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Build a Wildlife Area Program

Help us acquire critical wildlife habitat and open it to public recreation

With the support of people like you, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have created more than 243,000 acres of permanently protected and publicly accessible upland wildlife habitat.

Habitat protection, enhancement and public access is at the core of our mission and these key activities are at the heart of the Build a Wildlife Area® program to raise funds to acquire and restore critical wildlife habitat and open it to public recreation. None of this would be possible without the generous support of public land creators like you.

What is the Build a Wildlife Area Program?

Build a Wildlife Area is Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever's permanent habitat protection program delivering strategic, fee-title acquisitions to conserve habitat and increase public hunting access. The program strives to create functional landscapes that support wild, sustainable populations of upland birds and other wildlife, while providing natural resources and community benefits.

The organization's acquisition strategy provides solutions for the nation's most complex sustainability issues including improved biodiversity, soil health, water stewardship, and rural economic development - while simultaneously prioritizing maximum impact for pheasants, quail and associated wildlife.

Investing alongside us in on-the-ground conservation to protect habitat and create public access

 
 

Program Success

For the benefit of pheasants, quail, and other wildlife

Purchasing Property is just the beginning

By donating to our Build a Wildlife Area® program, you will ensure our organization is able to secure more properties, but also put boots on the ground to restore and improve upland wildlife habitat.


Build a Wildlife Area Success

Thanks to the support of our chapter, members, donors and partners, we have created remarkable wildlife areas and public access opportunities across the United States.

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  • Creates Public Access: Permanently protecting over 243,000 acres since 1982.
  • Conserves Critical Habitat for Wildlife: Strategic land preservation for the benefit of upland wildlife.
  • Preserves Outdoor Heritage Traditions: 28,010 hunter days were provided during the 2024-2025 hunting season along with other outdoor recreation consistent with wildlife production.
  • Leverages Funds: Your contribution brings a 10:1 return on investment by leveraging grants and awards.

Leadership Level Support

If you would like to discuss ways to support the Build a Wildlife Area program at a leadership level of $1,000 or more, please contact Eric Sytsma:
(515) 423-4747
esytsma@pheasantsforever.org

 
 

Completed Projects

Creating permanently protected habitat

Year Acres Project County
2020   Horseshoe Easement Chocise

Year Acres Project County
2024-2025 10 Shasta Co BLM Addition Tract 2 Shasta
2007 10 Shasta Co 1 Shasta

Year Acres Project County
2012 2615 Mud Lake WMA Addition Jefferson

Year Acres Project County
2014 121 Willow Creek State Habitat Area Edgar
2010 1,000 Forever Fields Upland Management Area Knox
2010 108 Busby-Meyer Wildlife Area Vermillion

Year Acres Project County
2024-2025 129 Patoka NWR Addition Pike
2024-2025 422 Jim Wooley Family Tract Madison

Year Acres Project County
2024-2025 67 Blue Wing Marsh WPA Addition Palo Alto
2022 354 Auldon Bar WMA Addition - Askew Family Tract Fremont
  71 Christopherson Slough WPA Addition Dickinson
  40 Pilot Knob WMA Addition Worth
2022 141 Welch Lake WPA Addition Dickinson
2021 40 Loess Hills PF Wildlife Area Monona
2021 482 South Skunk River Addition Jasper
2020 208 McAndrews WMA Addition Jackson
2019 269 Oxbow Bottoms WMA Tama
2018 45 Buffalo Creek WMA Addition Delaware
2017 218 Lake George WMA Hancock
2011 157 Five Ridge Prairie Preserve Plymouth
2011 171 Jennet Heritage Area Story
2011 110 Ted Fariss Wildlife Area: Lundberg Slough Pocahontas
2010 305 Buffalo Creek WMA: Takes Addition Delaware
2010 897 Mississippi River Emergent Wetland Lee
2010 280 Turin WMA: RT Reese Homestead Addition Monona
2009 124 Muskrat Slough WMA Addition Jones
2009 341 Old Town Conservation Area: Romeo Tract Addition Harrison
2009 160 Ringneck Marsh Wildlife Area Clinton
2008 61 Boersma Wildlife Area Lyon
2008 123 Christian-Taylor Wildlife Area Addition Worth
2008 152 Cortright Wildlife Area Buchanan
2008 160 Ocheyedan River WMA Clay

Year Acres Project County
2020 78 Webster Wildlife Area Addition Tract 2 Rooks
2019 79 Webster Wildlife Area Addition Tract 1 Rooks
2018 1,080 Veteran's Wildlife Area Sherman
2014 484 Tuttle Creek Wildlife Area: Blue Valley Wildlife Area Addition Pottawatomie

