Three white-tailed deer stand in snowy forest. — White-tailed Deer Hunting helps manage deer populations to prevent over-browsing of our forests. © Kent Mason

Hunting Opportunities at Ohio Preserves

Hunting is an important part of Ohio’s history, culture and economy, and it can also play an important role in conservation. Learn more about hunting opportunities at TNC preserves in Ohio.

Updated July 17, 2026 | June 02, 2022

Hunting Overview
Hunting Locations
Hunting Permits
Hunting Guidelines
FAQ

Prior to colonization, Ohio’s forests were home to predators like wolves that helped balance populations of smaller herbivorous wildlife. But as predator populations have declined due to habitat destruction and fragmentation, populations of some species—like white-tailed deer—have grown beyond what some areas can support without causing degradation to the environment.

Edge of Appalachia Preserve Hunting in specified areas of our Edge of Appalachia Preserve is by permit only. © Randall Schieber

Why We Allow Hunting

Growing populations of white-tailed deer in Ohio have resulted in degradation of many natural areas due to increased deer browse. Deer feed primarily on the leaves, twigs and buds of woody plants. In forests, young trees are particularly susceptible to deer browse. But hunting can help. TNC land managers carefully consider the health and integrity of the preserves we steward and create management plans that consider environmental, community and cultural factors. In some areas, land managers have determined that limited hunting opportunities can help our preserves thrive.

Where We Allow Hunting

Currently, hunting opportunities exist at our Edge of Appalachia Preserve in Adams County and our Morgan Swamp Preserve in Ashtabula County.

Edge of Appalachia Preserve Hunting areas at our Edge of Appalachia Preserve are rugged and mostly wooded. © David Ike

Hunting at Edge of Appalachia

For 20 years, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has offered free, written permission to hunt white-tailed deer on a portion of the Edge of Appalachia Preserve. TNC is proud to continue to offer this unique experience at no cost and to support the tradition of hunting in southern Ohio. Providing opportunity for hunting also helps control the deer population, which is an important land management tool toward achieving our conservation goals. These deer hunting permits are popular, and demand is high.

Historically, nearly half of these special permits have been reserved for local residents—those who permanently reside in Adams County. This season, TNC has decided to extend all hunting permits to only those who permanently reside in Adams County. We have made this change in an effort to better serve our Adams County neighbors. This change brings our hunting program more in line with our other community-centered projects, such as our Edge of Appalachia-Adams County Fund grants and scholarships, hay leases and our support for local townships.

Those who reside outside of Adams County still have many options for public hunting in the area, including Tranquility Wildlife Area, Brush Creek State Forest and Shawnee State Forest. Together, these areas provide more than 80,000 acres of free, public hunting.

Morgan Swamp Preserve Hunting areas at our Morgan Swamp Preserve are rugged and mostly wooded. © Terry Seidel/TNC

Hunting at Morgan Swamp

The Nature Conservancy provides for limited hunting by written permission at Morgan Swamp Preserve in a designated area. This area is rugged and mostly wooded. A limited number of permits will be issued this year. These permits are not first-come, first-served but are granted by proximity to the preserve, with local hunters receiving preference.

How to Apply for a Hunting Permit

Permission to hunt is granted by Nature Conservancy staff to a limited number of applicants each year.

The Morgan Swamp deer hunting permit application is open here for the 2026-2027 season until August 9.

The Edge of Appalachia deer hunting permit applications will be available August 17, 2026, and the permit applications should close December 23, 2026. Please note, there will be a digital survey sent out at the end of the deer hunting season that hunters will be required to submit in order to be considered for a hunting permit next season. To submit an application for a deer hunting permit for Edge of Appalachia, please visit our application forms below.

For general hunting or permit questions, please contact:

Morgan Swamp Preserve: Derrick Cooper, derrick.cooper@TNC.org
Edge of Appalachia Preserve: Rich McCarty, 937-544-2880 ext. 16 or rmccarty@tnc.org

Hunting Guidelines

Before applying for a hunting permit, please read our hunting guidelines.

