Black Fork Bottoms
Introduction
This 127 acre property formerly belonged to Tom and Pat Gordon, who developed, and maintained it a s a hunting preserve. Their hunting preserve drew hunters from all over the east coast. The Ashland Chapter of Pheasants Forever purchased the property from the Gordon's using grants from the clean Ohio conservation program and the Ohio Division of wildlife. In 2006 Pheasants Forever, who by charter are unable to hold land, gave the property to The Ashland County Park District, who will maintain it as a public hunting area, and park.
This is a unique hunting and public park. A committee of hunters representing the park district, sportsman's clubs and conservation clubs in the county will hold the yearly lottery for the hunters and direct the hunting activities at the park. See Rules and Regulations.
Natural History
The Black fork Bottoms Hunting area contains several habitats, including swamp forest, marsh, grassland and upland forest. The actual bottoms area of the park consists of high quality swamp forest that is part of the flood plain of the Black Fork of Mohican River. A good diversity of trees include Ohio buckeye and shagbark hickory. An uncommon wildflower growing in the swamp forest is the green dragon, a close relative of the Jack- in - the- pulpit.
The marsh area is also of high quality, with many native plants, including an aquatic carnivorous plant, the bladderwort, which captures aquatic organisms in it's bladders. The marsh area also serves as an important breeding grounds for waterfowl, such a Canada geese and the endangered trumpeter swan. Muskrat lodges provide nesting platforms for waterfowl.
The grassland has been planted on former agricultural land and will eventually have some native Ohio prairie added. Grassland will support a variety of animals , including rabbits, deer and many grassland birds.
The upland forest is made up of different species of trees. These include various oaks, shagbark hickory, sugar maple, and American beech. many woodland flowers bloom here in the early spring and many animals also utilize the upland forest.
Highlights:
128 acres
Public hunting ( see rules and regs.)
Hiking trails
Natural History:
Large Marsh
Nesting Cranes
Nesting Swans
Carnivorous Bladderwort
(Trumpeter Sawns and young 2009)
History:
Est. 2006
Things to do:
Hunting ( see rules and regs.)
Dog training
Hiking
Hunting information
This entire park is closed for
Turkey Lottery winners only during these times and dates.
Time: Sunrise to Noon
Dates: April 19, 2009 thru May 16, 2010
This Park will open for general public use at noon on these dates
This park is open to turkey hunting lottery winners only on these
dates. Lottery winners should have their lottery card with them and hunt
only in their assigned area.
On Sat. April 17 and Sun. April 18, 2010,
this park will be closed from Sunrise to Sunset.
The park is open to Youth Turkey Lottery winners only on these dates
No General Public use during this time
Report violations to 419-606-4561
For rules and regulations click here. (PDF)
Anyone who has any questions about the hunting rule and regulations should contact Jack Carmoney (419) 207- 9093
Location
Rt. 42 S. out of Ashland past Willowdell Nusery, drive is on left. Look for Black Fork Bottoms Sign.
Contact Us
Ashland County
Park District
Telephone: (419) 289-0000
c/o Ashland County Commissioners
110 Cottage Street
Ashland, OH 44805
For Questions about the website Please contact me at meridith@ashlandcountyparksdistrict.com
© 2007 - 2010 Ashland County Park District