Duck hunters converge on Port Clinton area marshes
PORT CLINTON - Dozens of duck hunters from around the state traveled to Port Clinton last week for the opportunity to hunt some of the top marshes in Ohio.
The sportsmen were guests of the 2023 Ohio Partnership Hunt hosted by Ducks Unlimited, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, and the Lake Erie Marsh Association. Held on Oct. 24 to 26, the event is in its 21st year.
Jake McPherson, managing director of development for Ducks Unlimited, said he was grateful for “the 22 duck clubs that allow our guests to hunt every year.”
Among the guests was Rick Hawk from Medina who serves as a volunteer for Medina County Ducks Unlimited. He spent Wednesday morning hunting at Green Creek Club and the afternoon touring Howard Marsh. That evening, he attended a fish fry hosted by the Ohio Partnership Hunt at Denny Bergman Knights of Columbus Hall. He hunted again on Thursday.
Howard Marsh was a farm adopted by Toledo Metroparks
Howard Marsh is a former working farm that is now part of the Toledo Metroparks. Hawk said he was impressed with the transformation.
“They acquired the farm, laid out the plan, executed phase one and finished phase two under budget,” he said. “What’s neat about Howard Marsh is that birdwatchers, hikers, fishermen and kayakers can use the land in harmony.”
According to Russ Terry, Ducks Unlimited senior regional biologist, the purpose of the Ohio Partnership Hunt was to bring together “major donors, volunteer leaders, legislators, outdoor media, conservation partners and others from across the country to learn more about the Lake Erie marsh region and the conservation work that Ducks Unlimited and our partners are doing in Northwest Ohio. “
It was that cross-organization collaboration that impressed Hawk the most.
Ducks Unlimited works to preserve wetlands
“The mission of the Toledo Metroparks is recreational availability. The mission of Ducks Unlimited is wetland conservation. Then you have the ODNR and the Division of Wildlife with their missions, and you see how they come together to marry their missions,” Hawk said.
Collaboration has been key to wetland restoration in Northwest Ohio, and the Ohio Partnership Hunt highlighted the success of cooperative efforts between Ducks Unlimited, the Division of Wildlife and the Lake Erie Marsh Association.
Ducks Unlimited's chief conservation officer, Karen Waldrop, talked about the importance of that work, explaining that healthy wetlands benefit waterfowl and wildlife but also help create clean drinking water.
Wetlands filter what goes into the Great Lakes
“Wetlands filter out phosphorous, nitrates and pollutants that get into the Great Lakes,” she said. “The loss of wetlands is terrible for habitat, terrible for wildlife, and terrible for people. We’re trying to correct that.”
Waldrop said Ducks Unlimited works with state and federal partners to promote wetland health, and they also work hand-in-hand with the agriculture community.
“A lot of times duck hunters and farmers are at odds about land use, but we’re working with agriculture to create wetlands,” she said.
Waldrop said an Ohio project that encourages farmers to plant crop covers to help with runoff has been so successful that it expanded into Michigan and Indiana. A USDA-backed project helps pork farmers implement environmentally healthy changes, including planting grass buffers.
“We’re working with pig farmers to create better habitat,” Waldrop said.
Underlying all the talk of wetlands promotion and habitat conservation at the event is the simple fun of the duck hunt.
“Our hosts were first class. They took care of everything for us,” Hawk said of Green Creek Club. “You just show up with your waders, shotgun and license.”
Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at sheritrusty4@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Port Clinton News Herald: Ohio Partnership Hunt attracts duck hunters from throughout the state
