Duck Creek Public Hunting Grounds

Duck Creek Public Hunting Grounds is a 159 acre property located in Columbia County. Find it four miles east of Wyocena on Hwy. G, south side of G, section 21 town of Springvale. The property consists of approximatly 100 acres of upland and 60 acres of marsh/stream.

This public hunting ground was created in 1972 for public hunting opportunity.

Management

Historically, the primary management objective for Duck Creek Public Hunting Grounds was to provide hunting and other outdoor recreation opportunities. As lands were acquired, marginal farm fields were converted to prairie to compliment the existing native prairie community and provide additional wildlife habitat and hunting opportunity.

Management Objective

Current management objectives focus on protecting the watershed of Duck Creek and managing for pre-settlement vegetation types. This includes maintaining existing prairies and seeking opportunities to increase these cover types. The property is managed on a landscape scale, creating smooth transitions between cover types.

The property is monitored for invasive species such as spotted knapweed and garlic mustard. Prairie areas are managed and maintained through prescribed burning, mowing, and herbicide use to limit brush encroachment and encourage vigorous grasslands. Woodlands are managed in a manner that limits the spread of oak wilt and encourages regeneration of floodplain forest.