DMU Highland, Ohio

Highland County sits in south-central Ohio where the gently rolling Corn Belt transitions toward the edge of the unglaciated Appalachian Plateau. Northern portions carry traces of Illinoian glacial till with smoother ridge-and-swale topography, while southern sections grow progressively more rugged with narrow valleys, steep wooded knobs, and limestone gorges carved by Rocky Fork Creek through dolomite bedrock. Elevations span roughly 900 to 1,343 feet at Washburn Hill. Land cover is a patchwork of row-crop agriculture, fencerow woodlots, and mixed-hardwood and pine forest tracts. Rocky Fork Creek and its 2,080-acre impoundment anchor the western portion of the county; Paint Creek and its tributaries drain the eastern half toward the Scioto River. The creek bottoms and brushy field edges between ag and timber are classic whitetail travel corridors.

Moderate. The county's relatively limited public land footprint keeps pressure concentrated at Fallsville Wildlife Area, which can become noticeably crowded on opening weekend of gun season. Rocky Fork State Park receives lighter deer hunting pressure due to its recreational use emphasis and restricted hunting zones. Outside these two main public tracts, the county sees typical southern Ohio private-land pressure — managed leases and family farms — which tends to keep public areas busy but overall density below the heavily pressured northern Ohio agricultural counties.

Ohio uses county-level antlerless bag limits rather than lettered zones. For the 2026-27 season, Highland County hunters may take up to six deer total per license year with no more than one antlered deer. Antlerless deer beyond the basic license are taken via Deer Management Permits (DMPs), which are valid statewide throughout all deer seasons on both private and public land. On public hunting areas such as Fallsville Wildlife Area and Rocky Fork State Park, hunters may take up to two antlerless deer. The county's large harvest totals — over 3,300 deer taken in the 2024-25 season — reflect strong antlerless opportunity. No county-specific permit drawing is required; DMPs are available through ODNR's online license system.

For the 2026-27 license year, statewide deer seasons are: Archery, Sept. 26, 2026 through Feb. 7, 2027; Youth Gun, Nov. 21-22, 2026; Gun, Nov. 30 through Dec. 6, 2026 and Dec. 19-20, 2026; Muzzleloader, Jan. 2-5, 2027. Ohio spring turkey season typically runs late April through May statewide. Fallsville Wildlife Area and the county's mixed farmland and woodlot landscape also support Eastern wild turkey, squirrel, rabbit, and ring-necked pheasant. Rocky Fork Lake provides waterfowl hunting opportunities under statewide migratory bird seasons. Coyote hunting is permitted year-round on public land with a valid Ohio hunting license.

Highland County is part of the south-central Ohio trophy whitetail corridor that consistently produces record-class bucks — one Highland County farm yielded a 232 5/8-inch non-typical whitetail with the longest main beams ever recorded in Ohio (right beam 34 5/8 inches, left 35 1/8 inches). Multiple guided outfitters operate in the county targeting 160-inch-plus bucks on private managed ground. The blend of agricultural food sources (corn and soybeans) with adjacent hardwood ridges and river-bottom bedding cover creates ideal deer habitat. Fallsville Wildlife Area is the best self-guided public option — 1,785 acres of rolling hardwood cover with deer and turkey accessible at no cost. Rocky Fork State Park adds scenic gorge-country hunting within a geologically spectacular landscape.