Hullet Guide

H U L L E T TT H E

P R O V I N C I A LW I L D L I F E A R E A

M U L T I - U S EM U LT I - S E A S O NF A C I L I T Y

US E RGU I D E

• Complete map of Hullett

• Hunting regulations

• Spotlights on species at Hullett

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This User Guide would not be possible without our sponsors.

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2 0 0 7 - 2 0 0 8 S E A S O N • W W W . H U L L E T T M A R S H . O R G 1

I f it’s your first time here take some

time to review the user guide so

that you are familiar with the rules

and regulations associated with the

HPWA. If you have been here before

check out the map section for any

changes.

The Friends of Hullett Inc. is a strictly

volunteer group of men and women

from around Southern Ontario who

spend hundreds of hours outside of

their “regular jobs” to manage the

day-to-day operations at the wildlife

area. The Board of Directors of F.O.H.

meets monthly and corresponds

almost daily.

The Board administers a large

agricultural contract, which along

with generous donations from the

public, provides the funds for the

maintenance of the marsh, grounds,

and buildings, the funding for new

and exciting projects, and the hiring of

employees.

Our employees are carefully chosen

b a s e d o n t h e i r e d u c a t i o n a l

background, patience, and insight. We

have been most fortunate to have

employees that are “self-starters”. The

nature of their jobs necessitates

the ability to not only see the work

at hand, but to work outside a

“game plan”.

Partnered with the O.M.N.R. and Ducks

Unlimited Canada, the Board of

Directors continues to manage this

amazing 5200-acre wetland complex

in Huron County. The success of our

operation depends however, on much

more than the three senior partners.

Our employees, of course, are

indispensable; but so are the many

volunteers that show up for workdays,

either impromptu or planned, and

those, which manage many of our

projects at Hullett. If you have an idea

for improvements to the area, or a

program you might want to see at

Hullett, don’t hesitate to bring it to the

attention of the staff or

directors.

The senior partners,

the Board of Directors,

our employees, and our

volunteers all recognize

Hullett as a “jewel” tucked

away in Southern Ontario.

Even more so now after

receiving funding from the

Trillium program. We have

completed the “Hullet

Provincial Wildlife Area

Interpretive Centre”. Please take

some time to stop in at

the interpretive center located at the

main office.

If you are new to the Hullett area,

or are a frequent visitor, you can

participate in the “Hullett Experience”

by hiking, hunting, horseback riding,

canoeing, or simply volunteering some

gratifying time to the marsh.

Regardless, you won’t be disappointed.

Duane Inkpen,

CHAIR

A Message from…The Board of Directors

of the Friends of Hullett

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Friends of Hullett I would like to welcome you to the Hullett Provincial Wildlife Area.

Table of ContentsWhat is The Hullett

Provincial Wildlife Area? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Message from the Marsh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Pheasant Program Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Abandoned Wells get Capped . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Greetings from your local

Conservation Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Rodents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Rules and Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Federal and Provincial Legislation . . . . . . . 11

Map of Hullett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

GPS Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

The Trails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Turkeys at Hullett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Fish at Hullett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Spotlight on Owls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Interior Forests at Hullett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

The Successful Prescribed Burn

of Native Grass Plots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Waterfowl Nesting Boxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Guided Hunt in the Whitetail Swamp . . . 22

Species at Risk in Hullett Marsh . . . . . . . . 23

Message from The OMNR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Membership Registration Form . . . . . . . . . 25

TheFriends of Hullett

BOARD MEMBERSChair

Duane Inkpen

Vice ChairEd Allen

SecretaryMike Cardinal

TreasurerDavid Palmer

DirectorsJim Bayne

Ryan Bayne

Warren Harper

Adam McKichan

Roger Shelswell

Ed VanOsch

STAFFMarsh Manager

Mat Shetler

Cover photos and photos throughout this

publication are courtesy of Friends of Hullett, & Mat Shetler

Help maintain the Marsh… Become a ‘Friends of Hullett’ MemberContact us for more information… office phone (519) 482-7011 • fax (519) 482-7415

email [email protected] • PO Box 1520, Clinton, ON N0M 1L0

H U L L E T T P R O V I N C I A L W I L D L I F E A R E A U S E R G U I D E

Welcome Hunters!

Come Enjoy Our HeartyDaily Specials

Breakfast • Lunch • DinnerSunday Brunch

Open 7 days a week519-233-3222

Corner of Hwy #4 & Vanastra Rd.

fGame FarmPheasant Club

OPEN YEAR ROUND7 DAYS A WEEK

Bird Dog Training• Pheasants• Quail• Chukar Partridge

2-1/2 miles westof Exeteron Huron Street

to Clinton

Huron St.

Hwy. #7

London

Stratford

Hwy. #83

Exeter

Hw

y.#

23

Mit

chel

l

➜

Ducks Unlimited Canada works every day to protect andrestore wetland habitat like the

beautiful marshes you see in the Hullett Wildlife area.

Yet, in some areas of Ontario not

far from here, up to 90% of

wetlands have been lost forever.

Wetlands provide essential habitat

for wildlife and vegetation, and

they also greatly improve the

health of our local watersheds.

Please call us at 1-888-402-4444to find out how you can helpprotect the natural vitality of

our Ontario landscape.

Or visit us at www.ducks.ca

Proud Supplier to the Hullett Provincial Wildlife Area

Our only limitationis Your imagination!

Dennis Smith owner

ph 519/273-6139fax 519/[email protected]

221 Griffith RoadStratford, ONN5A 6S4

Meeting,

then

exceeding

expectations

since 1991

519-228-6036

2 0 0 7 - 2 0 0 8 S E A S O N • W W W . H U L L E T T M A R S H . O R G

THE SAFETY OF HUNTING

With Hullett being a multi-use facility people are

often concerned about their safety when carrying

out activities during the hunting season. I respond

by telling them that there is a risk, but, statistically, they are

taking a greater risk driving here. In 1991, the U.S. National

Safety Council listed hunting after football, bicycle riding,

tennis, golf and swimming in terms of injuries requiring

hospital emergency room treatment. The same source lists

hunting related deaths after automobiles, home accidents,

falls, poisoning, fires and suffocation.

In Canada, and Ontario in particular, the tradition of hunting

is just as safe, if not more so. In 1957, Ontario became the

first Canadian province to establish a hunter safety-training

course. Over time the course has evolved into a broader

Message from theMarsh

Mat ShetlerMARSH MANAGER

Hunter Education Program. The Ontario

Hunter Education Program helps

participants to understand the natural

world and become a knowledgeable and

responsible hunter. The program provides

introductory information about

ecosystems and wildlife management,

hunting laws and regulations, hunter

responsibilities, identification, biology,

management of and hunting techniques

for big game, small game and waterfowl,

hunting and survival equipment and the

hunter's role in society. The program also

reinforces the firearms safety information

contained in the Canadian Firearms

Safety Course.

In addition to the Hunter Education

Program the Hunter Apprenticeship

Safety Program allows individuals the

opportunity to safely develop their

hunting skills while under the direct and

immediate supervision of a qualified

mentor. Any Ontario resident who is 12

years of age or older and who has

successfully completed the Ontario

Hunter Education Course (OHEC) and

exam is eligible to participate. The Hunter

Apprenticeship Safety Program is

mandatory for qualified participants

under the age of 15 but is optional for new

hunters who are 15 years of age or over.

As with every activity at Hullett there is a

risk. As long as people understand the

risks and take actions to minimize it, like

wearing bright colours, hunting accidents

will continue to be extremely rare at

Hullett and throughout Ontario. ■

By chance or good fortune you will find some of the true

inhabitants who depend upon the food, water, shelter and

space that Hullett provides. For our native wildlife, these are

the essentials of survival. For wildlife managers they are

measures of habitat quality. ■

This 2200 hectare site along the South

Maitland River provides superb

opportunities to see wildlife management

at its best. The forests, fields and marshes

present at Hullett provide a wide diversity

of wildlife species for all outdoor

enthusiasts.

H.P.W.A. has something for everyone, at any

time of the year.

This guide is designed to inform you of the

various recreational activities, some of

which you may be interested in partici-

pating in during your visit to Hullett.

• H.P.W.A. is open for public use and

enjoyment all year round.

• Typically, Hullett is for day use only and

on a self-guided basis. Organized clubs or

groups are asked to please coordinate their

activities through the Hullett office to

ensure there are no user conflicts. Group

tours may be arranged by contacting the

Hullett Office.

