Deer hunting near Columbus

The closest public hunting land to Columbus, ranked for today’s conditions. Distances are straight-line from the city center; each score blends the tract’s weather, county herd density and habitat. Columbus sits in Franklin County (about 1.33 deer/mi² harvested last season).

1. 56 Deer Creek Wildlife Area Pickaway County · 27 mi · ~38 min drive · 4,220 ac
2. 64 Delaware Wildlife Area Delaware County · 30 mi · ~44 min drive · 4,670 ac
3. 64 Tar Hollow State Forest Ross County · 42 mi · ~1 hr drive · 16,446 ac
4. 58 Big Island Wildlife Area Marion County · 44 mi · ~1 hr 3 min drive · 5,872 ac
5. 70 Tri-Valley Wildlife Area Muskingum County · 53 mi · ~1 hr 17 min drive · 16,200 ac
6. 62 Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area Wyandot County · 53 mi · ~1 hr 17 min drive · 9,054 ac
7. 60 Zaleski State Forest Vinton County · 57 mi · ~1 hr 22 min drive · 27,822 ac
8. 55 Waterloo Wildlife Area Athens County · 58 mi · ~1 hr 24 min drive · 2,659 ac

Hunting your own lease or permission ground near Columbus? Drop a pin with Scout for the conditions at any coordinate. See Ohio season dates and the rut forecast.

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