Wyandot Wildlife Area

Wyandot Wildlife Area is 338-acres located in northwestern Ohio, one mile south of Carey on U.S. Route 23.

There are approximately 160 acres of woodland—two portions were cut over in the 1930s and have since grown up in heavy brush, saplings, and pole-sized, oak-hickory timber.

A small pond of approximately 3/4 of an acre was constructed in a marshy section in the southeast corner of the area. A 15-acre borrow pit on the extreme northern end was created during relocation and construction of U.S. Route 23.

This small area is easily covered on foot. The grassland provides ideal cover for rabbits and pheasants. Excellent squirrel hunting is found in the woodlot, which is one of the largest in Wyandot County.  The area has several dove fields as well.

MORE INFORMATION (PDF)

PUBLIC USE FACILITIES

A parking area is located on County Road 97, near the shotgun target area. Users of the shotgun target area should be aware that only paper or clay targets are to be used.

Killdeer Plains

Killdeer Plains is a  8,627-acre wildlife area that lies eight miles south of Upper Sandusky in Wyandot County.

Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area is quite flat, with little natural drainage; however, land adjacent to the Little Sandusky River on the east edge of the area is quite rolling. Approximately two-thirds of the area is in cropland and meadows. The other one-third is divided almost equally between woods and shrubby coverts and water. The water areas include more than 800 acres of marsh, a 360-acre greentree reservoir (completed in 1994 with the help of Ducks Unlimited), a 285-acre upground reservoir, and 125 ponds ranging from less than an acre to 50 acres in size. Most small ponds are not shown on the map.

The primary purpose of the wildlife area is for wetland wildlife management and associated recreational use. Uses which have become increasingly popular because of the area’s natural features and open character are nature lore, wildlife photography, and bird watching.

HUNTING AND FISHING

Upland game species are well distributed throughout the wildlife area as a result of the uniform distribution of crop fields, shrubby coverts, grassland, and woods. After the heavy pressure of early upland game season has subsided, hunting dogs are recommended as the fields are large and cover is extensive. Squirrel hunting is productive in the more than 1,000 acres of woods. The area is also popular for hunting woodcock and deer. The 3,750-acre waterfowl area is a NO TRESPASSING zone and is not open to the public except on a special permit basis.

Productive fishing ponds include 27, 28, 30, and 33; all of the ponds are popular for frog hunting. Spring is the best time to fish, with live bait being the most effective. Grass carp have been stocked in Ponds 30 and 33 for aquatic weed control and must not be removed by anglers.

The most productive methods of fishing the upground reservoir are using live bait, or casting deep running lures over the artificial reefs, spawning shelves, and around the island.  Boats with up to 10 hp outboards may be used on the upground reservoir. Boats with electric motors are permitted on all ponds open to fishing EXCEPT Pond 27.

FISH AND WILDLIFE

Several of the ponds have been stocked with largemouth bass, crappies, bluegill, channel catfish, and bullheads. The upground reservoir has been stocked with largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, perch, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, and bullhead.

Intensive waterfowl management has resulted in peak fall populations of up to 30,000 ducks and 11,000 Canada geese. Wood ducks, mallards, blue-winged and green-winged teal, black ducks, and Canada geese are the primary species of waterfowl that use the area. Plans are being made to construct numerous wetland areas for waterfowl use in the future.

The cottontail rabbit and ring-necked pheasant are the most abundant upland game species. Good populations of fox squirrel and white-tailed deer inhabit the area. Raccoon and muskrats are particularly abundant. During the fall migration, sizeable numbers of woodcock use the area.

WATERFOWL HUNTING - SPECIAL REGULATIONS

Waterfowl hunting within the Controlled Waterfowl Area is by special permit only. Hunters are issued a special permit through a daily drawing conducted at the area HQ. Permit hunters are assigned a hunting zone and may hunt within that zone only, and only on the day of the drawing. Youth hunting opportunities are heavily promoted. Special youth hunts for deer and waterfowl are conducted annually. A special youth trapping seminar is also held on the area. Contact the area headquarters or the Wildlife District Two Office for further information.

PUBLIC USE FACILITIES

Public facilities include parking lots and latrines. The Sportsmen’s Service Center was added in 1969 for wildlife related use by the public. A handicap-accessible boat ramp and dock were recently constructed at the upground reservoir for the benefit of anglers with disabilities. An observation blind has been proposed for more watchable wildlife opportunities.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Further information may be obtained from: Area Manager, Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, 19100 CH 115, Harpster, Ohio 43323; telephone (740) 496-2254 or Wildlife District Two Office, 952 Lima Avenue, Findlay, Ohio 45840; telephone (419) 424-5000.