• Mosquitoes, deer flies and black flies are

a nuisance during summer months. To

relieve some of the bother, cover with

suitable clothing and use insect repellents.

• Visitors are asked to respect regulations

and leave the area as attractive as they

found it.


The Hullett Provincial Wildlife Area?

Set in the

heart of

Huron

County, and

strategically

located on

the paths of

two major

waterfowl

flyways,

Hullett

Provincial

Wildlife Area

is one of the

most spec-

tacular

wildlife

habitat

developments

in Eastern

Canada.

2 3

DID YOUknow...

...hunting is asafe outdooractivity that

contributes over200 million to

the economyannually.

• 172 Spacious Lots• Seasonal & Overnight Camping• 30 amp service • Dumping Station• Large Drive Through Sites• Spotless Modern Washrooms• Recreation Hall & Laundromat• Store • Propane • Ice • Wood• Solar Heated Inground Pool• Children’s Playground• Shuffleboard • Horseshoes• Sports Field • Canoeing• Planned Activities • Fishing• Open May to Thanksgiving

(7 km east of Goderich on Hwy #8)

Secluded family campground onthe banks of the Maitland River

RR#2, Clinton, ON N0M 1L0Reservations: (519) [email protected]

Bayfield Fish and Seafood(519) 565-2501

FRESH & FROZEN FISH ~ SEAFOOD ~ SMOKED FISH

SPECIALTY: Fresh Catch ~ Lake Huron FishSpecial Orders, Ice, Cold Drinks, Bait

47 Fisherman’s Wharf, North Dock

Bayfield Harbour

Box 538, Bayfield, Ontario N0M 1G0

[email protected]

Joe SeiliMayor

Municipality of Huron East

72 Main Street, PO Box 610

Seaforth, ON N0K 1W0

Phone 519-887-6289

Fax 519-887-9500

Email [email protected]

www.huroneast.com

Please visit our community…

What is

RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL BUILDING CONTRACTORSSAND & GRAVEL EQUIPMENT RENTALS

Office (519) 271-0353Fax (519) 271-5742

Mobile (519) 801-0442

Jay ArmstrongBox 100, R.R. 5Stratford, Ontario N5A 6S8

√ Club was chartered in 1940, with

a current membership of over 500.

√ Member of the Ontario Federation

of Anglers & Hunters, we also

maintain close association with:

- Canadian Wildlife Federation

- Ducks Unlimited Canada

- Huron Perth Wild Turkey

Association

- Ausable-Bayfield Conservation

Foundation

√ The club owns an 80 acre farm in

Goderich Township acquired from

the estate of a Charter Member.

√ 100 yd and 200 yd rifle range

available.

√ We hold spring, summer and fall

gun and archery shoots every year.

Our sporting clay range opens at

10 am on Saturdays all year round.

(6:00 pm Thursdays during thesummer only)

√ The club donates annually, mainly

to local groups in Clinton.

√ The club maintains a close

association with the town of

Clinton and the Optimist Club of

Clinton, providing use of the club

land at the corner of Alma and

Erie Street as a ball diamond.

√ Trout stream on range property.

Continued Success to the Hullett Wildlife Area… from your local partners in wildlife

conservation, the Huron Fish and Game

Conservation Club, Clinton

about theHuron

Fish andGame

You’re always welcome at our clubhouse in Clinton

Bar Hours • Fri. noon to 1 am • Sat. noon to midnight • Sun. 1 pm to 7 pm• Mon. to Thurs. 4 pm to 11 pm

For membership information, contact the clubhouse at 519-482-3022 • For information outside thesehours, contact Jim Butcher at Ontario Gun Services 519-482-9422 or see ad inside this guide

Clinton Hwy 8 to Goderich

Clinton Hwy 8 to Goderich

Alma St.

Huron Fish & Game

ClubHouse

ClintonOptimistBall Park

Erie

St.

Fish

& G

ame

Line

RangeProperty


David PalmerVICE CHAIR

FRIENDS OF HULLETT

H U L L E T T P R O V I N C I A L W I L D L I F E A R E A U S E R G U I D E4

The Friends of Hullett’s PheasantProgram

Pheasant

CHALLENGEUpdate

This project is no easy feat though. Aside from the

large cost of the birds, feed and supplies, a large

amount of time is spent raising them.

As the birds arrive they are fitted with specs. These devices

sit in front of their eyes and discourage them from fighting

and pecking at each other. As a result, when the birds are

released in the fall they have longer tails and are nice and

healthy. The specs still allow the birds to feed and drink and

do not affect their peripheral vision, which they rely most

upon.

Of course the pheasants are checked, fed and watered on a

regular basis. But even this takes time. When the birds are

going through a growth spurt they can easily eat 200kg of

food a day. The automatic waterers are temperamental at

best and have the uncanny knack of working one day but

not the next.

Staff is ever wary of predators and disease. The pens are

checked on a regular basis for holes and sick birds. A hungry

mink or raccoon or owl can kill many birds if precautions

aren’t taken. Similarly, if a bird is acting strange it is quickly

separated from the rest of the flock and watched closely. In

the worst cases a whole pen may develop an illness and will

require medication and additional care.

In 2002 all of this hard work translated into 387 man-hours.

Thankfully the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources allows

the Friends of Hullett to have a pheasant challenge. The

pheasant challenge is in its 6th year and continues to be

successful. It allows the Friends of Hullett to generate a little

money from this very costly project.

Select birds are fitted with a leg band. Participants of the

pheasant challenge redeem the band and their $10 ticket to

receive a corresponding prize. The prizes range in value from

$20 to $150. Inevitably prizes are left over at

the end of the season for which a draw is

held. All monies generated by the challenge

are put back into purchasing birds and

supplies the following year. Ten dollars is a

small cost to pay to enjoy the pheasant at

Hullett and we encourage everyone to

participate in the pheasant challenge

although it is not necessary.

If you require more information about the

Pheasant Challenge, wish to purchase a

ticket or have an item to donate as a prize

please contact the office at (519) 482-7011. ■

Raising and releasing 1,700 ring-necked pheasants every year is what attracts hundreds of visitors to Hullett annually.

UDon’t forget to buy your ticket for

this year…

our 7thAnnualPheasantChallenge!

U

5

Camp • Relax • SwimEnjoy Nature7 km of Trails

Daily Summer Activities

Point FarmsPoint FarmsP R O V I N C I A L P A R K

7 km north of Goderich on Hwy 21

Open mid May - Thanksgiving

Info 519-524-7124 • Reservations 1-888-668-7275

HAROLD’SSHELL Family owned

since 1957• Gas • Diesel • Propane •

• General Repair • Service - Oil Changes, etc.WE BUY & SELL USED CARS

519-482-9612HIGHWAY 4 SOUTH CLINTON

DID YOUknow...

...Ring NeckedPheasants havebeen known to

eat their owneggshells.

Any way you choose, remember to try and

record identification of the people involved

in a violation. Information such as vehicle

licence numbers and descriptions of

people, especially what they were wearing,

can provide valuable information we can

use to help us apprehend the violator.

Each year seems to bring it’s own

challenges and last hunting season was no

exception. One problem we encountered

was a group of waterfowl hunters in “A”

zone ‘wandering’ too far from their blind

stake. Remember, you must be within a 30

metre radius of your stake. Let’s also

remember to respect the people who have

paid for the opportunity to hunt in the

Whitetail Swamp. The people have spent

their money and entered the lottery to

experience this unique type of flooded

timber hunt. The lottery takes place after

July 31st each year and is a fundraiser for

the Friends of Hullett. Money raised

provides the FoH with the ability to

maintain this prime facility for us all to

experience.

Another challenge we face has been with

people determined to have loaded firearms

on, as well as shooting from, the roadways

around Hullett. Not only is this a dangerous

practice, it also sets a bad example for

younger hunters and those that may not

be supportive of this type of activity. As

stated in this pamphlet, most roadways

within Hullett are considered as

‘maintained’, therefore you cannot have a

loaded firearm while walking upon them.

We hope that as you head out to Hullett

you remember to bring along your common

sense, courtesy, and sense of fair play. And if

you have the opportunity, bring along a

young person! They, too, can experience the

great Ontario outdoors and benefit from a

mentor such as you.

We hope to see you there.

