A beautiful state forest, full of great habitat for birds in the winter 
months. Located in Vinton, Hocking and Athens counties, st. rt. 278 
bisects the forest, I enter from the south and past Lake Hope State Park. 
There are several areas to park, but since I was backpacking I parked in 
the designated parking lot.   
The ecosystem consists of a mixed-mesophytic, beech-maple and pockets of 
aspen and popular hardwoods, a few conifers scattered on well-drained 
slopes.  The forest has past and present wildlife management practice. 
There is turkey management areas and wildlife areas. 

I feel to see more birds and wildlife fall and spring season would be the 
best time.  Also to see more flora species.
 
Birds seen on the trail:

Forest.....
House Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Canada Geese seen on Lake Hope & unnamed wetland (with open water)in the 
southeast section
possible snow geese (2) couldn't ID, seen at same wetland
swamp sparrow
back into forest...
red tail hawk
American Crow
wild turkey (heard call)
Was hoping and planning on seeing a,
ruffed grouse, but I think the time of year and weather conditions didn't 
yield the bird.

Happy Trails,

Jeremiah W. Roth
Conservation Biology 
Geographer (GIS)
Kent State University
[log in to unmask]
Jan. 03, 2008

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