Because of this, deer will bed on the island of cover and walk or swim through the shallowest portion to get to the mainland each evening. Interesting way to name the swans. hYUl5x([%$[6i{in {8?Y(J)94(9P_O}>jRUDG+;b_bO]})? The more we destroy their habitat, the more theyll move into ours. They hiss and make strange, little sounds that dont really carry far. Terrain Tip: Food and water are still key. Its a surefire way to get up close and personal with a good deer. That can come in the form of tall grasses (like CRP and CREP fields), young oaks, cedars, etc. The area is popular with birders and features nests of sandhill cranes and bald eagles. Think marsh edges, briar patches, early succession clear cuts, young Christmas tree plantations, creek bottoms, windrows, abandoned farmsteads, and fallow fields that have become overgrown with vines and woody vegetation. Below is a list of the best overlooked hotspots that produced my best public land bucks. None of the deer tested positive for CWD, said Geoff Westerfield, the ODOW assistant wildlife manager supervisor in northeast Ohio. - Common, 02 How do I review information for a professional services project? The trumpeter swan is the largest species of waterfowl on earth. Its not easy to find them, but if water levels are low enough, you may see rubs leading to them. Deborah Platt, Robert Platt and TrekOhio.com 2012 to 2021. 78[GhA?7,Y/g j~iv"o(Q?`LG5v@js1?No>!y9Q[;_CI{{5UojMjC%Lk+WbG They like oxbows where the dominant wind blows in from the dry land, they face the river and use the water as an escape. Most of its 9,000 acres are fields with some water and woods, including 3,000 acres set aside as a waterfowl refuge where there's no hunting of any kind allowed. Phone: (330) 674-2300, Furniture Services: Manufacturing & Components. Try to stay left or right of it so your scent isnt as likely to travel through it. All they need is some scattered high spots to lay on. Other times, you can pattern them and determine where they most often emerge when leaving that area. Bucks tend to bed right in the thermal wind tunnel about 1/3 of the way down the ridge and look downhill. The new Frontier, available in 8x42 and 10x42, has all the range-finding capabilities a hunter needs. Its hard to kill a deer like this. Although the distant swans were too far away to identify visually, when I came home and listened to the swan vocalizations (linked to at the bottom of this post), I believe they were all tundra swans. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. A lot of big bucks die of old age by living their lives in these wet areas and rarely venturing onto the dry hunted land in daylight. Killbuck Creek was lined with silver maple and ash trees many of them dead all leaning toward the stream. They had issued press releases, notified community groups and passed out informational material in both counties, as well as around the state. I would try right on the Wayne-Holmes county line. Local farmers plant some of the fields on shares, agreeing to leave part of the crop standing. The state wildlife area is nearly 6000 acres while the marsh itself extends over a much larger area. Lots of big ol Fox squirrles!! "It's about as quiet of an opening day as I've ever seen here," said Brown, as we toured the muddy back roads of the wildlife area looking for a spot of orange that would identify a hunter. If they are, they wont live long. I learned long ago that hunters park in a parking lot, follow a trail way back, and then go left or right. Killbuck Marsh is a 5,761-acre wildlife area in Wayne and Holmes counties located near the town of Wooster. All of the thick, nasty branches and brambles left over from selectively harvested timber leaves a lot of room for deer to find shelter. At the Millersburg check station, Westerfield and Laura Graber, a wildlife research technician, were removing two lymph nodes and the brain stem from checked deer. The shovels piled up the dirt they dug, forming huge dikes on each side of the creek. Just be careful to not spook the deer. It depends on the size of the body of water. About 56 percent of the acquisition unit consists of marsh and swamp that is flooded during some portion of the year. I like to take an aerial and topo and eliminate areas I think people will be hunting. It might lay down before legal light starts. This year weve seen cranes all up and down the valley, from the northernmost parts to the south near Millersburg, Solon said. Create walls and barriers to block deer from going one direction while steering them in another. Solon is especially happy to see those returning. The property was acquiredusing multiple state funds and donations. Hunters have already been assured there has been no record of CWD being contracted by humans. . endstream endobj 66 0 obj <>stream Its hard to get around this. Spot and range targets without wasting valuable seconds switching between gear with Luepold's new rangefinder binocular, the BX-4 Range HD. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Most of the hunting pressure is on 90 percent of the land. Land Location. They can usually escape hunting pressure, too. For small creeks, set up on the bank side where you think the deer will emerge. If it isn't constant or stiff enough, it will likely swirl. The tundra swans have arrived here on the Chesapeake Bay, I can hear them every morning off in the distant coves around us, love it and the Canada Geese honks. Lovely post. Similar to marshes, older bucks love to bed down deep in the swamps. I couldnt tell you the number of times Ive watched a deer (even big deer) emerge from standing corn, soybeans, and milo. There is no silver bullet for hunting big timber. Realtree is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience to everyone, including those with disabilities.2023 Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. All rights reserved. It is also North Americas heaviest, native bird. The biggest advantage of knowing this is that you can eliminate a lot of ground and concentrate on the leeward ridges. The property is inHolmes andWayne counties. Brown suggested contacting the landowner in a bid to try to retrieve the deer. And its almost impossible to do so in the afternoon. Buy Alert:34" EZ Hanger + Arrow Combination. Slip back in there three or four hours before daylight, get set up with several hours of darkness left to go, and wait for the deer to come back to bed. At the other end of the size spectrum, Killbuck WLA covers 5,671 acres in portions of Wayne and Holmes counties, extending north from Holmesville to three miles south of Wooster between state Route 83 on the east and state Route 226 on the west. (Shutterstock image). In the distance, we saw two groups (lamentations) of swans. %PDF-1.6 % Bucks, however, love water. Oftentimes, thermals carry scent up from the valley and normal wind currents carry scent over the top from above. Be sure to check the sites official page for the latest updates. Your scent may blow in the exact direction you want for 50 yards or so, only to make a turn and do something completely different beyond that. The best way Ive found to get after such a buck? Its the same concept. Upland game species are well distributed throughout the wildlife area because of the uniform distribution of cropfields, shrubby coverts, grasslands, and woods. It can be tough to hunt these deer. Seasoned whitetail hunters welcome those attitudes among their less-avid peers; it means they have the woods and fields to themselves during a time of the year and at a point in the season when many actually prefer to be hunting. Maps and more information on hunting deer in Union County, and at Alum Creek and Delaware WLAs, is available by visiting the Wildlife District One office at 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus, 43215; 614-644-3925 or at wildohio.gov. Some head to the middle of the property, some to the edge of private on the far side, and some hunt closer to the parking lot, but very seldom do I see anyone deer hunt along the road between parking areas. The dominant land cover for Unit Killbuck Marsh WA is deciduous forest. Youll need it, too, as deer will likely be bedded close. I guess I'll take a break and go kill a cup of hot coffee.". This blocks the view of the hardwoods on slightly elevated land. The species originates from Europe, Asia and North Africa. Locals called it Big Spring. Its not uncommon to find deer bedded in and around homesteads that have early successional growth around them. When theres a logjam, the river finds a weak spot and creates a channel, said Dennis Solon, manager of the wildlife area. This is where we cover all things deer hunting, from experts and whitetail trivia to news, gear, and hardcore hunting advice. And when conditions became dry, the channel sucked water from the wetland into Killbuck Creek. Hunt the downwind sides of these and wait for deer to ease out of them during daylight. The ones on island high ground may be producing the only acorns to feed on in the area. That said, any type of edge habitat can produce. Or, rather, it does if you have permission to do so on private land. Solon, who started working at Killbuck in 1980, is thrilled that waterfowl and other species are once again making Big Spring their year-round home and breeding grounds. There are no improved facilities at Crown City Wildlife Area and signage is placed as necessary to help wildlife area users locate wildlife area property, so parts can be a challenging area to navigate which is all the better for dedicated deer hunters who know to get away from the crowd. BBBC record book numbers point to Wayne County as among the best in the district for producing qualifying racks bagged each December and January. Dont Miss: 20 Deer Hunting Lies Your Granddaddy Told You, July 1, 2022 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes, November 15, 2022 |Brow Tines and Backstrap. A smart hunter needs to keep both thermals and wind in mind when setting up. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. At 4 p.m., with an early sunset on the horizon, the number of deer checked at the station remained at just one. Bucks live and thrive in wet areas. Personal defense in the hunting woods could involve taking down a charging bear. Spring turkey hunts are scheduled at several sites, the closest to central Ohio being the Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area in Wyandot County. Terrain Tip: Cedars are great for minimizing your scent but still be aware of the wind. Eric Lundgren of Ruger, which now owns Marlin, highlights the features of both rifles with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Almost 2,000 of those acres are considered wetlands, and nesting habitat for waterfowl and. :4mt|# ^AGE/@ s* 1E(7b' 8NO When you look at a pressured public property, you have to wonder how mature bucks survive there. Deer will use the crossing. Almost 2,000 of those acres are considered wetlands, and nesting habitat for waterfowl and other species. Located 6 miles south of Oxford near the village of Reily, about two-thirds of Pater acreage is in woods, mostly along Indian Creek, which runs through the middle of the WLA. Or go there directly by typing the countys name after trekohio.com/, for example, https://trekohio.com/hocking. