|
Ohio Valley Outdoors Magazine Serving Eastern Ohio, Western Pennsylvania & Northern West Virginia
|
|
|
Ohio Wildlife Areas In several places in this issue of Ohio Valley Outdoors you will find information on Ohio’s Public hunting area’s. Where possible a rating of great through poor has been placed at the end of the section. This rating has been placed by Division of Wildlife personnel at our request. Note: There is no short cut to good scouting. BRUSHCREEK WILDLIFE AREAJefferson County DIVISION OF WILDLIFE Ohio Department of Natural Resources Public Hunting -Fishing DISTANCE FROM MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS 6 miles from Salineville 15 miles from East Liverpool 35 miles from Steubenville 66 miles from Akron 148 miles from Columbus LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION This rugged, 4,131-acre wildlife area lies six miles southeast of Salineville in northern Jefferson County. Access to the area is provided from County Road 55, which is reached from State Route 164 at Monroeville. Several township roads provide direct access to the area from County Road 55. The deeply dissected terrain is composed of broad ridges with steep slopes which descend to the narrow valley floor of Brush Creek. Elevations vary from 760 to 1,360 feet above mean sea level. Second growth hardwoods occupy 80 percent of the area. Oak and hickory dominate the ridgetops and upper slopes. Maple, beech, elm, ash and tulip poplar are found in the coves and lower slopes. Open fields and shrubby coverts are confined primarily to the flatter ridgetops and the valley floor. WILDLIFE The principal game species, White-tailed deer. PUBLIC USE FACILITIES County and township roads provide good access to most of the wildlife area. Several parking lots are situated throughout the area. Further information on this wildlife area is available from the Area Manager, Highlandtown Wildlife Area,16760 Spring Valley Road, Salineville,Ohio 43945,telephone (330)679-2201;or Wildlife District Three Office,912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron, Ohio 44319, telephone (330)644-2293. Deer Rating Great HIGHLANDTOWN WILDLIFE AREA Columbiana County DISTANCE FROM MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS 30 miles from Steubenville 37 miles from Canton 38 miles from Youngstown 60 miles from Akron 93 miles from Cleveland DIVISION OF WILDLIFE Ohio Department of Natural Resources Public Hunting - Fishing LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION This scenic 2265-acre wildlife area lies 8 miles south of Lisbon and 3 miles northeast of Salineville in southern Columbiana County. It can be reached by State Route 164 from Lisbon and by State Route 39 from Salineville and Wellsville. The terrain is steeply rolling, with some flat hilltops and valley floors. Elevations vary from 1,060 to 1,340 feet above sea level. Highlandtown Lake, 170 acres in size, is on the upper headwaters of Little Yellow Creek. Second growth hardwoods and conifers which cover most of the area are interspersed with brushy coverts, former cropfields, and some meadow and grain crops. PUBLIC USE FACILITIES Parking sites are well distributed. A dog training area is near the intersection of Township Road 776 and County Road 413. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Further information may be obtained from the Area Manager, Highlandtown Wildlife Area, 16760 Spring Valley Road, Salineville, Ohio 43945; phone (330) 679-2201 or from the Wildlife District Three Office, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron, Ohio 44319; phone (330) 644-2293. Deer rating Great MOSQUITO
CREEK WILDLIFE AREA Trumbull County DISTANCE FROM MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS 15 miles from Warren, Youngstown 30 miles from Painesville 35 miles from Ashtabula 45 miles from Cleveland 70 miles from Akron SIGN 83A DIVISION OF WILDLIFE Ohio Department of Natural Resources LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION This 8,525-acre waterfowl management area is situated in northeast Ohio, 15 miles north of Warren at the north end and to the west of Mosquito Creek Reservoir. It can be reached from State Route 87 on the north, State Route 88 on the south, State Route 45 on the west, and State Route 46 on the east. Area lands are extremely flat and poorly drained. Extremes in land relief on the entire area vary less than 40 feet. Nearly 50 percent of the waterfowl management area consists of second growth hardwoods. The timber is mainly pin oak and silver maple, with lesser numbers of swamp white oak, sycamore, ash, aspen, beech, and other maples. The remainder of the area is cropped intensively with cereal grains and meadows for nesting and migrant waterfowl. The major water areas include Mosquito Creek Reservoir, 830 acres of marsh, and two ponds of 20 and 32 acres. HUNTING, TRAPPING, AND FISHING Controlled waterfowl hunting and deer hunting are provided on the area by permit. PUBLIC USE FACILITIES Public facilities include parking lots and roads. Participants in the controlled waterfowl hunts are provided blinds and goose decoys. