To the game hunters that are also birders...please understand, that some of
what follows is not a representation of all hunters...just the ones you
have to be wary of.


As I am there every day it seems, :-D.   Here is the best way to handle Big
Island and Killdeer Plains..and really any other wildlife area that is open
to hunting in Ohio during hunting season.  First wear orange...not
red...some hunters seem to like to shoot at red...dunno why.

Second, if there is a car in the lot, look around, if no one is on the
dikes, and it's not me floating around in a kayak, then expect that hunters
are in the area.

During waterfowl hunting seasons, Waterfowl hunters set up with the wind at
their backs, so look for them along the dikes or ponds in that way. And
don't think that there won't be duck hunters near the protected area at
Killdeer Plains.  I saw one duck hunter  last year that was one foot off
the dike shooting at anything that flew through...he was clearly still in
the reserve area...you wonder why they have to remind everyone to stay out.

Deer hunters are a special breed...There are not many accidental bow
hunting stories out there...but being anywhere near a wildlife area during
Deer-Gun season is asking for it.  Stay home or visit areas closed to
hunting during that special few weeks...but still wear orange.

At Killdeer plains, treat Pheasant Hunters the same way you do Deer
Hunters...there are some even stupider Pheasant Hunters out there...They
will shoot across roads, and into protected areas. I'm gonna get a dash
camera one day.

The rest of the game hunting that goes on in Ohio, Wearing orange will
suffice...there aren't any Orange Rabbits or Squirrels out there. :-D

Big Island is open to everything all the time. Killdeer Plains and others
have areas that are: closed to everything, closed to everything but
hunting/fishing/trapping, and open to all...so read the signs in the
parking areas.

Basically go with your gut. If it feels unsafe, then stay on observation
platforms, or stay in your car. But most of the time you will be okay.  The
duck hunters around here know the difference between a duck and a human.
The deer-gun deer hunters....dunno, I stay home.
Happy Birding and God Bless.

Steve J

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