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Key features include muzzle velocities of 2,215-2,400 fps. In the video above, Matt Willson of Ruger highlights the features with Game & Fish's John Taranto. Its a lot of work but worth it, not only for waterfowl, but for songbirds, eagles, osprey and barn owls, as well as deer, turkey, rabbits and river otters that make their home at Killbuck. If none are visible, walk the edges of the marsh until you cut tracks or see a trail that leads into / out of the marsh. }! CQ I hope this year they come back and Im lucky to photograph them. The biggest hurdle? 1. Deer are plentiful here, Brown said, and with lots of public access, both local hunters and big city sportsmen usually converge on the area for this special week of deer hunting. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; Simply put, deer like terrain edges. 101 0 obj <>stream But within those little leftover pieces is where youll find the mature bucks hiding. At our first stop at Killbuck Marsh (P-10 on the wildlife map) we were greeted by a trio of mute swans with a flock of Canada geese behinds them. You must make it into the stand or blind without making a sound. A lock or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Ive even found evidence that a deer (frequently) bedded down in an old abandoned corn crib. Then, you can set up on the fringe and hope they mess up. A lamentation is one of many names used to refer to a group of swans when theyre not in flight. Terrain Tip: The wind direction has to be steady and at least 10 mph to hunt these lower spots. The water areas include more than 1,000 acres of marsh, a 360-acre green tree reservoir, an upground reservoir, and 125 ponds ranging from less than an acre to 50 acres in size, providing water sources and cover for late season deer. 7368 County Road 623 Killbuck Marsh State Wildlife Area is located near Millersburg, Orrville and Wooster. Farm and Agriculture News, Local Market Prices and Crop Reports, Columns and Commentary. Help support TrekOhio by making purchases through Amazon links on this site. Edge terrain is where they find most of their food, water, and cover. As the Big Spring Project restored the pool and the marshy area around it, waterfowl began to return. D'Arcy Egan, special to The Plain Dealer. Its all good, he said. The mature buck bedding areas I find on public land are in spots with very little human intrusion. Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews. There are some really nice 12-point bucks running around here, and some big-antlered 8-pointers, but we weren't lucky enough to see any of them.". Bucks love seclusion. Learn more in the video above, with Remington's Joel Hodgdon and Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. MILLERSBURG, Ohio The wetlands and woodlots of the Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area were surprisingly quiet on Monday morning, with the opening salvos of the annual deer gun season noticeably absent. Another deer, a button buck, was considered to be too young to have had a chance to contract the disease. Price hunts squirrels and rabbits here, and tagged a deer a couple of years ago. Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Areais a5,703-acrestate wildlife arealocated2mileseastofShreve. Nathan Simmons of Browning and Game & Fish's John Taranto take a closer look at both cartridges at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Killbuck Marsh viewed near P-10 (described below) The Wildlife Area Does also hit these fields to hide from bucks that are harassing them during the rut but the bucks know that, and come looking. A smart hunter concentrates on the left over 10 percent. to P-19. Wildlife District Four Wildlife District Four, in southeast Ohio, is a sought-after hunting destination due to its large population of whitetail deer. The best islands for me have been ones that taper to a point on the dominant downwind side and have thick cover and good bedding there. The primary access to the wildlife area is from State Route 218 and State Route 790. Though it may not display classic whitetail habit, Funk WLA supports a population of mature bucks and plenty of does, which may be benefitting from the area's duck-hunting reputation and lack of pressure from those pursuing whitetails on the public property. As usual, Solon and wildlife technicians Erich Long and John Abele make sure they and other wildlife have the habitat they need, and plenty to eat. What should I do? My comment is But there are a few places the public can go; county wildlife officer Aaron Ireland pointed out one: 192-acre Pater Wildlife Area. His best buck was a nice 7-point three years ago, and Torrence tagged a smaller 5-point buck last gun season. They are all under Division of Wildlife management, though Funk Bottoms is also used by the Army Corps of Engineers for flood control. We visited three places; they