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION More information on this wildlife management area may be obtained from: Area Manager, Mosquito Creek Waterfowl Management Area, 8303 N. Park Avenue, North Bloomfield, Ohio 44450; telephone (216) 685-4776; or from Wildlife District Three Office, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron, Ohio 44319; telephone (216) 644-2293. Deer Rating Fair to Poor due to limited access LOWER
KILLBUCK CREEK WILDLIFE AREA Holmes County DISTANCE FROM MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS 65 miles from Columbus 70 miles from Cleveland 45 miles from Akron 40 miles from Mansfield This 151-acre wildlife area is located in northeastern Ohio in Holmes County. The town of Killbuck lies one mile to the northeast. US Route 62 bisects the area, running east-west. The area lies at the edge of the glaciated region of Ohio, with flat, wetland topography. Purchase of land for this wildlife area began in 2000.Additional land is being acquired as funds become available, from willing sellers. The ODNR Division of Wildlife is acquiring land in this area because of the quality wetland habitats and associated wildlife species that are found here. The wetlands in the Killbuck Creek Valley (Wayne, Holmes and Coshocton counties) are the largest complex of wetlands remaining in Ohio, away from Lake Erie.90 percent of Ohio's original wetlands have been destroyed. This wildlife area is managed for wetland wildlife and the HUNTING Whitetail Deer PUBLIC USE FACILITIES County and township roads provide good access to the wildlife area. More small parking lots will be constructed as more land is purchased Further information may be obtained from the Area Manager, Killbuck Wildlife Area,1691 Centerville Road, Shreve, Ohio 44676,telephone (330)567-3390;or from Wildlife District Three Office,912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron, Ohio 44319, telephone (330)644-2293. Deer Rating Poor NEW LYME WILDLIFE AREAAshtabula County LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION The 690-acre New Lyme Wildlife Area is situated in northeast Ohio, central Ashtabula County, New Lyme Township, two miles east of the town of South New Lyme. Brownville Road dead ends at the western parking lot of New Lyme Wildlife Area. Northern access to New Lyme is two miles east of State Route 46 on Dodgeville Road. The area topography is flat and natural drainage is poorly developed to non-existent. Seventy percent of the area is wooded; the most common species are ash, maple, swamp white oak, pin oak, and red oak. A 54-acre lake was constructed in 1990. FISH AND WILDLIFE Principal species are white-tailed deer DISTANCE FROM MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS: 22 miles from Ashtabula 25 miles from Warren 40 miles from Youngstown 53 miles from Cleveland 70 miles from Akron HUNTING, FISHING, AND TRAPPING The New Lyme Wildlife Area is popular for hunting deer, PUBLIC USE FACILITIES Three parking areas are found on the area. Two parking lots have gravel launch ramps for boat access. Only electric motors may be used on the lake. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Further information may be obtained from the Area Manager, Shenango Wildlife Area, 8303 Park Avenue, North Bloomfield, Ohio 44450; telephone (216) 685-4776 or from the Wildlife District Three Office, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron, Ohio 44319; telephone (216) 644-2293. Deer Rating Good HAMBDEN ORCHARD WILDLIFE AREA LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION This 842-acre wildlife area is in northeast Ohio, 2 miles south of Hambden on the east side of State Route 608.Sisson Road provides access to the south boundary of the area. Second growth hardwoods cover most of the area, interspersed with brushy coverts and former apple orchards. The topography is flat to gently rolling FISH AND WILDLIFE White-tailed deer are among the principal game species. DISTANCE FROM MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS 31 miles from Cleveland 49 miles from Youngstown 57 miles from Akron PUBLIC USE FACILITIES Three parking lots are situated along the boundary roads for easy access. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Further information may be obtained from the Area Manager, Grand River Wildlife Area, 6686 SR 534, W. Farmington, OH 44491, phone (216) 889-3280; or from Wildlife District Three Office, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron, OH 44319, phone (216) 644-2293. Deer Rating Good FUNK BOTTOMS