DEANE WAITE

Greetings

7

Being such a diverse area, patrolling the HullettWildlife Area is both challenging and rewarding. Wehave the pleasure of meeting the facility users during

various seasons of the year. From the bird watchers and dogtrainers in the spring, to the hunters in the fall. We even runinto hikers and snowshoers brave enough to face the coldOntario winters.

It never ceases to amaze us how well all of the diverse user

groups get along and respect each other. However, there are

always a few that manage to make themselves known in a

negative way by spoiling it for other people using the area.

Whether it is just a lack of common courtesy or a violation

of the applicable laws, we are interested in hearing about

your concerns and are always willing to help you if we can.

So please, if you would like to report something, you have

several options for doing this.

You can call either of us direct at one of the numbers listed

on this page, including the Clinton office. You can contact

the Hullett staff and they can assist you in getting in touch

with us. As well, MNR has a new 24 hour violation reporting

line. The number is 1-877-TIPS-MNR (1-877-847-7667). Staff

there will ask questions to assist you with reporting what

you saw. You are not required to leave your name, however

it does help us if we need further information and we

always like to call back and thank those that help us to

protect the environment.

Deane WaiteCONSERVATIONOFFICER

Bus(519) 482-3667

Cell(519) 441-0014

Joe FralickCONSERVATIONOFFICER

Bus(519) 482-3811

Cell(519) 441-0311

Welcome to this multiple-use wildlife area…

from your local Conservation Officers!


DID YOU know……more than one million individuals have successfully

completed hunter education training.

Two golf courses - Woodlands Linksand Bluewater Golf CourseWhile you’re visiting the Hullett

Wildlife Area, see everything else

the new Municipality of Central

Huron has to offer.

From unique shops, a wide range of

restaurants and local attractions

such as the CNR School on Wheels,

Millennium Park and Racetrack Slots, to our

heritage coming to life in picturesque murals

which decorate downtown Clinton.

We’re proud to have this fine recreational

area in our municipality, and proud of its

ever-increasing use by people from across

Ontario and the northern United States.

Municipality of Central HuronP.O. Box 400, 23 Albert Street,

Clinton, ON N0M 1L0

(519) 482-3997


Your Lumber & Building MaterialsSupply Centre

198 Main Street, Seaforth

ph 519-527-0770 • fax 519-527-2600See us today for your RENTAL EQUIPMENT

O N T A R I O

DID YOUknow...

...Ironwood isalso known as

Hop-hornbeamand that

hornbeammeans “tough

tree” in oldEnglish.

ONTARIO MINISTRYOF NATURALRESOURCES

CLINTON OFFICE

100 Don St.Clinton, ONN0M 1L0

General Inquiry:(519) 482-3428

… extends a warm welcometo all those visiting the

Hullett Wildlife Area


ZONE ‘A’HUNTING REGULATIONS:Zone A is a waterfowl only unit

consisting of 1020 ha (2520 ac.) of

land of which 680 ha (1680 ac.) are

flooded with shallow open water.

The average water depth within the

five compartments is approximately

50 cm (20 in.)

Within Zone A there are 50 Hunting

Stations available. You may hunt in

Zone A under the following

conditions:

To hunt in Zone A on the generalopening Saturday of Waterfowlseason (this does not apply to theearly Goose season when scheduled):Hunters are required to participate

in a draw conducted by the FOH and

MNR. The intent of the draw is to

ensure an equitable allocation of

hunting opportunities and

encourage a safe hunt for everyone.

The draw takes place on Friday at

noon (the day before opening day).To participate in the draw, waterfowl

hunters must register at the ‘Main

Parking Lot’ for each day’s hunt.

Registration time begins at 10 am

Friday morning.

The draw is made at 12 o’clock noon.

Draw Procedure:The draw determines the order of

choice for hunting stakes, not the

stake itself.

The first fifty (50) motor vehicles will

qualify for the draw (UNOCCUPIEDVEHICLES are not eligible).In the event that all fifty (50) stakes

are not taken in the draw, the

remaining stakes will be allocated

on the first come, first served basis.

Though two (2) people may occupy a

hunting stake, only one (I) draw per

vehicle will be permitted.

Upon registration, hunters will

receive a Hunter Validation/ Harvest

Card (HV/HC), at which time hunters

are to deposit a piece of

identification (NOT any licenserequired to hunt, possess firearms, oroperate a vehicle) with the parking

lot operator. Identification will be

returned to the hunter at the

conclusion of the hunt after his daily

harvest has been checked.

Information collected on birds

checked is used for managing

waterfowl in Ontario.

The HV/HC MUST be displayed in a

manner so that it can be easily seen,

preferably on the dash of the

vehicle.

If there are any questions about this

process, please call (519) 482-7011.

To hunt in Zone A after opening day:To provide a fair and equal

opportunity to all hunters after the

opening day of waterfowl season,

hunters that arrive before 5:00 a.m.

MUST:

• line up in the Main Parking Lot on

a first come, first served basis at

one of the numbered parking

barriers that corresponds to one

of fifty (50) hunting stakes.

• After 5 a.m., hunters MUST

proceed to the parking lot

corresponding with the stake

number they have selected to

hunt from.

Throughout the waterfowl seasonin Zone A:1. You may hunt in Zone A ONLY if

you park your vehicle in a

NUMBERED space in Zone A des-

ignated parking lot. The number

of your space permits you to hunt

at the stake with the same num-

ber. Stake locations are shown on

the accompanying map. If you are

not hunting a stake you may not

park in front of the numbered

space.

2. A maximum of two (2) persons at

one (1) stake and you must remain

within a thirty (30) metre radius

of your stake.

3. Shotguns must be UNLOADED

AND ENCASED unless you are at

your stake.

4. Legal game is defined by federal

and provincial legislation.

5. Portable blinds may be used. No

person shall cut any vegetation

nor erect and leave a blind of any

fashion in Zone A.

6. Decoys may be used in accordance

with federal and provincial legislation.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:Trail and channel markers are placed

to help you find some stakes. The

markers and stake numbers will

show up in the beam of a flashlight.

We urge all hunters to scout the

area ahead of time and take a

compass with you. Many stakes will

be almost impossible to find in the

dark unless you know the area well.

S t a k e s n u m b e r e d 1 - 5 0 a r epermanent locations.

Hunting at HullettRules and Regulations

Hunting is permitted at Hullett daily during open hunting seasons. All provincialand federal hunting regulations are in effect. Provincial and some federalregulations are contained in the latest issue of the “Ontario Hunting RegulationsSummary”, which is available at offices of the Ontario Ministry of NaturalResources and from license issuers. Migratory bird regulations can be found on theweb following links starting at http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/enforcement/hunting.In addition, there are several Regulations and Restrictions that apply specificallyto Hullett.Zone A and Zone B Regulations and Restrictions outlined as follows:The Hullett Hunting Area is divided into two Wildlife Management Zones, Zone“A” and Zone “B”. The South Maitland River is the internal boundary between thetwo Zones.Other boundary lines are signed and/or adjacent to private property.

Rules &Regulationscontinued onnext page…

most of their lives underground in tunnels and burrows.

Their front paws usually face outward which allows for

easier burrowing. Moles have very small eyes, which are the

size of a pinhead or less! In this part of Ontario you can find

two different types of Talpidae; the Star Nosed Mole

(Condylura cristata), which has a nose surrounded by fleshy

like projections, and the Hairytail Mole (Parascalopsbreweri), which is the smallest of the eastern moles, only

140 mm or less in body length!

The most familiar rodent is of course the mouse! Written

about by the famous Robert Burns in a poem and

mentioned in ‘The Night Before Christmas’, everyone knows

about the mouse. There are several families of mouse found

in the Hullett Marsh, the White-footed Mouse (Peromyscusleucopus), and the very common Deer Mouse (Peromyscusmaniculatus), which belong to the family Cricetidae. The

House Mouse (Mus musculus), which is part of the family

Muridae along with the Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus), can

be found anywhere humans have gone. The third family of

mice found in Hullet are the jumping mice, family

Zapodidae. The two species from this family at the Hullett

Marsh are the Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius)

and the Woodland Jumping Mouse (Napaeozapus insignis).

The Woodland Jumping Mouse is known to be a good

swimmer.

Voles, which are, like the mouse, part of the Cricetidae

family, can also be found at Hullett. The Boreal Redback Vole

(Clethrionomys gapperi) and the Meadow Vole (Microtuspennsylvanicus) are both found in this area. Voles are very

small and can be confused with mice, except for the fact

that voles have very small ears while the ears of mice are

very apparent. Voles also have much shorter tails.

