Pheasants Forever Expands Wisconsin's Hallie Marsh Wildlife Area Past 600 Acres
PF acquires 542 acres in five years to add to public hunting and outdoor recreation area
Eau Claire, Wis. – September 14, 2010 – Pheasants Forever and partners have closed on a 66-acre land acquisition in Wisconsin's Chippewa County. Led by the
Chippewa Valley Pheasants Forever chapter, the parcel will eventually be donated to the State of Wisconsin, which will open it to public hunting and recreation as part of the Hallie Marsh Wildlife Area. The acquisition will increase the size of the Hallie Marsh Wildlife Area to 622 acres.
Since 2005, Pheasants Forever has acquired 542 acres that have been donated to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to be managed for wildlife as part of the Hallie Marsh Wildlife Area (located near the Highway 53 bypass between Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire). Acquisitions for Hallie Marsh began in 2005 to gain access to a land-locked 80-acre tract owned by the State of Wisconsin. Since then, eight separate acquisitions, ranging from 3 to 220 acres, have created a 622-acre mixture of wetlands, grasslands and uplands home to white-tailed deer, black bear, turkeys, ring-necked pheasants, ruffed grouse, doves, woodcock, ducks and Canada geese, an assortment of shorebirds, raptors, songbirds and other non-game animals. Hallie Marsh also borders the 80-acre Kemper's Woods owned by Chippewa County - which serves as a major migratory destination for thousands of songbirds - meaning the entire conserved area totals 702 acres.
Additional funding for the recent 66-acre acquisition was provided by the State of Wisconsin Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, Chippewa County's county sales-tax generated Conservation Fund, Chippewa Valley Outdoor Resources Association, Mason Trust Foundation, Wisconsin Chapter of National Wild Turkey Federation, Wisconsin Waterfowl Association and the Eau Claire Rod & Gun Club. In addition, several landowners previous Hallie Marsh purchases also contributed to the final purchase.
To continue the new parcel's transition to the Hallie Marsh Wildlife Area, dilapidated buildings at the farm were recently burned and extinguished in a fire training exercise by the Chippewa Fire District and students from Chippewa Valley Technical College. This paves the way for future native grass seeding and grasslands wildlife management. Future activity also includes the construction of small vehicle parking areas.
