Blog · October 14, 2026 · Ohio
The Scioto County Hunting Land and private boundaries
Parcel lines and public-land maps work together near Shawnee State Park.
Main page: Scioto County, OH GIS & Parcel Viewer (official map link, county facts and neighboring maps).
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Planning a hunt near Rarden? The Scioto County hunting land is really two maps: where public access exists, and who owns everything else. In this Scioto County guide: where public hunting land is mapped, how to read private parcel lines, and how to ask for permission.
The Scioto County hunting land: start here
In and around Franklin Furnace, start with Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife for public areas, with rules that vary by area.
The viewer Scioto County publishes
Property in and around South Webster appear on the Ohio Statewide Parcels layer in ArcGIS Map Viewer, which opens without registering. Without an address in hand, pan along the nearest road and click the parcel itself, which applies near Friendship as much as anywhere. For a home near Wayne National Forest, save the parcel ID from that panel; each clerk in the county uses it to find the file.
On site with the map
Most viewers work in a phone browser, useful out on a road near Rarden, though signal can drop in rural spots. A printout of the tract near Clarktown helps when you meet an owner or agent.
Parcel lines for hunters
For private ground, the Ohio Statewide Parcels layer in ArcGIS Map Viewer is the free source, so you can see who owns the land near Franklin Furnace.
Reading the legal description
Tracts outside towns near Shawnee State Park are often described by metes and bounds, which trace the boundary call by call. Town lots near Otway refer to a recorded plat, making them easier to find. Copy the legal description from the record for the parcel near Rarden when you talk to a surveyor.
Scouting from the aerial
On the aerial around South Webster, look for field edges, creek bottoms and timber lines; then confirm whose land each feature is on.
Good habits afield
Respect livestock and crops around New Boston, and tell someone where you'll be; it keeps permission coming back.
Getting answers from the right desk
Anything recorded against property around New Boston come from the County Recorder, usually searchable by name or document number. Building or septic questions for a lot near Lucasville are for the local planning and health departments, and the answer depends on jurisdiction.
Finding a landowner
If the land is near Lucasville, offer details: who you are, when you'd hunt and how to reach you, and respect a no.
Before you lean on the lines
If you're looking near Portsmouth, the acreage figure is an estimate; just a licensed surveyor sets the real lines on the ground. For a parcel near Shawnee State Park, owner names and values update on a schedule, so a deed recorded last month may not show yet.
Rules and responsibility
Seasons, licenses and trespass laws are set by the state, and know your state's trespass rules for land around Shawnee State Park.
Neighboring parcel maps
Scioto County touches Greenup County, KY, Lewis County, KY, Adams County, Jackson County, and Lawrence County; every one of them runs a separate parcel map. A tract near the line by Franklin Furnace can show up across two assessors' files, so check the neighboring map as well. For a home near Franklin Furnace, our state page lists every bordering county map across Ohio.
Scioto County in a few facts
Portsmouth serves as the county seat, which is where the courthouse records live. Smaller places on the map include New Boston, Otway, Rarden, and South Webster, where town lots give way to larger tracts. About 71,969 people live in the county (Census Bureau estimate, 2023) across about 610 square miles for land near Clarktown. Scioto County dates to 1803, which matters when you trace an old farm's title. Landmarks such as Shawnee State Park are easy to spot when you zoom out.
The paper trail behind a parcel
For a tract near South Webster, the map is an index, not the title: recorded deeds, plats and easements for parcels in the county are kept by the County Recorder. For acreage around South Webster, have ready the document number shown in the record panel and the lookup takes minutes.
Quick answers
When is hunting season in Ohio for land near Otway?
On ground around Shawnee State Park, check Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife for current dates and rules.
Is verbal permission enough around Portsmouth?
If the land is near Otway, a short letter or visit before the season works best; carry it with you.
Is there public land to hunt in Scioto County?
For acreage around South Webster, start with Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife area listings; read the regulations for each.
How do I find who owns land to hunt near Shawnee State Park?
For most people, the county viewer shows owners for tracts near McDermott; write before the season.
Can I settle a boundary dispute with the map near Wayne National Forest?
The map near Wayne National Forest is approximate; a survey sets the real corners
Open the official Scioto County, OH parcel map See it in the Platbookmapper directory
Not a survey. County GIS and tax parcel maps are assessment and planning layers. They are not a substitute for a recorded plat, deed, or licensed survey, especially for fences, setbacks, or boundary disputes.