The single most important factor in waterfowl hunting is the weather.

Last year, waterfowl hunting in northeast Ohio started out great, but then fell off when the weather stayed unseasonably mild and no new birds migrated into the area.

Then on Thanksgiving weekend, an abrupt change in weather conditions brought heavy snows and cold temperatures. Everything locked up in snow and ice, putting an end to duck hunting.

Goose hunting, however, was better than normal because the weather brought migrating birds with it.

Migration of waterfowl through northeastern Ohio can be likened to a funnel. Birds from the Mississippi and Atlantic flyways merge with birds coming directly out of Ontario, providing a steady and diverse flow of waterfowl.

Heather Braun, a Ducks Unlimited regional biologist, describes northeastern Ohio as having a good breeding population of wood ducks. There's also a large population of giant Canada geese as well as mallards and black ducks, along with teal and bluebills.

"There are a lot of inland marsh areas, state wildlife areas, that are managed for waterfowl, particularly in Trumbull County," said biologist Braun.

According to Mark Shieldcastle, the Ohio Department of Wildlife (ODOW) project leader for wetland wildlife research, the predominant species in District Three are mallards, wood ducks and green-winged teal.

"Blue-winged teal are usually gone by November. Green wings may linger right up to the freeze-up," said Shieldcastle. "We get some local mallards, but we generally get a big push of migrant mallards in late November or the first part of December. Again, that depends on the freeze up north of us."

MOSQUITO CREEK WA
Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area in North Bloomfield has a controlled hunt, as well as some open areas open to hunting. It's all about becoming familiar with the area rather than just showing up for a random hunt.

The area is primarily beaver swamp habitat, not big, open marshes. Hunters should just find an open hole to hunt. Small ponds and pockets may be found throughout the area, and they can provide some good hunting.

Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area provides some premier waterfowl hunting opportunity on state land for northeastern Ohio hunters. Hunters may apply for controlled hunts before the season begins. There are daily drawings for Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, as well.

"The majority of Mosquito Creek is a state refuge with very limited public hunting access," said Ron Ferenchak, Grand River State Wildlife Area supervisor. "It offers plenty of controlled hunting opportunities through annual or daily public drawings, and there are plenty of youth waterfowl hunting opportunities."

The controlled hunt application process and drawings take place in summer. There is a non-refundable $3 application fee.

GRAND RIVER WA
Ferenchak adds that if hunters miss being drawn for one of the daily hunts on Mosquito Creek, they may drive over to hunt the Grand River State Wildlife Area.

"Grand River is just a mile west of Mosquito Creek. Hunters who aren't drawn at Mosquito may drive over there and take advantage of the wetlands we offer. There are times when those hunters do just as good or better than the draw hunters.

"The area has a lot of natural beaver marshes, and we have 40 manmade wetlands on the area. Between the two, we have a stable wood duck population. We see mallards, the occasional black duck and a fair number of teal."