While all of these creatures are small among the great

mammals of North America, without them many food

chains would crumble and many birds, reptiles and

mammals would not be able to sustain themselves. Small

mammals are studied because they are easily trapped and

handled, and they are good bio-indicators. This means that

they are very sensitive towards slight changes in the

environment, and their response to change could be taken

as early warning signs. ■

Rodents are often viewed as pests

and something to be rid of. However,

rodents are a cornerstone to entire

ecosystems. They are food for owls and

carnivorous mammals and reptiles. They

breakdown natural refuse (leaves and

twigs), and eat large numbers of insects.

Small mammals also burrow and create

tunnels underground. This helps aerate the

soil, and healthy soil is vital to a strong

environment. Humans do not see many of

these small mammals on a regular basis,

due to their nocturnal behavior. They spend

a great part of their lives underground, and

they do not leave large tracks or signs of

their presence and are fairly shy. However in

the winter one is able to see small

footprints and trails leading to and from

trees, burrows and streams.

Shrews are small mammals, which have a

small pointed nose and 5 toes on each foot.

The shrew is a part of the Insectivora order

and the Soricidae family.There are 4 types of

Shrew that can be found in Hullett: the

Masked Shrew (Sorex cinereus), the Pygmy

Shrew (Microsorex hoyi), the Smoky Shrew

(Sorex fumeus) and the Short-tail Shrew

(Blarina brevicauda). These small mammals

are known for having an extremely high

heart beat. In captivity some shrews have

had a recorded heartbeat of 120 beats per

minute. These animals, if handled

inappropriately, will die of heart failure.

Another small rodent species, which can be

confused with shrews, are moles. Moles live


DID YOUknow...

...short-earedowls are very

similar tonorthern

harriers in theecological niche

they fill.

DID YOUknow...

...collisions withwildlife haveincreased by

86% over thelast ten years

DID YOUknow...

...populations ofmeadowlarks

and otherfarmland birds

are fallingbecause of

suburban sprawl,industrial

development,and the

intensification offarming over the

past 50 years.

WE DELIVER DAILY TO CLINTON, BAYFIELD AND AREA

LANGFORDLUMBER

HOME CENTRESBayfield Road, Clinton 519-482-3995Value & Service you can Build on.

Rodents


GENERAL REGULATIONS:

ALCOHOL Alcohol is not allowed on public lands under Ontario’s Liquor License Act.

CAMPING Camping is not permitted unless special permission is received from the Board

of Directors and the OMNR.

COMMERCIAL OPERATION Commercial operations will not be located on the property.

LITTERING NO LITTERING! You are responsible for the removal of your own garbage.

MONOPOLIZATION No monopolization of the area is permitted. All persons and/or groups are

expected to remove any and all equipment they bring into the area.

MOTORIZED VEHICLES Motorized vehicles are permitted on maintained roads and parking lots only.

Motor boats are NOT allowed, this includes electric motors.

PARKING No parking from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Overnight parking will only be allowed

in the Main Parking Lot (for opening day draw). Camper trailers will not be

permitted.

HUNTING Public access or hunting is NOT permitted at any time within the sanctuaries

posted under the Public Lands Act. Hunting is not permitted near maintenance

buildings, or on neighbouring private land without the permission of the

landowner. From March 1 to September 24 hunting is prohibited on or near the

nature trails. Hunting is not permitted within 400 metres of waterfowl baiting

locations. Inquire at the Marsh office for locations.

FIREARMS Most roadways within Hullett are considered as ‘maintained’. It is illegal to

have a loaded firearm within 8 metres of a maintained road or to hunt from a

maintained road. Hunters are not exempt from any federal or provincial law

with regards to firearms while hunting Hullett.

VEGETATION No person shall cut or remove any plants or trees without permission from

MNR.

DOG TRAINING Dog training is permitted in: Zone A prior to May 15 and after August 1 with the

appropriate licenses or permit from the MNR.

Zone B prior to May 15 and after July 15 with the appropriate permit or license

from the MNR.

NOTE: Field Trials and Training that involve using birds during the closed season

are prohibited except with proper permits or licenses from the MNR.

HORSE ACCESS Horse access is permitted throughout the area EXCEPT in Zone A from October

1 to May 1 (for Zone A boundaries see map on page 12-13).

ATV’s and SNOWMOBILES ATV’s are not permitted within the marsh except for management purposes.

Snowmobiles are permitted only on marked snowmobile trails.

WATER ACCESS Water access (for any purpose) is not permitted from May 15 to August 1, to

minimize disturbances to nesting waterfowl.

BOOKINGS FOR GROUP ACTIVITIES Dog trials, training, bird watching, horseback riding, contact the Hullett office

at (519) 482-7011.

Federal and Provincial Legislationis applicable and must be adhered to!

Regulations and Restrictions applying specifically to Hullett are as follows:

DID YOUknow...

...since the 1999emergence of

West Nile Virus,there have

been significantdeclines in the

NorthAmerican

populations ofAmerican Crow,Blue Jay, Tufted

Titmouse,American

Robin, HouseWren,

Chickadee andEastern

Bluebird.


Wading in unfamiliar waters can be extremely dangerous. Chest

waders will be required in most cases. Keep in mind that OPEN

water can mean DEEP water, especially near dykes.

Skybusting shows poor sportsmanship and results in crippled

birds. This is strongly discouraged at Hullett. Know your shotgun

and its limitations.

Hunting waterfowl with lead shot is illegal, as inferred in the

regulations made pursuant to the Migratory Birds Convention Act.

Due to management practices, water levels may fluctuate and

shorelines may change.

Some stakes may be closed at the MNR’s discretion during certain

periods to restrict hunting activity near waterfowl banding sites. If

done, notice will be posted at the parking space for that stake.

A retriever or canoe will be necessary at many sites to ensure

retrieval of all birds shot. Hunters are required to recover downed

game.

Access to Hunting Stakes:Walk-in (chest waders highly recommended): 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 27, 28,

30, 32, 34, 46, 48. Canoe recommended at all other stakes.

NOTE: Some stakes may be shut down during the early goose

season for waterfowl leg banding.

ZONE ‘B’ HUNTING REGULATIONS:Zone B is comprised of 1080 ha (2670 ac.) of upland habitat,interspersed with 14 wetland areas, 130ha (320 ac.) in size. Allgame for which there is an open season may be hunted with thefollowing conditions:1. From Sept 1 - Dec. 31 all hunters must park in one of 14 designated

parking lots (identified by the letter P) and position their vehicle

in front of an individual barrier. This parking space permits all

hunters in the vehicle to hunt ANYWHERE in Zone B, BUT NOT in

Zone A.

2. Night hunting for raccoon is illegal without proper license from

OMNR, and coordination with the Friends of Hullett is requested.

Additional Comments:Pheasants may be released at intervals through the fall hunting

season and may be hunted. At times Bobwhite Quail may also be

found on the property.

At present, Quail may NOT be hunted. ■

Hunting Rules & Regulations continued from previous page…

Hunting Opportunities for the Physically Challenged

With the cooperative efforts of the Friends ofHullett, Ministry of Natural Resources and the

Middlesex Hunting Retriever Club, two

wheelchair accessible duck blinds are available at the

Hullett Provincial Wildlife Area.

The original blind is located off the 21-42 parking lot.

Ninety metres of boardwalk takes hunters to the blind

that sits in a secluded opening surrounded by flooded

timber. The small pond often has small flocks of wood

ducks and mallards in it. The White tail swamp is close by

and allows for good pass shooting.

The second handicapped accessible blind is located off

the 43-50 parking lot. This blind was finished in 2005 with

the help of staff, volunteers and the Ministry of Natural

Resources Stewardship Rangers. The gravel path and

boardwalk total 1300 feet in length. The blind itself sits in

one of a series of ponds. Cattails, flooded timber and

nearby bush and agriculture fields make this area suitable

for a variety of puddle ducks and Canadian geese.

The motive behind creating a second blind was to offer

the hunters not only a quality outdoor experience but

also a choice. The Friends of Hullett hope users will find

the new location an excellent choice for waterfowl

hunting.

These blinds are intended for use by the physically

challenged that possess the proper identification! They

may be accompanied by an able bodied companion, who

may also hunt. We encourage you to visit the site, but

please do not disturb the hunters if the blind is occupied.

