Pheasant Hunting in Ohio - List Of Top Bird Hunting Locations In Ohio!

While Ohio may not top a pheasant hunter's list of places to hunt in his lifetime, with preservation efforts and new hunting land popping up everywhere in recent years, it is fast becoming a Midwest pheasant hunting destination.

While the top places for upland bird hunting are usually South Dakota, Kansas, Alabama, and others, Ohio has seen a resurgence in this popular sport. Previous to this the only sportsmen hunting pheasant in Ohio were Ohio natives themselves. With one out of every seven people hunting or fishing in Ohio, many local economies have come to depend on the sportsmen for their livelihood. There are 33,015 jobs supplied directly by Ohio sportsmen, which is more than what Ohio State University provides at 26,000. The jobs sportsmen provide equal to $823 million dollars worth of salaries and a state tax revenue of $139.5 million. To add to that, Ohio sportsmen spent $1.7 billion, which exceeds the combined receipts of the films Titanic, Star Wars, and E.T. at $1.49 billion.

To help maintain a healthy pheasant population, Ohio recently released more than 15,000 pheasants in 29 public hunting areas. Ohio pheasant season also remains open later than most, into January. The state has also added an additional 5,000 acres of hunting land available in the state's southeast region. This is also good news for Ohio turkey hunters who gained 15,896 acres in Vinton Country as a working forest and outdoor recreation area.

Southeast Ohio is home to Hocking Hills, a great hunting destination not just for the pheasant population, but also for the striking landscapes, woodlands, and various vegetation and outcroppings. Some of the best spots to take advantage of this scenery are Zaleski State Forest, Tar Hollow State Park, Wayne National Forest, and Hocking State Forest. With meandering trails, soaring cliffs, hidden caves, and more than 10,000 acres for the hunter to take advantage of, Ohio is a first class hunter's paradise. An Ohio pheasant hunt also makes a great weekend trip as it's so centrally located to many of the Midwest states.

Be sure to check local hunting regulations and license requirements while planning your trip to Ohio pheasant country. Bag limits change from year to year, as do specific dates pertaining to hunting season. As always, exercise safety and caution when out in the field; be sure to wear orange visible to other hunters, and for those under the age of 15, an adult 18 years or older is required.