Year Acres Project County
2024-2025 101 Hillman WPA Addition Big Stone
2024-2025 171 Thielke Lake WPA Addition Big Stone
2024-2025 127 Karsky WPA Addition Big Stone
2024-2025 157 Karsky WPA Addition Big Stone
2024-2025 81 Artichoke WPA Addition Big Stone
2024-2025 83 Meadowlark Acres WMA Addition Brown
2024-2025 40 Middle Creek WMA Addition Brown
2024-2025 82 Bashaw WMA Addition Brown
2024-2025 101 Rosenau-Lambrecht WMA Addition Brown
2024-2025 74 Doran Lake WPA Addition Clay
2024-2025 93 Doran Lake WPA Addition Clay
2024-2025 321 Haymakers WMA Clay
2024-2025 77 Forada WPA Addition Douglas
2024-2025 132 Stoneberg WPA Addition Grant
2024-2025 137 Shakopee WPA Addition Kandiyohi
2024-2025 79 Cabinrock WMA Addition Kandiyohi
2024-2025 197 Bur Oak Lake WPA Kandiyohi
2024-2025 280 Lessard Anderson WMA Koochiching
2024-2025 1,289 Carp Swamp WMA Addition Lake of the Woods
2024-2025 932 Haggman WPA Addition Mahnomen
2024-2025 40 Rich Valley HMA Addition McLeod
2024-2025 74 Ras-Lynn WMA Addition McLeod
2024-2025 82 Ras-Lynn WMA Addition McLeod
2024-2025 129 Youngstrom Lake WPA Meeker
2024-2025 156 Murphy Lake WMA Mower
2024-2025 30 Ransom Ridge WMA Addition Nobles
2024-2025 47 Ransom Ridge WMA Addition Nobles
2024-2025 59 Lone Tree WMA Addition Nobles
2024-2025 20 Lone Tree WMA Addition Nobles
2024-2025 71 Blue Bird Prairie WMA Nobles
2024-2025 159 Troy WMA Addition Pipestone
2024-2025 81 Little Chippewa River WPA Addition Pope
2024-2025 150 Arlington WMA Addition Sibley
2024-2025 80 Loen WPA Addition Swift
2024-2025 40 Rothsay WMA Addition Wilkin
2024-2025 164 Pelican Lake WPA Addition Wright
2024-2025 214 Suxonnix WMA Addition Wright
2024-2025 14 Tyro WMA Addition Yellow Medicine
2022 143 Caron WMA Addition Martin
2021 38 Akron WMA Addition Wilkin
2021 15 Beaver Creek WMA Addition Fillmore
2021 292 Herberger Lake WMA Addition Douglas
2021 63 Lambert Prairie WMA Addition Nobles
2021 46 Maple River WMA Addition Blue Earth
2020 960 Cupido WMA Addition Norman
2019 293 Joe Duggan Family WMA & WPA Jackson
2017 167 Gary Clancy WMA Blue Earth
2017 128 Kunkel WMA Addition Mille Lacs
2014 280 Finden WPA Pope
2014 147 Lake Bella WMA: North West Unit (Worthington Wells tract) Nobles
2014 640 Minnesota Veterans WMA Wright
2013 762 Gun Lake WMA Aitkin
2013 104 Kvernmo WMA Lincoln
2012 197 Mel Roehrl WMA Stearns
2011 185 Randall WPA Kandiyohi
2009 65 Pelican Lake WPA Wright
2009 124 Teal Lake WMA Jackson
2008 372 Art Hawkins WPA Grant
2007 1,031 Roger M. Holmes WMA Douglas
2007 155 Wachter WMA Nobles
2006 159 Buck Family Memorial WMA Goodhue
2006 310 Winter WMA: West Unit Pipestone
2005 240 Chetomba Creek WMA Renville
2004 400 Hunters Paradise WMA Traverse
2003 318 Mud Lake WMA: Morrison County Unit Morrison

Year Acres Project County
2024-2025 75 Blazing Prairie Conservation Area Harrison
2024-2025 160 Pawnee Prairie Conservation Area Harrison
2019 511 Linscomb Wildlife Area - Berrier Tract St. Clair

Year Acres Project County
2024-2025 328 Wildcat North WMA Rosebud
2021 40 Flaxville WPA Addition Daniels
2018 263 Teton River Wildlife Area Teton
2016 80 Mission Valley Wildlife Area Lake
2011 1003 Wolf Creek Fergus
2002 802 Coffee Creek Fergus

Year Acres Project County
2021 77 Saline Wetland Protection: Olson South Tract Lancaster
2020 156 Saline Wetland Protection Lancaster
2010 11 UP Railroad Donation Washington
2010 119 Helmuth Tract Lancaster

Year Acres Project County
2024-2025 44 Big Island Wildlife Area Addition Marion
2022 299 Beaver Family Tracts Marion
2021 415 Mallet Family Tract Marion
2011 94 Foreman Tract Union

Year Acres Project County
2019 10 Arbuckle Springs Wildlife Management Area Johnston

Year Acres Project County
2024-2025 71 SGL 44 Addition Elk
2024-2025 119 SGL 229 Addition Schuylkill

Year Acres Project County
2024-2025 90 Weaver WPA Addition Beadle
2024-2025 5 Krause Farm WPA Addition Day
2024-2025 230 Shutler WPA Addition Kingsbury
2021 439 Kessler GPA Day
2021 27 Frozen Man Creek GPA - Tract 2 Stanley
2013 25 Wisebecker WPA Addition Minnehaha
2013 27 Voelker WPA Addition Minnehaha
2012 123 McKenzie WPA Addition McCook

Year Acres Project County
2019 94 Revere Wildlife Management Area Polk

Year Acres Project County
2023 35 White WPA Addition St. Croix
2022 183 McCann Fishery Area Addition Chippewa
2020 78 Webster Wildlife Area Addition Tract 2 Rooks
2019 78 Webster Wildlife Area Addition Tract 1 Rooks
2019 510 Linscomb Wildlife Area - Berrier Tract Rooks
2018 40 Meadowlark WPA: Addition Polk
2014 714 Avon Bottoms Wildlife Area Rock
2013 45 Lower Wolf River WMA Addition Waupaca
2013 82 Hallie Mars
2012 82 Hallie Marsh WA Chippewa
2011 23 Schoenberg Marsh WPA Addn Columbia
2011 45 Marsh Road WMA Waupaca
2011 201 Footville Wildlife Area - Costello Tract Rock
2011 23 Swan Lake WMA Columbia
2011 40 State Wildlife Habitat (Dado) Polk
2010 66 Cherrier Brothers WMA Chippewa
2009 100 Footville Wildlife Area - Dooley Tract Rock