To reserve a blind please contact the office at

(519) 482-7011 ■

10

1-20

21-44

45-50

2 0 0 7 - 2 0 0 8 S E A S O N

The Hullett Wildlife Area

Legend

Trails

Handicapped Hunting Blind

Parking lots

Hunting Stakes

Misc.

White

Blue

Green

Yellow

Orange

Gold

Brown

Purple

Canoe Launches

Dykes

Privies

Viewing Stands

Waterfowl Sanctuary

Roads

Wetland

Water / Drainage

Wooded Areas

Private Property

Office Complex

H.P.W.A. Boundary

Native Grasses

Shooting Backstop

Kinburn

Bridge Road

to Hwy #4Summerhill Road

Burn

s Lin

e

Wild

life

Line

S.Ro

ad 10

Sanc

tuar

y Lin

e

to H

wy #

8to

Seaf

orth

Huro

n Ro

ad 15

to Clinton

Hydro Line Road

ConservationRoad

Main Parking Lot

SouthMaitlandRiver

NOTRESPASSING

MallardPool

BluebillPool White Tail

Swamp

ButterballPool

WoodiePool

GreenwingPool Whistler

Pond

BluewingPool

WaterfowlSanctuary

Pintail Pool

WaterfowlSanctuary

ZONE A

ZONE B

ZONE A

ZONEAZONE

B

S

S

81044

80910

40536

40589

40650

80754

8060280591

40542 40672 80451

40988

41108

4138841378

41494

81105

81001

40905

40874

40677

Fron

t Roa

d

13H U L L E T T P R O V I N C I A L W I L D L I F E A R E A U S E R G U I D E12

152 0 0 7 - 2 0 0 8 S E A S O N • W W W . H U L L E T T M A R S H . O R GH U L L E T T P R O V I N C I A L W I L D L I F E A R E A14

STAKE LATITUDE LONGITUDE1 38’ 14.07134” 27’ 24.83136” 2 38’ 26.29855” 27’ 15.97100” 3 38’ 27.33254” 26’ 55.55732”4 38’ 17.70236” 26’ 56.96792” 5 38’ 12.02669” 26’ 56.57878” 6 38’ 28.09723” 28 00.93796” 7 38’ 27.15112” 27’ 47.88394” 8 38’ 14.50044” 27’ 42.47007” 9 38’ 02.89464” 27’ 47.56315” 10 37’ 58.67049” 27’ 58.34073” 11 37’ 52.73693” 28’ 00.43280” 12 38’ 07.50675” 27’ 58.07236” 13 38’ 14.65737” 27’ 52.78448” 14 38’ 28.41147” 28’ 16.25886” 15 38’ 16.44771” 28’ 10.24934” 16 38’ 07.46596” 28’ 13.27532” 17 38’ 01.03351” 28’ 24.86984” 18 38’ 14.45967” 28’ 20.35804” 19 38’ 21.03650” 28’ 27.66901” 20 38’ 45.47616” 28’ 16.05059” 21 37’ 44.11505” 28’ 17.58654” 22 37’ 41.13982” 28’ 02.02365” 23 37’ 29.1.6358” 27’ 56.43358” 24 37’ 26.79510” 27’ 44.06183” 25 37’ 14.21041” 27’ 35.59950” 26 37’ 07.42647” 27’ 32.42823” 27 37’ 19.58714” 27’ 21.64123” 28 37’ 23.96061” 27’ 33.64969” 29 37’ 31.16426” 27’ 20.98890” 30 37’ 41.57484” 27’ 45. 75687” 31 37’ 35.54078” 27’ 35.03063” 32 37’ 42.63447” 27’ 30.28517” 33 37’ 39.78789” 27’ 13.05365” 34 37’ 37.57995” 26’ 43.03476” 35 37’ 32.47482” 26’ 56.24194” 36 37’ 24.30122” 26’ 57.62125” 37 37’ 16.55932” 26’ 40.77437” 38 37’ 11.78796” 27’ 02.30757” 39 37’ 02.79569” 27’ 10.50491” 40 36’ 54.68912” 27’ 24.90422” 41 36’ 52.89653” 27’ 10.91987” 42 37’ 03.77839” 26’ 52.46267” 43 36’ 53.61147” 26’ 53.48546” 44 36’ 44.39046” 26’ 55.62174” 45 36’ 41.63039” 26’ 44.02574” 46 36’ 44.92815” 26’ 38.57821” 47 36’ 56.07951” 26’ 42.91570” 48 36’ 57.36667” 26’ 27.15351” 49 37’ 09.73168” 26’ 31.60772” 50 37’ 06.78437” 26’ 24.34719”

GPS Informationfor ‘A’ Zone Hunting Stakes

If your GPS unit has a limited number of digits, just round off to the closest digit.If you need the GPS co-ordinates in a different format, contact the Hullett office at 482-7011.Readings in charts are minutes ( ’ ), and seconds ( ” ). All Latitudes start with 43. All Longitudes start with 81.

The Trails…The Dyke Trail SystemFrom the dykes at the Hullett Provincial Wildlife

Area you can see over most of the marsh. They

are perfect for viewing waterfowl and wildlife

such as beaver, muskrats, mink and deer. The

dyke tops, sometimes rising 8 meters above the

water’s surface, are great locations for

photographers and bird watchers. The HPWA

provides habitat for over 180 species of birds and

over 400 plant species.

Bluebill Pool Trail Length . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.6 kmLevel of Difficulty . . 1

Butterball Pool Loop Length . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.1 kmLevel of Difficulty . . 2

Bluewing Pool Trail Length . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.4 kmLevel of Difficulty . . 1

The Sugar Bush Trail SystemGreen Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3 km

Level of Difficulty . . . 2This originally deer-made path leads you

through meadow and forest. It is an excellent

location from which to observe the relationship

between these two ecosystems. An old sugar

shack, which was once used to make maple syrup,

is found on this trail.

Yellow Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.4 kmLevel of Difficulty . . . 2

This little extension of the Green trail makes for

a nice loop through the sugar bush.

Gold Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.4 kmLevel of Difficulty . . . 2

This trail winds through lowland forest and hilly

meadow. It is also bordered by agricultural fields

and presents a good opportunity for wildlife

viewing. While walking this trail you will be able

to view raptor nests and wood duck boxes.

Purple Length . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.3 kmLevel of Difficulty . . . 2

This short trail can be used to create alternative

loops. Hikers will find large hemlock trees along

this trail.

The Interpretive Trail Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.8 kmLevel of Difficulty . . . 1

This trail is located at the Hullett office complex.

Along the trail there are many interpretive signs

that identify the different species of trees and

shrubs, the different wildlife structures, wildlife

habitats and more.

The Green Dragon Trail SystemWhite Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.7 km

Level of Difficulty . . . 2Another trail providing an excellent opportunity

to witness the forest and meadow ecosystems

and how they inter-relate. Take a moment to

examine the wildlife around you. It will become

clear how each ecosystem is equally and

individually important.

Blue Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.4 kmLevel of Difficulty . . . 2

An ancient Indian site occurs just east of this

path which follows along the Menesetung, or

Maitland (south) River. Also be wary of the

Hullett Dragons! Green Dragons are a plant of

special concern and are found in pockets along

this trail.

Brown Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.5 kmLevel of Difficulty . . . 3

Moving through the low bottomlands you will

see a variety of trees. Hikers will also pass over a

small stream. Careful not to get your feet wet!

River Walk Trail Length . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.6 kmLevel of difficulty . . . 2

This trail follows the Maitland River along the

dyke trails and over an old highway bridge.

Beaver dams and lodges, osprey platforms and

wood duck boxes are some of the animal homes

that can be seen along the way. On this trail

hikers will pass by significant waterfowl

habitat.

Level of Difficulty Level 1 Easy. For families with

young children.

Level 2 Moderate. Wear comfortable

& sturdy shoes.

Level 3 Some hills, natural path.

NOTE: Time to complete is based on

an average adult pace of 4 km per hour.

Individual times may vary with grade,

ground conditions & ability of the participant.

Where there is permanent water there are bound tobe fish. Although the ponds at Hullett do contain

fish, they do not support a sport fishery. The fish

species sought after by anglers aren’t available in any great

size or abundance and it all relates to the conditions present

in the ponds.