Three white-tailed deer bucks: Three bucks, male White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) at Blackwater Falls State Park in West Virginia. Blackwater Falls State Park is located in the Allegheny Mountains © Kent Mason

Morgan Swamp Preserve: Dancing leaves across the field © Carl E. Feather

White-tailed deer: High populations of white-tailed deer can threaten preserves through over-browsing and transmitting disease. © Janet Haas

Edge of Appalachia Preserve fall foliage.

The Hunter and Guest shall abide by the following conditions and restrictions at all times:

The Hunter and Guest must comply with all local, state, and federal laws and ordinances governing hunting activities, including obtaining government licenses or permits required. All federal and state hunting and game laws and regulations must be followed. Please refer to the current Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations available from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife.
No species other than white-tailed deer may be hunted under this Permit.
Please respect private property. Hunters are responsible for staying within preserve boundaries. Trespassing on adjacent private lands is expressly prohibited. TNC land may not be accessed from adjacent private land without the expressed permission of that landowner.
No hunting is allowed within a 1,000-foot radius of any residence.
Morgan Swamp: No permanent deer stands are allowed. Deer stands may not be nailed, bolted or otherwise attached to trees using any hardware that penetrates the tree. Only ladder stands—no climbing stands or climbing with spikes. All stands/blinds must be completely removed from the preserve by March 1st, 2026. Any stands/blinds found after this date shall become the property of TNC and may be removed by TNC.
Edge of Appalachia: No permanent deer stands are allowed. Deer stands may not be nailed, bolted or otherwise attached to trees using any hardware that penetrates the tree. Only ladder stands and climbing stands permitted - no climbing trees with spikes. All stands/blinds must be completely removed from the preserve by February 2, 2026. Any stands/blinds found after this date shall become the property of TNC and may be removed by TNC.
Any deer stands or blinds left for more than one day must be visibly tagged with the permit number assigned to the hunter who placed it. The tag and permit number must be easily visible from the ground. Any stand or blind found without a tag and permit number will be assumed to belong to an unpermitted hunter and will be immediately removed.
No baiting is allowed on TNC property. This includes corn or apple piles, mineral licks, etc.
No motorized vehicles of any kind are allowed on TNC land.
No unnecessary discharge of any firearm, bow, or crossbow is allowed (including target practice).
No vegetation may be cut or removed.
Release of any animal species, native or non-native (such as raccoon), is strictly forbidden.
No fires, camping or littering is allowed. Please remove used cartridges from the site.
Do not field dress within 100 ft. of trails or in parking areas.
Alcohol is prohibited on TNC property.
For our Morgan Swamp Preserve, hunting on TNC land south of Shaffer Road to TNC’s office on Callender Road is bow only.

Hunting FAQs

Yes. Special permits are required to hunt at TNC properties. For more information about applying for a hunting permit, see section on Hunting Permits.
At this time, hunting is permitted by permit-only at our Edge of Applachia Preserve in southern Ohio and our Morgan Swamp Preserve in northeast Ohio.
For information on Ohio hunting season dates, visit the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Hunting and Trapping Regulations webpage.
Our 2025 Morgan Swamp hunting permit application period is open July 7 – August 8, 2025.

Our Edge of Appalachia deer hunting permit applications will be available August 18 – December 22, 2025.

Applications may be accepted after the initial application period at the discretion of preserve staff based on permit availability.
For general hunting questions for our Morgan Swamp Preserve, please contact Derrick Cooper at derrick.cooper@tnc.org.

For general hunting questions for our Edge of Appalachia Preserve, please contact Rich McCarty at 937-544-2880 ext. 16.

Additional Hunting Resources

ODNR Hunting and Trapping Regulations

Lush green vegetation surrounds stream in forest.

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Hunting Opportunities at Ohio Preserves

Why We Allow Hunting

Where We Allow Hunting

Hunting at Edge of Appalachia