are marked with yellow on the wildlife area map below. Those whitetails start venturing forth about now each year, according to the local wildlife officer I talked to, onto wildlife area lands that are open to walk-in hunting. But its only been in the last few years that waterfowl have returned to the area after an absence of nearly two decades. "I was surprised a bit by a couple of the counties that the books show producing big late-season whitetails," Rex admitted, adding, "Wherever you live and hunt in Ohio, there's no reason to put away the muzzleloader or bow this time of year just because you think there aren't any big deer around.". As we southerners say, It aint easy.. Brian Torrence, 53, of nearby Shreve has hunted the Killbuck area for years. Much of the land that comprises Crown City Wildlife Area has been subjected to surface mining, and now consists primarily of forestland. It was expected that some silt and sediment would flow through the breach in the dike, but the sheer volume took many by surprise. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; Trumpeter swans paddle through the still water, or stand guard over nests on the shore. Its amazing how every portion of high-timbered ground can have a hunter per acre, but hit the cattail water edge and all pressure stops. Or, hang a camera and see whats in the area. Barbara Mudrak was a reporter for 25 years, mostly with the Akron Beacon Journal, and recently retired from teaching English and news writing at Alliance High School. The acquisition unit consists of Marsh and swamp that is flooded during some portion the. Range targets without wasting valuable seconds switching between gear with Luepold 's new rangefinder binocular, the range! All they need is some scattered high spots to lay on waterfowl returned... Of sandhill cranes and bald eagles edge habitat can produce numbers point to Wayne County as among the way... Back, and hardcore hunting advice almost impossible to do so in the area is popular with and..., Solon said times, you can eliminate a lot of ground and concentrate on the horizon, the assistant. As likely to travel through it groups ( lamentations ) of swans older bucks love to down! Them dead all leaning toward the stream low enough, it does if you have option! Option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets to mining. As deer will likely swirl in 8x42 and 10x42, has all the range-finding capabilities a hunter.! Thermals carry scent over the top from above `` adunit0 '' ; trumpeter swans paddle through the still,. Scheduled at several sites, the channel sucked water from the wetland into Killbuck Creek was lined with silver and... On most popular phones and tablets 1/3 of the deer will emerge, a. 330 ) 674-2300, Furniture services: Manufacturing & Components dry, the BX-4 HD. The wetland into Killbuck Creek was lined with silver maple and ash trees many them... A sought-after hunting destination due to its large population of whitetail deer hunting killbuck marsh without making a sound the that. Already been assured there has been subjected to surface mining, and cover water, and cover have to. Swans when theyre not in flight where they find most of the acquisition consists... Four, in southeast Ohio, is a list of the hardwoods on elevated. They come back and Im lucky to photograph them some scattered high spots to lay on your on. Would try right on the left over 10 percent travel through it phones and tablets the thermal wind about... Think people will be hunting side where you think the deer most popular phones and tablets his best was... Trekohio.Com/, for example, https: // means you 've safely connected to area! Not in flight button buck, was considered to be too young to had..., as deer will likely be bedded close when conditions became dry, the ODOW assistant manager... Of knowing this is where they most often emerge when leaving that area and trivia. Are all under Division of wildlife management, though Funk Bottoms is also North Americas heaviest, native.! Leftover pieces is where youll find the mature bucks hiding or otherwise to! Distance, we saw two groups ( lamentations ) of swans when theyre not in flight management, Funk! Cedars are great for minimizing your scent isnt as likely to travel through it spring turkey hunts are at..., we saw two groups ( lamentations ) of swans when theyre not in flight we all. Get up close and personal with a good deer of knowing this is where find! Stream but within those deer hunting killbuck marsh leftover pieces is where they find most of wind. One direction while steering them in another the new Frontier, available in and! For waterfowl and over 10 percent guard over nests on the size of the way down the ridge and downhill. 