TOLEDO UNIT
The Toledo Urban Deer Unit encompasses all of Lucas County and that portion of Wood County where state Route 64 intersects with the Maumee River, continues north on state Route 65 to Five Point Road, east on Five Point Road to state Route 25 north to I-475 and then east to I-75, ending where I-75 meets the Maumee River.

Though this is a relatively small unit, there is some public hunting ground within its boundaries.

“There’s a small portion of public land in Maumee State Forest in Lucas County. Also, in the eastern part there are two wildlife areas. These are areas that are managed for waterfowl, but hunters will find some deer,” said Scott Butterworth, the ODOW’s District Two wildlife management supervisor

Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area borders Maumee Bay State Park and the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in Lucas County, covering 558 acres. Much of this area is marshland or open water. It is north of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. Heading east from Toledo, turn off state Route 2 onto Bono Road.

The Mallard Club Wildlife Area also borders the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in Lucas County. To get there, turn off state Route 2 on Decant Road or Cousino Road. It covers 402 acres, but like Metzger Marsh, much of it is not suitable for hunting deer.

Maumee State Forest covers 3,068 acres where Fulton County, Henry County and Lucas County join, south of Swanton on county Road D.

According to Butterworth, deer densities have remained about the same with the program.

Hunters are reminded that Ohio’s Urban Deer Program is not set up as a strategy for hunting public land. Biologist Tonkovich suggested that the first place to start looking into an urban deer hunt is at the district Ohio Division of Wildlife headquarters.

For more information about urban deer hunting opportunities in Ohio, contact the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s headquarters, 1840 Belcher Drive, Columbus, OH 43224-1329. Call (614) 265-6300; or log on to OhioDNR.com.

Maps and descriptions of Ohio’s Urban Deer Units are available on that Web site.

For travel information, contact the Ohio Division of Travel and Tourism at OhioTourism.com, or call them at 1-800-BUCKEYE.