The ponds at Hullett were designed to be shallow to provide

better wetland conditions. The shallow conditions, along

with decreasing water levels and increasing water

temperatures during the summer puts limitations on fish

production in the ponds. As well, because of the ice and

snow cover, shallow nature of the ponds and the large

amount of oxygen consumed by the decay of aquatic plants,

low oxygen conditions often develop in the winter. This

condition, known as “winterkill”, results in frequent die offs

of many fish, especially larger ones that require more

oxygen to survive. These die offs are very evident in the

spring and are a natural occurrence in many shallow ponds

and lakes.

Despite the less than ideal conditions, the ponds at Hullett

do contain suckers, pumpkinseed, brown bullheads and a

variety of minnows. Despite the pond’s lack of game fish,

they do provide important food to fish-eating birds such as

grebes, mergansers, herons and kingfishers.

Although there are few fishing opportunities in the ponds

themselves, the South Maitland River, which runs through

the property, does contain smallmouth bass, forage species

including members of the minnow, catfish and sucker

families and even migrating trout and salmon. ■

Fishat Hullett

DID YOU know…...wildlife causes some $45 million in crop damage

each year, and the costs are increasing.

HullettTurkeys at

I n Ontario, turkey hunters spend an estimated 8.2 million

dollars a year. This is amazing considering that by the

early 1900s, in Canada, the wild turkey was nearly wiped

out. Their numbers have increased due to strict hunting

laws and reintroduction efforts. Wild turkeys can now be

found throughout southern Ontario, including Hullett.

These large game birds have keen eyesight and hearing.

They are strong fliers and can run up to 29 km/hr over short

distances. Due to their habitat, turkeys feed mainly on

plants but will also eat fruits, berries, insects and spiders.

They roost in trees at night but lay their eggs on the ground

in a depression.

To date there is a small turkey population at Hullett. Hullett

was never a release site so birds that are here migrated to

the area from nearby release sites. There have been some

nice mature male Toms spotted but most of the small flock

consists of immature males, or jakes, and hens. At Hullett

the wild turkeys are often seen on spring mornings, north of

Conservation Road, along the field edges foraging for food

and strutting their stuff. ■

• Complete selection of

bow hunting supplies

• Ammunition & gun

cleaning equipment

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Owls are known for their haunting of the night. Often

they are feared as evil creatures. But all of this is

nonsense; the owl is an amazing bird, one of great

power, speed, agility, stealth and poise. In The Hullet

Provincial Wildlife Area, several species of owl can be found,

they are the Snowy Owl, Great Horned Owl, Long Eared Owl,

Short Eared Owl, Eastern Screech Owl, and the Northern

Saw-Whet Owl.

Owls are characterized by the fact that they are carnivorous,

have hooked beaks, large curved claws, and they swallow

their food whole. Another owl characteristic is that they

cannot move their eyes; in order to change their view they

must rotate their head. Owls can turn their head a

phenomenal 270’ each way, and 90’ vertically! Owls also

have excellent vision when it comes to seeing great

distances, particularly during the night. This helps them

locate prey in the distance. But they are farsighted and

cannot see clearly at close range, just a few inches in front

of their face. These predators locate their prey by using sight

and sound. Owls use hearing to center in on their prey,

which are often under the cover of leaves or snow. An owl’s

hearing is particularly good since they have a facial disk.

This (facial disk) is an arrangement of feathers that

protrude slightly around the face forming a disk, with the

beak being the center. This is thought to allow sounds to be

“reflected” back into the owl’s ears, and therefore allowing

the bird to locate its prey with great precision. Once owls

have located their prey, they fly silently so as not to frighten

away their prey, they then land on their prey with their

claws to prevent escape.


the daylight hours. This owl stands about 35 cm high and

has a wingspan of 41 cm. A peculiar trait is that it nests on

the ground, whereas most other owls nest above ground

level.

The Eastern Screech Owl (Otus asio) is commonly found in

the Hullett Provincial Wildlife Area sleeping in duck boxes

during the winter months. This is a very small owl, only

reaching a maximum height up to 25 cm and a wingspan of

55 cm. This owl can tighten up its feathers in order to

camouflage itself to look like a stick when it feels

threatened. This owl uses forest edges and riparian areas to

hunt and will avoid densely forested areas, for the reason

that the Great Horned Owl primarily uses that habitat.

The Northern Saw-Whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) is a very

passive bird. This owl is very small - its length is between 12

and 21 cm, it has a wingspan averaging 50 cm and only

weighs up to 110 grams. This owl has a black beak, and has a

white underbelly, with brown splotches. This owl uses the

sit-and-wait technique when hunting.

While these owls may be hard to spot while enjoying the

outdoors at the Hullett Provincial Wildlife Area, they are

present and are an integral part of the forest and marsh

ecosystem. They help control small mammal populations

and insect numbers. Their presence also signals that the

environment here is healthy and that large predators are

able to survive. So, as long as you can hear their hoots and

twittering on occasion, you know that at least one part of

the wild is thriving here at Hullett Marsh. ■

17

Spotlight on resident species at theHullett Provincial

Wildlife AreaOWLSInterior forests are vital for the survival of many forest

birds and animals in southern Ontario. As a result, the

Friends of Hullett, with financial support from the

National Wild Turkey Federation and the OMNR Community

Fisheries and Wildlife Improvement Program, have been

increasing the amount of interior forest at Hullett.

Within forests there are many physical and biological

functions that occur. Microclimates along the edge of

woodlands are sunnier, warmer, windier and drier and

experience more dramatic environmental change. These

conditions reduce the diversity and abundance of insects

and other invertebrates that are important food for wildlife.

Edge zones have also been shown to have more disease,

invasive species and predators than forest interiors. The

extent to which these “edge effects” penetrate into a forest

varies in width depending on what is being measured. As a

rule of thumb, though, managers consider edge effects to

penetrate 100m into a forest.

These edge effects result in a decrease in the number of

animals sensitive to these conditions, increased nest

predation rates, increased nest parasitism rates and an

overall decrease in wildlife diversity. In southern Ontario,

interior forests contain red bats, red squirrels, barred owls,

pileated woodpecker, red trilliums, spring beauties, scarlet

tanager, ruffed grouse, and wild turkey. In comparison, the

wildlife found in edge habitats includes robins, raccoons,

opossums, glossy buckthorn and brown-headed cowbirds.

A large mature tract of forest currently exists on the north

west side of Hullett. By filling in 4.5 hectares found within

the tract, the Friends of Hullett will drastically increase the

amount of interior forest from 5 hectares to 20 hectares. This

will result in improved forest health and greater variety and

abundance of animals. ■

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Here is a brief description of the owls that can be found in

the Hullett Provincial Wildlife Area.

The Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca) is perhaps the most

famous owl. (This may be due to its appearance in the ever-

popular Harry Potter books and movies.) This owl is 50–65

cm tall with a wingspan of 1.5 m.The males of this species are

a bright snowy white, while the females may have brown

vertical bars across their bodies. Both sexes have a round

head with brilliant yellow eyes. This owl will occasionally let

out a very loud hooting sound, but is usually silent. These

owls feed on mice, and must eat about 350 small rodents a

month to sustain themselves.

The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) can have a

wingspan of 1.2 meters and weigh more than 2 kg, with a

height of 50 cm. The males and females have similar

plumage, a gray underside banded darkly, with white chest

feathers. Their facial disk is a tawny orange. These owls have

tufts of feathers a-top their head resembling horns or ears,

thus their name. This owl will make its home in a forested

and semi-forested area. This owl does not migrate at all;

most owlets never leave the general area in which they were

hatched, and they will stay within an 80 km radius of their

birth-nest.

The Long Eared Owl (Asio otus) stands about 35 cm high, has

a wingspan of about 96 cm and physically resembles the

Great Horned Owl, both which sport ‘ears’. However, the Long

Eared Owl is much smaller, has lateral barring on its

underside and lacks a white bib. This owl lives in thickets and

woodlands but will hunt in open fields, flying low over the

vegetation.

The Short Eared Owl (Asio flammeus) has buff brown

plumage with dark streaking on the back, chest and

underside. This owl can be seen in broad daylight as

compared to other owls that usually remain hidden during 527-221024 HOUR TOWING

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at HullettInteriorForests

192 0 0 7 - 2 0 0 8 S E A S O N • W W W . H U L L E T T M A R S H . O R GH U L L E T T P R O V I N C I A L W I L D L I F E A R E A U S E R G U I D E18

April 30th saw the culmination of a 3-

year active quest to burn the

tallgrass prairie at Hullett realized.

