Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR)

What Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) does

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is a state government agency established in 1949, headquartered at 2045 Morse Road in Columbus, Ohio, and led by Director Mary Mertz. It is responsible for balancing the wise use and protection of Ohio's natural resources through 12 operational divisions covering Wildlife, Parks and Watercraft, Forestry, Geological Survey, Oil and Gas Resources, Mineral Resources Management, Engineering, Water Resources, Coastal Management, Natural Areas and Preserves, Real Estate and Land Management, and Law Enforcement. The agency employs more than 2,000 people with a physical presence in all 88 Ohio counties and operates 75+ state parks, 10 resort lodges, and conservation initiatives such as the H2Ohio wetland program and the 2024-launched Buckeye State Tree Nursery.

ODNR's core digital product surface includes the Ohio Wildlife Licensing System (OWLS) website and the HuntFish OH mobile application — both operated under contract with Sovereign Sportsman Solutions — and the ReserveOhio 24/7 online reservation system supported by a call center for campsite, cabin, and day-use bookings. The agency's underlying platform runs on IBM WebSphere Portal with OHID-based authentication for secure citizen access. Programs such as the Turn In a Poacher (TIP) hotline, Wildlife Legacy Stamp, Ohio Women's Outdoor Adventure Weekend, Sandhill Crane Count, and the Digital Passport for state park visits round out the service portfolio.

The revenue model is hybrid, blending state appropriations and federal grants with self-generated streams from hunting/fishing/trapping licenses and permits (youth $10, resident adult $19, nonresident $180.96, lifetime $449.28), camping and recreation fees (with a $6.50 reservation fee and Golden Buckeye 50% Sun-Thu discount), resort lodge lodging and conference revenue, publications and merchandise including WildOhio Magazine, and conservation stamps ($15 Wetlands Habitat, $25 Federal Migratory Bird, $15 Wildlife Legacy). Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer engagement through 88-county physical presence, event-driven outreach (Ohio State Fair, women's outdoor weekend, crane counts), and community-led volunteer programs in stream monitoring, hunter education, and trail maintenance. Customer segments span outdoor enthusiasts (primary), Ohio landowners, energy and industrial companies requiring oil/gas, mining, and water permits, and municipalities needing floodplain and water resource support.

Name

Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR)

Legal name

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Website

https://ohiodnr.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is a state government agency managing Ohio's wildlife, parks, forests, water, oil and gas, and mining through 12 divisions and 2,000+ employees serving residents and visitors across all 88 counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Licensing and Permits: Revenue from hunting licenses, fishing licenses, trapping permits, and various game-specific permits (deer, turkey, waterfowl) with pricing tiers for residents, non-residents, youth, seniors, and lifetime options
2. Camping and Recreation Fees: Fees from campsite reservations, cabin rentals, unique getaway rentals (yurts, camper cabins), and day-use facilities with seasonal pricing and discounts
3. Resort Lodge Operations: Revenue from 10 Ohio state park resort lodges offering lodging, dining, conference facilities, and recreational activities
4. Publications and Merchandise: Sales of WildOhio Magazine subscriptions, Ohio Geology Publications, State Parks merchandise, gift cards, specialty license plates, and donations
5. Stamps and Endorsements: Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp ($15), Federal Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp ($25), and Wildlife Legacy Stamp ($15) supporting conservation programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ODNR manages Ohio's natural resources through state parks, wildlife conservation, hunting and fishing licensing, oil and gas regulation, mining oversight, water resources, and forestry programs. The agency sells hunting/fishing licenses, camping reservations, resort lodge accommodations, special-use permits, and merchandise, while also issuing regulatory permits to energy, mining, and water-use businesses and grants to municipalities.

Product overview

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) operates a comprehensive portfolio of natural resource management and outdoor recreation products and services. The core offering includes the Ohio Wildlife Licensing System (OWLS) website and HuntFish OH mobile app for hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses; the ReserveOhio online camping reservation system for state parks accommodations including 10 resort lodges, campgrounds, and cabins; and the Ohio State Parks system providing diverse outdoor recreation experiences. Supporting products include the Buckeye State Tree Nursery for conservation seedling cultivation, specialty license plates and merchandise, WildOhio Magazine publications, the Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp for conservation funding, the Turn In a Poacher (TIP) wildlife violation reporting program, and seasonal programs like the Ohio Women's Outdoor Adventure Weekend and Governor's Lake Erie Fish Ohio Day. The department also manages regulatory permits for commercial activities including oil and gas, mining, and water use. The OWLS and HuntFish OH products are developed under contract with Sovereign Sportsman Solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HuntFish OH: Mobile app for hunting and fishing license management and wildlife licensing system access
• Ohio State Parks
• Buckeye State Tree Nursery
• Great Ohio Lodges
• Ohio Wildlife Licensing System (OWLS)

