Athens Conservancy protects land representing diverse ecosystems in southeast Ohio with a full complement of species. In an effort to manage deer browsing on native plants, which can significantly impact plant diversity and abundance, Athens Conservancy calls upon the hunting community to help reduce the deer herd on specific properties within its preserve system. Hunting is by permit only. All Ohio Department of Natural Resources rules and regulations apply.
Hunting of any animal other than deer is strictly prohibited. Hunters may participate in archery hunting only, with one exception. Because of a long-established gun hunting program at the Baker Preserve, we will continue allowing gun hunting for deer there under careful management. Target shooting is prohibited on all preserves.
There is no fee for this hunting program, though we do encourage hunters to become members of Athens Conservancy. All invited participants will be issued written permits. All hunters must complete and submit their permits to Athens Conservancy, including their contact information, a valid driver’s license, and a current State of Ohio hunting customer ID.
Each preserve open to hunting has a “Lead Hunter” who coordinates hunting at that preserve in accordance with our hunting policy. This volunteer Lead Hunter is the main contact for each preserve and schedules interested hunters, monitors deer harvests, and communicates with the Conservancy’s Board of Directors. If you are interested in learning more about the Lead Hunter role, please contact Advisory Board member Joe Brehm at (614) 886-5668.
During deer season, Athens Conservancy will coordinate hunting at the following preserves. Lead Hunters are listed below, too:
Baker Preserve: Greg Hopkins (740) 591-5633; gregkh37@yahoo.com
Bluebell and Poston Preserves: RJ Weider (740) 412-0709; ronweider3@gmail.com
Brookville Preserve: Tim Ferrel: (304) 723-8651
Canaan Preserve: Mike Rex (740) 591-4746; mikerex45701@gmail.com
Mary Beth Zak Lohse and Blair Preserves: Justin Walters (304) 784-2441; iwalters80@yahoo.com
Skunk Run Preserve: (check back soon)
Tucker Run Preserve: Evan Shaw (740) 274-0831; evanlshaw@gmail.com
Deep Hollow-Dark Skies Preserve: Keith Flowers: (740) 818-7346
Athens Conservancy Controlled Deer Hunt Regulations
- Hunting privileges are not transferable to other people or other sites. Hunters may not bring hunting partners not carrying authorized permits.
- All hunters, including the Lead Hunters, must review the Hunting Policy and be familiar with its contents.
- Hunters must carry provided Permit on his or her person at all times when hunting at the site, and present such permit upon request of any Athens Conservancy Board of Directors member, Lead Hunter, or law enforcement officer.
- Hunters must abide by all ODNR hunting rules and regulations.
- Hunter must park his or her vehicle only at approved parking areas. A photocopy of the Permit must be visible on hunter’s dashboard.
- No motorized vehicles are permitted beyond parking areas unless specifically authorized.
- Baiting is NOT ALLOWED on Athens Conservancy Properties.
- HUNTING PRIORITY: Hunting on Athens Conservancy preserves is primarily for population control. With this in mind, we encourage hunters to prioritize the harvesting of does.
- Only deer are legal game on Athens Conservancy properties. Hunting of coyotes and other wildlife is prohibited on Athens Conservancy property.
- REPORTING REQUIREMENT. All harvested deer must be reported to Athens Conservancy within 48 hours of harvest, specifying sex, age if first-year, site, and tag number. This can be done by contacting the Lead Hunter for the respective preserve.
- The Athens Conservancy’s preserves are protected natural areas. Other than the authorized deer hunt, no plants, animals or historical or natural features may be removed.
- Permission from the property owner must be obtained before pursuing a wounded deer onto, or retrieving a dead deer from, adjacent private property WITH THE EXCEPTION that hunters may follow wounded deer onto adjacent Athens Conservancy tracts or adjacent public land when applicable.
- Hunters may hunt only with the implements and during the dates specified in this permit package.
- Portable tree stands may be used, but must carry hunter’s name. No nails, screws, or screw-in steps or any other object may pierce the bark of the tree. Use straps and/or chains only. Tree stands may be erected only during the specified time period of your permit. Stands discovered before or after these dates will become the permanent property of Athens Conservancy.
- Hunters may use the trail system (if one is present) while going to and from hunting, but tree stands must not be erected within 150 feet of a designated hiking trail.
- No deer may be hunted or field dressed within 150 feet of a road, building, or trail, unless specifically authorized.
- Special hunting conditions have been established for certain Athens Conservancy tracts. These will be shared at the orientation meeting and will be considered an extension of these regulations. It is the hunter’s responsibility to understand and abide by all such requirements.
- Failure to comply with the Athens Conservancy regulations, a site’s special conditions, or any Ohio Division of Wildlife regulations will result in the loss of current permit and future hunting privileges at Athens Conservancy sites.
- Future years’ hunts are at the invitation of the Lead Hunter and require a new signed permit. Usually, successful hunters who are regulation-abiding are invited back.
- We ask that hunters help us keep the preserves as pristine as possible by not leaving litter of any kind on our lands. As a courtesy to other preserve users, we also encourage hunters to pick up any litter they encounter.