In the end, the endeavor was judged a

success. Weather prospects looked less

than ideal as the morning began with

humidity, wind speed and wind direction

being major concerns. With the forecast

calling for rain the next couple of days, it

was possible the burn may be postponed

indefinitely. Mother Nature was on our side

however, as the front stalled and left us a

window to complete the job.

Representatives of the Friends of Hullett,

Huron Stewardship Council, Rural Lambton

Stewardship Council, Central Huron Fire

Department and neighbouring land-

owners were on hand to carry out the burn.

The burn area consisted of 5 plots, or burn

blocks, a total of 5.4 hectares at 81044

Wildlife Line as well as 2 burn blocks, a total

of 5.8 hectares at 40672 Hydro Line Rd.

Ducks Unlimited planted the cultivated

variety of tall grass in 1999. This was done

to offer cover and nesting for waterfowl.

Tall grass once covered 1000 km2 in

Ontario. Now only 21 km2 can be found in

130 remnant sites scattered across the

province. (Tallgrass Ontario –

www.tallgrassontario.org)

The objective of the low complexity

prescribed burn was to promote the health

of the tallgrass prairie species and their

seedbeds at Hullett. To this end, it was

necessary to remove biomass

(decomposing layers of organic matter), eradicate invasive

weeds and woody plants, and renew and sustain the grasses

and the habitat within. Upon meeting the objectives, the

tallgrass prairie environment, utilized by wildlife for shelter

and food, should thrive. The growth point of the native grass

species’ lies underground and was not affected by the blaze

at the surface at all. As a precursor to the burn, each plot had

a 2-meter wide section mowed around the perimeter. In

addition, firebreaks of 1.5 meter wide were made by a chisel

plow to prevent the fire from escaping.

At 11:20 am, the initial fire was ignited by drip torch at 81044

Wildlife Line. Weather was closely monitored to ensure the

safety of the community, fire crew and support staff.

Weather conditions are crucial to several key factors of the

burn. Burn Boss, Jack Chapman and his fire crew executed

the plan without a hitch, and by 3:00 p.m. the 5 plots at the

Wildlife Line site were determined extinguished and the

burn crew and support staff were ready to tie into a fine

lunch. Friends of Hullett board members Duane Inkpen and

Jim Bayne provided an excellent BBQ that was enjoyed by all

present.

Lunch was brought to a halt suddenly, however, when

clouds were noticed on the horizon, threatening to bring

adverse weather into the area jeopardizing the completion

of the project. The crew set off to 40672 Hydro Line Road to

complete the burn, which they were able to do by 6:00 pm.

Smoke from the fire could be seen from Blyth to the north

and Dublin (20 km away) to the southeast. Numerous on-

lookers drove by as we progressed with the burn and media

from the Clinton News-Record and CKNX television reported

on the event.

It is to be seen if the prescribed burn meets the objectives

set out by the Friends of Hullett and Ducks Unlimited.

Hullett Manager, Mat Shetler and his staff will reassess the

grassland areas to assure the objectives of the burn were met.

Native GrassPlotsThe Successful Prescribed Burn of

Scot RussellOutreach

Coordinator

Friends ofHullett

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About one week after the burn, the fields began to show

new growth. By one month’s time, the field was grown in

and completely green again. It was amazing to see the

field’s transformation from thick, dull, and brown to charred

black, and finally to green and vibrant. We’ve been

monitoring the sites on a weekly basis, taking digital photos

and walking tours to make sure invasive, noxious weeds

have been eradicated and tree growth stunted. This

examination will continue until a full conclusion can be made.

Once complete data has been collected and analyzed,

another prescribed burn may be in the cards in the near

future, as well as a more regular maintenance schedule. It

remains to be seen if this course of action is employed, or if

another alternative is tried. Alternate

maintenance programs that may be

adopted in other areas include mowing,

use of agricultural disc, or the application

of pesticides. Each management method

has advantages and disadvantages. If

decided upon, the prescribed burn may

become a regular spring occurrence at

Hullett, as it has been in places like the

Pinery Provincial Park. We’ll have to wait to

see how the story will unfold. ■

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Upon inspecting the contents of a nest

box, the presence of light-coloured duck

down, small eggshell fragments and wood

shavings mixed together can indicate that

a hen has successfully hatched her eggs

during the last breeding season.

An important part of the monitoring job is

to collect information, filling out a survey

sheet and sending them into the local DUC

office so that DUC and other staff can track

the success of the nest box program.

Recently, the Canadian Wildlife Service and

DUC have embarked on a project to take

the historical nest box data including

thousands upon thousands of individual

nest box records, to use the information in

building a database of nesting box success

that will hopefully provide key information

about success of the Ontario DUC nesting

box program.

Although this project is in its infancy, some

interesting results have been derived from

a subset of 2,418 surveys.The data indicates

that where boxes are used by waterfowl,

the following species are represented:

• 23% by wood ducks

• 18% by hooded merganser

• 3% by goldeneye

• 29% of boxes are used by other birds

Where boxes have been used by waterfowl

species (44% of all use) the average nest

success rate is an impressive 77%! It

certainly appears that many waterfowl

species benefit from the hard work of all of

the people involved in installing and caring

for the many boxes at Hullett and

throughout Ontario. ■

Ducks Unlimited Canada has nearly 12,000 ducknesting boxes installed throughout Ontario and of

these, there are 147 nest boxes installed on the

Provincially Significant Wetlands of the Hullett Provincial

Wildlife Area. The remaining boxes in Ontario are installed

on a mixture of private and public lands.

The benefit of installing nesting boxes for cavity nesting

waterfowl lies in providing nesting opportunities in areas

where there are few cavity nesting sites. This lack of cavity

nest sites may result in areas where mature standing timber

near wetlands is not present or has been removed or in

areas where the standing dead timber has decayed and

fallen down.

After installation, all of the nest boxes must be maintained

on an annual basis. This means that they must be cleaned

out over each fall or winter, checked for nesting success and

replenished with new wood shavings. The “Friends of

Hullett” volunteers and staff, in partnership with Ducks

Unlimited Canada, undertake all of the regular

maintenance and monitoring of the boxes installed at

Hullett. Landowners, volunteers and private contractors all

help to maintain and monitor the many nest boxes installed

throughout Ontario.

Jeff KreteDucks Unlimited Canada

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Donations requested…Items needed at HullettThe Friends of Hullett are always looking at ways to

reduce costs and serve our users better. One way to do

this is to have items donated to us.

If you have items that are in good shape but have no usefor, consider donating them to the Friends.

We are particularly interested in prizes for the Pheasant

Challenge, canoes & paddles, steel posts & t-bars, wood

chips, lumber, plywood, rolled aluminum & other

building material, paint (brown, yellow & green), step

ladders, work gloves, bird seed, corn and binoculars. The

Friends are also interested in having trees and flowers

donated in the spring.

If you would like to donate any of these items or have

something else you think would be useful to Hullett

please contact the office at (519) 482-7011. ■

22 23

Guided Hunt in the Whitetail Swamp

Species at RiskEd Allen

2519 Lakeshore Rd.

Brights Grove

ON N0N 1C0

ph(519) 869-4723

[email protected]

DeborahNizmanSpecies at RiskTechnician

A nyone who visits the Hullett Provincial Wildlife Area

(HPWA) is bound to discover the richness of wild

plant and animal life found within the various

habitats of the Marsh. An amazing multitude of species

resides here on either a permanent or temporary basis

throughout the year. Of these, there are particular species

whose populations are at risk of extinction to some degree,

on a provincial and/or national level. The prevalence of

Species at Risk (SAR) at the Hullett Marsh has become an

issue of increasing importance, and a focal point of the work

currently being done at the HPWA.

The status of Species at Risk is monitored and assessed by a

number of provincial and national organizations, including

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Each Saturday, beginning with the

regular opening day of waterfowl

season, there will be two guided

hunts for ducks and geese within the

normally restricted Whitetail Swamp.

The hunts take place in a flooded timber

area of Hullett Marsh where hunters are

not allowed access to at any other time of

the season. At times, this swamp holds

thousands of ducks and the two hunting

stakes are placed in an area that is very

attractive to them.