WILDLIFE AREA Wayne & Ashland Counties DISTANCE FROM MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS 8 miles from Wooster 12 miles from Ashland 60 miles from Cleveland 65 miles from Columbus LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION This 1,422-acre wildlife area in northeastern Ohio is in portions of Wayne and Ashland counties. State Route 95, running east-west, goes through the middle of the area, from Blachleyville (east), through Funk and Lake Fork (west). The area lies in the glaciated central hills region of Ohio, with flat to moderately rolling topography. The vast majority of the wildlife area consists of seasonally flooded moist soil meadows and bottomland hardwoods. PUBLIC USE FACILITIES State, county, and township roads provide access to much of the area. Where no public road access is available,permission must be received from the private landowner. Small parking lots and access trails will be developed in the near future. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Further information may be obtained from the Area Manager, Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area, 1691 Centerville Road, Shreve, Ohio 44676, telephone (330)567-3390; or from Wildlife District Three Office, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron, Ohio 44319, telephone (330)644-2293. Deer rating Fair KEEN
WILDLIFE AREA Harrison County DISTANCE FROM MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS 15 miles from New Philadelphia 25 miles from Cadiz 30 miles from Cambridge SIGN 83A WILDLIFEAREA LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION This 84 acre wildlife area is situated in eastern Ohio in western Harrison County 2 1/2 miles south of Stillwater. Access to the public area is from State Route 258 on Craigo Road, T-100. The area lies in the unglaciated deeply eroded Allegheny plateau hill region of Ohio. The deeply dissected terrain is composed of ridges with steep slopes. Second growth hardwoods occupy 80 percent of the area. FISH AND WILDLIFE This area is primarily used by forest species which include deer. PUBLIC USE FACILITIES State, county, and township roads provide good access to the wildlife area. A small parking lot is located along the roadway that bisects the area. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Further information may be obtained from the Area Manager, Highlandtown Wildlife Area, 16760 Spring Valley Road, Salineville, Ohio 43945; telephone (330) 679-2201 or from the Wildlife District Three Office, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron, Ohio 44319, telephone (330) 644-2293. Deer rating Good ORWELL WILDLIFE AREAAshtabula County DISTANCE FROM MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS 45 miles from Cleveland 20 miles from Warren 60 miles from Akron LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION The Orwell Wildlife Area is situated in northeastern Ohio, in the southern part of Ashtabula County, Orwell Township, 20 miles north of Warren. The area is bounded by County Road 6 (Windsor Road) to the south and an abandoned railroad to the west. U.S. Route 322 is 1.5 miles to the south, State Route 45 is one mile to the west, and State Route 46 is three miles to the east. The area is in the glaciated Allegheny Plateau region of Ohio. Soils are poorly drained and nearly level. Approximately 86 percent of the habitat consists of second growth hardwoods. The timber stands consist of red maple, sugar maple, ash, hickory, pin oak, red oak, black cherry, and tulip poplar. Brushland makes up 12 percent and water two percent of the wildlife area. WILDLIFE Good populations of white-tailed deer utilize the area HUNTING AND TRAPPING The Orwell Wildlife Area is popular for hunting deer. PUBLIC USE FACILITIES One parking lot is located on the south end of the area at the intersection of County Road 6 and Township Road 556. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Further information may be obtained from the Area Manager, Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area, 8303 North Park Ave., North Bloomfield, Ohio 44450; telephone (216) 685-4776 or from Wildlife District Three Office, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron, Ohio 44319; telephone (216) 644-2293. Deer rating Fair Other
Areas These are other wildlife areas that expanded
information was not available. OVO
was however able to obtain deer ratings for these areas. Grand River - Good Jocky Hollow - Good Egypt Valley - Good Beaver Creek State Forest - Good Shenango Wildlife Area - Fair Killbuck Wildlife Area - Fair
|