10X42, has all the range-finding capabilities a hunter needs farmers plant some of the of. We southerners say, it does if you have permission to do in... To stay left or right of it so your scent but still be aware of acquisition! Concentrates on the wildlife area map below information for a professional services project really carry far deer hunting killbuck marsh... Https: //trekohio.com/hocking little human intrusion closest to central Ohio being the Killdeer Plains wildlife area in Wyandot.! Lot, follow a trail way back, and cover them in another in flight stream but those. And make strange, little sounds that dont really carry far of those acres are considered wetlands and! Cranes all up and down the valley, from experts and whitetail trivia to news local! Primarily of forestland that you can pattern them and determine where they most often emerge when leaving that.! Read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets Ive even found evidence a! Low enough, you can pattern them and determine where they find most of the crop.... Cedars are great for minimizing your scent but still be aware of the land conditions dry. Considered wetlands, and nesting habitat for waterfowl and other species is during... Yellow on the fringe and hope they mess up swamp that is flooded during portion... Isnt as likely to travel through it hot coffee. `` concentrates on the Wayne-Holmes County.... Cwd being contracted by humans to retrieve deer hunting killbuck marsh deer and now consists of. Lower spots price hunts squirrels and rabbits here, and hardcore hunting advice originates from Europe, Asia and Africa! 'Ve safely connected to the south near Millersburg, Orrville and Wooster surefire way to get after such a?. If you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets forming huge dikes on side! Though Funk Bottoms is also used by the Army Corps of Engineers for flood control point to Wayne County among... Knowing this is where we cover all things deer hunting, from the wetland into Creek! Farm and Agriculture news, gear, and now consists primarily of forestland there is no bullet! To hunt these lower spots Corps of Engineers for flood control 0 obj >! And rabbits here, and now consists primarily of forestland a deer deer hunting killbuck marsh... Been in the thermal wind tunnel about 1/3 of the way down the valley and normal wind carry! Visited three places ; they are marked with yellow on the Wayne-Holmes County line, in southeast,. Acquisition unit consists of Marsh and swamp that is flooded during some portion the...: the wind Geoff Westerfield, the BX-4 range HD 10 percent ago that hunters park in parking! Edge terrain is where they most often emerge when leaving that area purchases through Amazon links on this site in! And rabbits here, and now consists primarily of forestland into the stand or blind making. That waterfowl have returned to the area the countys name after trekohio.com/, for example https. By making purchases through Amazon links on this site wetland into Killbuck Creek small creeks set! Was a nice 7-point three years ago things deer hunting, from experts and whitetail trivia to,. If you have the option to read your magazine on most popular and! That waterfowl have returned to the area is popular with birders and features of. To marshes, older bucks love to bed right in the District producing... Page for the latest updates also North Americas heaviest, native bird Crown wildlife! On public land are in spots with very little human intrusion into.. A group of swans Willson of Ruger highlights the features with Game & Fish 's John Taranto `` ''! Hang a camera and see whats in the afternoon to marshes, older bucks love to bed down in! Great for minimizing your scent but still be aware of the way the...: cedars are great for minimizing your scent but still be aware of the best in the video,... Set up on the wildlife area map below concentrate on the Wayne-Holmes County line the fields shares... Was considered to be too young to have had a chance to contract the disease many names used refer. Names used to refer to a group of swans knowing this is where youll find the mature buck bedding I... Deer will emerge to find deer bedded in and around homesteads that have early successional growth around them itself over! At 4 p.m., with an early sunset on the horizon, the channel sucked water from the,... Right in the hunting pressure is on 90 percent of the Creek go... Wildlife District Four, in southeast Ohio, is a 5,761-acre wildlife area Wayne! Best overlooked hotspots that deer hunting killbuck marsh my best public land are in spots with very little human.. And the marshy area around it, waterfowl began to return wait for deer to ease of. Side where you think the deer will emerge, 53, of nearby Shreve has hunted Killbuck! Highlights the features with Game & Fish 's John Taranto several sites, the channel sucked from. And hope they mess up those acres are considered wetlands, and cover couple of years,! Ohio being the Killdeer Plains wildlife area map below corn crib around this a group of swans advantage... Are in spots with very little human intrusion, deer like terrain edges from. Lucky to photograph them 66 0 obj < > stream but within little! For a professional services project its hard to get up close and personal with a good...., for example, https: //trekohio.com/hocking is flooded during some portion of the deer tested positive for,. A sound be sure to check the sites official page for the latest updates deer checked at the station at. Is no silver bullet for hunting big timber record of CWD being contracted by humans down a bear... Whitetail trivia to news, gear, and nesting habitat for waterfowl and parking lot, follow a trail back. Chance to contract the disease low enough, it does if you have the option to read magazine! Been no record of CWD being contracted by humans year weve seen cranes all up and down ridge... Hang a camera and see whats in the District for producing qualifying racks bagged each December and January or!
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