It is the favorite time of year for many. Viewed as a holiday by more than one. Deer gun week started this past Monday, November 28th, 2016 and lasted a week. Last season, roughly 37% of the total number of deer harvested in Ohio were harvested during the deer gun week. Deer harvested in Franklin County contributed to less than 0.5% of the total deer harvest in Ohio. This might largely be due to the lack of land for hunting, and an even lesser amount of public land for hunting, in Franklin County. One of the few, if not the only piece, of public land for hunting in Franklin County is the public hunting area at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
The public hunting area at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park is about 800 acres and is open to small game, deer and waterfowl hunting in accordance with all ODNR and Metro Parks rules and regulations. You can access the areas along State Route 665 & Harrisburg-Georgesville and Biggart roads. Metro Parks rangers and ODNR officers patrol the public hunting area checking hunting licenses, illegal hunting activities and safety concerns. Rangers from all over the park district come in to assist as the area is popular with hunters.