XENIA -- A combination of fields, rolling hills, pine stands, creeks and an eight-acre pond make up 379 acres of land recently added to the Fallsville State Wildlife Area in Highland County, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The newly acquired land is located about one mile south of the existing wildlife area between Careytown Road and West Lane.
"In addition to providing more hunting lands, this new area will present improved opportunities for anglers and wildlife watchers in the area," said Todd Haines, southwestern Ohio district manager. Built in the 1960s, the pond has an average depth of 13 to 14 feet. Haines added that anglers can anticipate catches that include 10" bluegills and largemouth bass. Situated near the center of the property, there is no vehicle access to the pond. The eight-acre pond is catch and release only.
Good fall hunting prospects exist on the new property for deer, quail and rabbit. Dove hunters looking for a place to go during the late season should try out the 10 acres of wildlife management habitat that was planted during mid-summer. Pheasants will not be released on the area.
In the spring, hunters will find a healthy turkey population roosting in the area's pine stands. Birdwatchers will find songbirds and a great variety of nesting and migrant birds using the area during spring and fall migrations. Long-term management plans include increasing prairie habitat for pheasants, monarch butterflies, quail, red-tailed hawks and the endangered Lark and Henslow's sparrows.
The now nearly 1,800-acre Fallsville State Wildlife Area is in southwest Ohio, seven miles north of Hillsboro on State Route 73. Limited parking is now available off Careytown Road, where in addition to West Lane, new parking lots are currently under construction. Maps of the area are not yet available.