The hunts begin at the legal shooting time

and will end at 1:00 pm.Two hunters, along

with a volunteer guide and dog, will hunt

from each stake. The guides provide decoys

and a trained retriever. The selected

hunters must be in good physical

condition and able to wade in knee to hip-

high water. The hunters provide their own

guns, ammunition, waders, camouflage

clothing, and refreshments. No alcohol will be tolerated.

Each of the hunters are allowed their legal limit of ducks and

geese. No ducks are to be shot and allotted to the guide’s

limit. Mallards, Teal, and Woodies are the species most

frequently harvested.

The hunters are chosen by lottery on July 31 for each year. To

enter the lottery, one hunter must submit a cheque for

$150.00 to the “Friends of Hullett” prior to July 31. Each

hunter is allowed only one draw. Successful applicants are

notified soon after the draw, in the order in which they are

drawn, and asked to schedule one of the available hunting

dates. Depending on the season, 14 to 18 hunts occur. The

$150 is the cost for two hunters for the chosen day. All

applicants will be notified by phone.

All the money raised through the hunts goes directly to the

Hullett Marsh. The guides are volunteers and are not paid

from the proceeds.

If you want a unique hunting experience and would like to

help raise money for Hullett, please apply. Send cheques to the

address in the sidebar. ■

the Committee on the Status of Endangered

Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), the

Committee on the Status of Species at Risk

in Ontario (COSSARO) and the Natural

Heritage Information Centre (NHIC). Species

are categorized based on their relative

abundance as one of the following: Not at

Risk; Special Concern/(Vulnerable) (speciessensitive to human activities or naturalevents); Threatened (at risk of becomingendangered); Endangered (facing imminentextinction or extirpation); Extirpated (speciesno longer exists in the wild in a specific localebut still exists elsewhere); Extinct (species nolonger exists anywhere); and Data Deficient/

(Indeterminate) (insufficient information

exists for a status recommendation).

Species at Risk have had their populations

jeopardized due to an array of potential

factors, such as degradation and loss of

habitat, both natural and human-induced,

environmental changes, competition with

other species, and human activities and

persecution. There are eleven (11) confirmed

SAR within the HPWA, and another seven (7)

unconfirmed species which may be at risk or

susceptible to land use impacts within the

Marsh. With the role of the HPWA as a

consumptive and non-consumptive

resource that is used extensively by the

public, it is imperative that we learn more

about the specific influences our actions

have on established sensitive areas, and find

ways to address their needs in association

with our own.

As part of our initiative to accomplish this

aim of recognizing Species at Risk within

the context of the Hullett Marsh, we are

working to identify the key areas in which

SAR occur on the property. We will then use

this information to create a Species at Risk

Management Plan, which will serve to

adapt appropriate management techniques

as part of the Hullett Wildlife Habitat

Management Plan. In this way, we can

ensure that the priorities associated with

Species at Risk are respected while

maintaining a balance in the enjoyment of

our natural resources. ■

5731 Imperial Road

RR#2, Aylmer, ON N5H 2R2

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[email protected]

Uplands PheasantryCanada’s

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DID YOUknow...

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Oilskin Hats . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2000

Camo Hats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2000

Orange T-shirts . . . . . . . . . . . 1300

T-shirts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1500

XXL T-shirts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1800

Polo shirts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2500

XXL Polo shirts . . . . . . . . . . . 2800

Short sleeves . . . . . . . . . . . . 4000

Long sleeves . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4500

Hunter Safety Vests . . . . . at cost

By purchasing Hullett Marsh merchandise,you are both supporting & promoting the FoH & the Hullett Marsh.

HullettWear

Become a member…REGISTER

NOW

Thank you for yoursupport!

The Hullett Provincial Wildlife Area no longer receives complete operational Provincial Support from the

province of Ontario.

However, with the cooperation of the Minister of Finance, financial mechanisms are in place which allow

funds raised on-site, to remain on-site. Therefore, your financial contribution goes directly towards

programs and facility management of the HPWA.

We are asking the users of Hullett, to aid us in raising money by purchasing a Membership to Friends of

Hullett. For a $25.00 donation, you will receive a decal for your vehicle and be placed on our mailing list

for our quarterly newsletter and are entitled to vote for directors and approve budget proposals at the

annual general meeting. Also remember the receipt is tax deductible. If you value HPWA as much as we

do, this is a small price to help maintain this valuable resource.

Become a member for only $25/yr (Income tax receipts will be issued)

Hullett Marsh is one of a number of

Provincial Wildlife Areas managed

by the Ministry of Natural

Resources in southern Ontario. This user

guide provides information on the diverse

array of high-quality hiking, bird-watching,

hunting and outdoor recreational

opportunities that are available on the site.

With 5400 acres of land, the property can

offer unique experiences for your outdoor

enjoyment. Explore and enjoy all that

Hullett has to offer!

The property consists of a diverse array of

wildlife habitat highlighted by a man-

made system of shallow

marshes, and naturally

occurring hardwood

swamps. They

accompany the

floodplain of

the South

M a i t l a n d

River, all of

which is

bordered by

r o l l i n g

u p l a n d s

comprised of

woodlots, grass

meadows and

agricultural fields. The

chart on this page

identifies the composition of

the habitat types that exist at Hullett.

A Wildlife Habitat Management Plan has

been developed to identify how the Area’s habitat features

are to be managed. This plan is intended to establish long-

term direction for land management decision-making, to

identify what actions are needed, and to assist with

determining priorities for operational implementation. The

plan was released in the early summer of 2007, and was

placed on the government’s Environmental Registry for

public comment. The comment period will have ended by

the time this user guide is printed. Please feel free to obtain

an electronic copy of the plan from the Friends of Hullett

(FOH) or MNR, and let us know if you have any comments on

our management activities.

The FOH provide an essential service at Hullett through the

development and delivery of their programs, and their

ability to hire staff. On behalf of MNR I am pleased

to recognize all the accomplishments of the

Friends, their members and directors,

and the Hullett staff. The efforts of

these dedicated people provide an

impressive array of high quality

services at the Marsh. Please

join me in thanking them!

There is always more that can

be done on the property. If you

enjoy the activities that are

available at Hullett, perhaps

you would be interested in

playing a role to enable additional

projects and services to occur. The

Friends are always looking for more

active members who share their interest

in making the property the best it can be. All

users of Hullett have the opportunity to become a

member of the Friends, and attend their annual general

meeting to discuss and direct their programs and activities. ■

THE HURON/PERTH AREA TEAM

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

Mike MalhiotBIOLOGIST

ACTINGAREA SUPERVISOR

HURON/PERTH

ONTARIO MINISTRY OFNATURAL RESOURCES

P.O. Box 819100 Don Street

Clinton, ONN0M 1L0

Should you have any

comments or questions,

please write to the

FOH at their address

as listed on the

membership page in

this publication, or to

myself at the address

on this page. We look

forward to, and

appreciate, your

contribution,

participation,

and ideas.


A Message from…

REGISTRATION FORMHelp maintain the marsh!

BECOME A MEMBER OF FRIENDS OF HULLETT

Cut out & mail to:Friends of Hullett

PO Box 1520

Clinton, ON

N0M 1L0

UIf you have anycomments,suggestions orconcerns please takethe time to sharethem with us. We arealways looking fornew ideas andsolutions.

Name _______________________________________

Full Address __________________________________

_____________________________________________

Email _______________________________________

Ph # ________________________________________

Fax # ________________________________________

Marsh Interests…What kind of activities do you like to do at the marsh?

(check all that apply)… ■■ hike ■■ bird watch

■■ hunt ■■ canoe ■■ horseback ride

If you are a hunter, what are your hunting interests?

(check all that apply)… ■■ pheasant ■■ duck

■■ geese ■■ rabbit ■■ other ____________________

Are you interested in participating in the workdays at

the marsh? ■■ yes ■■ no

Are you currently a member of a club or organization

that makes use of the marsh and it’s facilities?

■■ yes ■■ no

If yes, please list names of clubs or organizations:

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

Only $25 per year(Income tax receipts will be issued)

24

FULL IN-HOUSE DESIGN & EMBROIDERY CENTRE

proud suppliers of Hullett Marsh12 main street

seaforth, on n0k 1w0

ph 519-527-2055fax [email protected] MADE

Wildlife HabitatComponents at

the HPWA

Other3%Woodlots &

Hedgerows19%

OldFields24%

Agricultural Fields16%

Swamp &Floodplain9%

Marsh /Open water

29%

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Documents

Hullet Guide