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BEST VIEWING & HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES
• Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area, Trumbull County
• Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Ottawa County
• Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, Wyandot County
• Sandusky Bay, Ottawa, Sandusky & Erie counties
• Mercer Wildlife Refuge, Mercer County
2012 UPDATE
The resident Canada goose of Ohio is of the Giant race which breeds in the temperate region of the U.S. Once thought extinct, the race was rediscovered in Minnesota and in former market hunter live decoy flocks. The Ohio population of giants, once relegated to goose management areas, can now be found throughout the state with large numbers in urban settings. The spring population estimate for 2012 was 147,718 birds which is slightly higher than the 2010 estimate of 102,441 (Source: Ohio Breeding Goose Survey). The goose population is still above the minimum state goal of 60,000 and production this year was estimated to be good to excellent. Total breeding population estimate for the Mississippi Flyway was 1.76 million geese up from 1.62 million geese in 2011. Harvest and viewing opportunities should be similar to 2011.
Survey details and historical data can be found in the Wetland Species Overview of the Wildlife Population Status and Hunting Forecast.
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