Products and services

• Ohio Wildlife Licensing System (OWLS) A recreational licensing website where Ohio residents and visitors purchase hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and permits. Supports online game check, controlled-hunt lottery applications, hunter/trapper education enrollment, and customer account management.
• HuntFish OH Mobile App A mobile application that connects to the Ohio Wildlife Licensing System (OWLS), enabling users to purchase licenses, complete Harvest Information Program (HIP) surveys, display licenses on their smartphones, and manage their outdoor recreation accounts.
• ReserveOhio Online Camping Reservation System 24/7 online reservation platform for booking campsites, cabins, and unique getaway rentals at Ohio State Parks. Supports reservation windows of 6 months for campsites and 12 months for cabins, with call center support at (866) 644-6727 from 7am-7pm daily.
• Ohio State Parks System Ohio's network of 75+ state parks offering outdoor recreation including camping, hiking, boating, fishing, hunting, mountain biking, and wildlife watching, with associated campgrounds, cabins, and unique getaway rentals.
• Ohio State Park Resort Lodges Ten resort lodges and conference centers located at Ohio State Parks (Burr Oak, Deer Creek, The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake, Hueston Woods, Hocking Hills, Maumee Bay, Mohican, Punderson Manor, Salt Fork, and Shawnee) offering lodging rooms, dining, conference facilities, and access to park amenities.
• Hunting Licenses and Permits Hunting license products for Ohio residents, non-residents, youth, and seniors, including multi-year and lifetime options, plus permits for deer, turkey, migratory birds, fur-bearing animals, and shooting-range access.
• Fishing Licenses Fishing license products for Ohio residents and non-residents, including single-day, annual, multi-year, and lifetime options, plus Lake Erie fishing guide and boat captain licensing.
• Turn In a Poacher (TIP) Program A wildlife violation reporting program that enables citizens to report poaching and other wildlife crimes via the 1-800-POACHER hotline or online form. The program is funded by donations and supports curtailment of poaching throughout Ohio.
• Buckeye State Tree Nursery A tree seedling cultivation program operated by the ODNR Division of Forestry that grows seedlings from approximately 600,000 seeds annually and distributes them to support conservation initiatives including windbreak programs, mine reclamation, H2Ohio wetland projects, and the Girl Scouts 250,000-tree partnership.
• Special Use Permits Permits for special activities including fishing tournaments, nature preserve access, special events, collecting and research, nuisance wildlife management, and wildlife specialty permits.
• WildOhio Magazine A subscription magazine covering Ohio wildlife, conservation, hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation topics, produced by ODNR.
• Ohio Geology Publications Educational publications and materials about Ohio's geology, minerals, fossils, and natural history, produced by the ODNR Division of Geological Survey.
• Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp A $15 collectible stamp that supports wildlife habitat restoration, land purchases, endangered species protection, and wildlife research. Purchasers receive a stamp, pin, window cling, and commemorative card, plus 25% off lodge bookings.
• Ohio State Parks Gift Cards Gift cards and certificates accepted for reservations and purchases at Ohio State Parks, lodges, and campgrounds.
• Regulatory Permits (Oil and Gas, Mining, Water Use, Coastal) Regulatory permits issued by ODNR covering oil and gas drilling, mining operations, water withdrawals, Lake Erie coastal permits, commercial wildlife activities, and dam safety oversight for energy, industrial, and commercial operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• 344 sandhill cranes counted in Ohio during 2026 Midwest Crane Count through volunteer coordination
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Girl Scouts of the USAmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership to plant 250,000 trees through the Buckeye State Tree Nursery initiative, supporting conservation education and youth engagement in environmental stewardship
• Ohio Clean Marinas ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between ODNR Division of Parks and Watercraft, Ohio Coastal Management Program, and Ohio Sea Grant to promote environmental best practices at marinas
• Ohio Sea GrantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in aquatic conservation and education programs, including the Great Lakes Aquatic Invasive Species Landing Blitz initiative
• Ohio Bird Conservation InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership coordinating the annual Midwest Crane Count and sandhill crane conservation efforts across Ohio
• International Crane FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical partner for sandhill crane population monitoring and crane conservation science programs
• H2Ohio ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWetland conservation initiative using nursery seedlings to prevent algal blooms in Lake Erie and manage water quality statewide
• Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInter-state collaboration on Extended Producer Responsibility framework for battery recycling, sharing best practices for collection and recycling programs

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: Midwest state DNR with parallel responsibilities in state parks, wildlife management, forestry, and water resources, providing strong operational comparability to ODNR.
• Indiana Department of Natural Resources: Indiana's state natural resources agency administering state parks, fish and wildlife, forestry, and outdoor recreation with similar service portfolio and Midwest operational context.
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: Wisconsin's state DNR, an existing ODNR inter-state collaborator on Extended Producer Responsibility for battery recycling. Comparable in mandate, division structure, and conservation programming.
• Illinois Department of Natural Resources: Illinois's state natural resources agency administering state parks, fish and wildlife, and conservation lands, serving as a closely comparable Midwest peer.
• Michigan Department of Natural Resources: Direct Midwest state DNR peer managing Michigan's parks, forests, wildlife, and fisheries with similar licensing, camping, and lodge operations. Comparable in scale and mandate breadth to ODNR.
• Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: Pennsylvania's state-level natural resources agency with comparable structure, administering state parks, forests, wildlife, and conservation programs across the commonwealth. Most direct functional peer to ODNR among neighboring Mid-Atlantic/Midwest states.
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation: Large state-level environmental and natural resources agency managing parks, wildlife, forests, and regulatory permitting with similar statutory authority and multi-division structure.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Federal-level wildlife and natural resources agency with broader national jurisdiction. Not a direct competitor, but a federal counterpart that co-administers conservation programs and provides grant funding relevant to ODNR's operations.

Regional players

• Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources: Regional Midwest/Ohio Valley state wildlife agency focused primarily on fish and wildlife management, hunting/fishing licensing, and conservation — a strong partial-overlap peer for ODNR's Division of Wildlife mandate.
• West Virginia Division of Natural Resources: Adjacent Appalachian state DNR with overlapping wildlife, parks, and forestry mandates; relevant regional peer for ODNR's conservation programming and outdoor recreation portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ohiodnr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/theohiodnr
• Facebookfacebook.com/ohiodnr
• Instagraminstagram.com/ohiodnr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ohio-department-of-natural-resources-division-of-geological-survey

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR)