Athens Conservancy protects land and diverse ecosystems in southeast Ohio. To manage deer over-population, which can adversely impact native plants and habitats, the Conservancy permits archery deer hunting on several preserves. The archery deer season is currently in effect and ends on Feb. 2, 2025. The preserves include Baker, Blair, Brookville, Canaan, Deep Hollow-Dark Skies, Lindy Roosenburg, Marietta Run, Mary Beth Zak Lohse, Skunk Run, and Tucker Run Preserves.. Hunters must obtain an archery deer hunting permit from Athens Conservancy; more information is available here.
Additional hunting opportunities are available on the Lois Busch Winner Nature Preserve (Winner Woods) near Stewart. For the 2024-2025 hunting season, the preserve is enrolled in the ODNR Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership (OLHAP). Public hunting access is granted through an on-line check-in system available at wildohio.gov.
Hunting has been suspended in the Bluebell and Poston preserves because of restricted access through the adjacent AEP lands. Public access to these preserves currently is limited to non-motorized vehicle use only via the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway. All other access points are closed to the public.
All outdoor participants are encouraged to be aware of and respect all users and habitats on our preserves. Park only in designed areas and respect the rights of all adjacent landowners. During hunting season, non-hunters visiting preserves where hunting is allowed are urged to wear brightly colored clothing and avoid early morning or late afternoon time periods. Hunters are reminded to use our foot trail system only for accessing their hunting locations and to follow all Ohio Division of Wildlife regulations.