The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Natural Areas and Preserves is holding special deer hunts at nine state nature preserves that have native plant communities that are threatened by high deer populations.

To participate in the hunts, hunters must attend a mandatory meeting for each preserve. Hunters will then be able to buy a $5 ticket to be entered into the preserve’s special hunt drawing.

The mandatory meetings for the deer hunts will be held at different state preserves from Aug.19 through Sept. 9.

Winners of the drawing will be asked to stay for a pre-hunt orientation, according to the release.

Other hunt requirements include:

Hunters need a valid 2023-2024 hunting license to purchase tickets.

Names will be randomly drawn. Those selected will be assigned a specific time to hunt. For archery hunts, there will be an orientation immediately following the drawing.

Hunters will be allowed to hunt with a partner, who is not required to attend the drawing or orientation.

Hunters interested in both the Lake Katharine gun and archery hunts will have to buy separate lottery tickets for each event.

According to the release, some of the hunts will be “antlerless deer only.”For more information, contact Preserve Manager Eric Sagasser at (937) 418-8710 or eric.sagasser@dnr.ohio.gov