkey hunt don’t forget your fishing pole and take advantage of the eight acre pond that is located next to the woodlot. This pond is catch and release only. Wild turkey archery season began Oct. 24 and ends Nov. 27.