The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife is accepting applications through July 31 for public land controlled hunts around the state, including Mill Creek MetroParks and at Mosquito Creek.

According to the ODNR, controlled access lotteries are being offered for mourning dove, quail, waterfowl, white-tailed deer, ring-necked pheasant, small game, turkey and trapping. 

Beaver-otter, furbearer trapping and raccoon hunting and trapping lotteries will occur in person at the five wildlife district offices on the first Saturday in October. Permits for turkey hunting are available from March 1 through March 31.

Permits for deer archery lottery hunts and firearm hunts include Mill Creek MetroParks and Mosquito Creek Wildlife; deer firearm at Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area; plus waterfowl hunts at Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area and Mosquito Creek State Park. 

The 2025 Controlled Access Lotteries permits will be issued for two-week periods within the appropriate hunting season. From those who apply, hunters will be randomly drawn, lottery style. Applicants chosen will be notified the week after the application period ends and provided additional hunt information, including a permit, rules, and a hunting area map. 

Those interested may apply for controlled hunts by completing the application online or by calling 1-866-703-1928. A $5.50 service fee for the phone option applies. Each controlled hunt will require a non-refundable $3 application fee. Hunters can apply for more than one hunt, but can only apply to each hunt once per year.

Some hunts, as noted below, are for specific groups.

Deer archery locations:

  • Mill Creek Metro Parks
  • Magee Marsh/Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
  • Salt Fork State Park
  • Mercer Wildlife Area
  • Buck Creek State Park
  • Buck Creek State Park - Veterans
  • Caesar Creek State Park
  • Deer Creek State Park
  • Findley State Park
  • Kiser Lake State Park
  • Malabar Farm State Park
  • Maumee Bay State Park
  • Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area
  • Woodland Trails Wildlife Area
  • Deer Creek State Park - Youth
  • Steinen Wildlife Area - Youth
  • Eagle Creek Wildlife Area

Deer firearms hunts:

  • Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area
  • Camp James A Garfield Joint Military Training Center - Shotgun
  • Camp James A Garfield Joint Military Training Center - Anterless Shotgun Deer
  • Magee Marsh/Ottawa National Wildlfe Refuge
  • Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area
  • Urbana Wildlife Area
  • Ottawa Nwr Mobility Impaired
  • Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area Mobility Impaired
  • Castalia Hatchery Mobility Impaired
  • Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area
  • Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area Mentor
  • Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area Mentor
  • Woodland Trails Wildlife Area Mentor
  • Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area Youth
  • Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area Youth
  • Magee Marsh/Ottawa Nwr Youth
  • Salt Fork State Park - Youth
  • Hebron Fish Hatchery - Youth
  • Hebron Fish Hatchery
  • Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area - Mentor
  • Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area - Youth
  • Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area - Mentor
  • Andreoff Wildlife Area - Mentor
  • Dillon State Park - Youth Shotgun
  • Eagle Creek Wildlife Area - Youth

Waterfowl lottery hunt locations:

  • Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area
  • Mosquito Lake State Park (Sept. Goose and Teal)
  • Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area (Sept. Goose and Teal)
  • Magee Marsh Wildlife Area
  • Ottawa National Willife Refuge
  • Mercer Wildlife Area
  • Magee Marsh Wildlife Area (Sept. Goose and Teal)
  • Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area
  • Ladue Wildlife Area (Sept. Goose and Teal)
  • Mogadore Reservoir (Sept. Goose and Teal)
  • Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area (Sept. Goose and Teal)
  • Deer Creek State Park (Sept. Goose and Teal)
  • Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area
  • Ladue Wildlife Area
  • Mogadore Reservoir
  • Nimisila Reservoir
  • Pipe Creek Wildlife Area
  • Putnam Marsh / E. Sandusky Bay
  • West Branch State Park (Sept. Goose and Teal)
  • Andreoff Wildlife Area (Sept. Goose and Teal)
  • Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area (Sept. Goose and Teal)
  • Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge - Mobility Impaired
  • Pipe Creek Wildlife Area (Sept. Goose and Teal)
  • Hueston Woods State Park (Sept. Goose and Teal)
  • Nimisila Reservoir (Sept. Goose and Teal)
  • Putnam Marsh/E Sandusky Bay (Sept. Goose and Teal)
  • Magee Marsh State
  • Maumee Bay (Sept. Goose And Teal)
  • Mercer Wildlife Area Sept Goose And Teal
  • Magee Marsh Wildlife Area- Youth
  • Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge- Youth
  • Mercer Wildlife Area- Youth
  • Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area- Youth
  • Hebron Fish Hatchery- Youth
  • Hebron Fish Hatchery
  • Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area- Youth
  • Howard Marsh- Youth
  • Howard Marsh
  • Andreoff Wildlife Area
  • Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area- Youth
  • Ladue Wildlife Area- Youth
  • Mogadore Reservoir- Youth
  • Nimisila Reservoir- Youth
  • Pipe Creek Wildlife Area- Youth
  • Andreoff Wildlife Area- Youth
  • Mercer Wildlife Area Mentor

All applicants are required to have a valid Ohio hunting license and meet age requirements for each designated hunt. Youth hunters need to be under the age of 18 at the time of the hunt to participate. Those applying for deer hunts will also need a valid Ohio deer permit. Find more information at wildohio.gov on the controlled hunt page.

Participants may use a deer management permit, which costs $15 and may be used to harvest antlerless deer during controlled deer hunts. Deer management permits are valid statewide until Dec. 21.