Habitat & Conservation  |  12/18/2024

Build a Wildlife Area Program Adds 80 Acres of Public Upland Habitat in Missouri


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Harrison County tract provides new upland hunting opportunities for bobwhite quail

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever is excited to announce a new Build a Wildlife Area® project in Harrison County, Missouri. Situated near Pawnee Prairie Conservation Area and the Nature Conservancy’s Dunn Ranch, the 80-acre property will increase the connectivity of upland habitat in the area while providing increased public hunting access.

This parcel is in the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Grand River Grasslands Priority Geography, an area of core focus for bobwhite quail conservation. It also lies within a core region of the Working Lands for Wildlife – Northern Bobwhite, Grasslands and Savannas Framework for Conservation Action through the Natural Resources Conservation Service. According to the MDC, less than 1 percent of the state’s original prairie remains. It is therefore vital to not only protect existing upland habitat, but to expand it in these unique eco-regions. The property builds on the existing voluntary efforts of private landowners to create a hub of well-managed quail habitat in the region.

The 80-acre parcel is currently a mixture of pasture and wooded draws, but habitat improvements will be made to transform the area to native forbs and grasses, as well as implement conservation practices such as edge feathering to improve habitat for bobwhite quail.

Build a Wildlife Area® is Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s signature habitat protection program delivering strategic acquisitions to conserve habitat and increase public hunting access. The program strives to create functional landscapes supporting wild, sustainable populations of upland birds and other wildlife, while providing ancillary benefits to natural resources and communities. Since 1982, the program has permanently protected more than 238,000 acres of publicly accessible habitat in 16 states.

According to Eric Sytsma, Habitat Protection Officer for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, parcels of interest are identified with the help of partners, chapters, and members, and are evaluated to ensure they fall within core upland areas. Parcels are also evaluated based on connectivity to existing upland habitat, whether access is created for land-locked public land, and a variety of other factors.

"This recent acquisition of 80 acres significantly contributes to the expansion of the network of protected lands within this ecologically sensitive and threatened grassland habitat,” says Andrew White, Missouri State Coordinator for Pheasants and Quail Forever. “We take great pride in the collaborative efforts that have gone into safeguarding this area and others, ensuring their preservation for the enjoyment of future generations of both people and wildlife."

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s acquisition strategy provides solutions for rural economic development and the nation’s most complex sustainability issues including improved biodiversity, soil health, and water stewardship— while simultaneously prioritizing maximum impact for pheasants, quail, and associated wildlife.

The funding of this acquisition was made possible by the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri River Valley QF 3152, and all the chapters, members, and donors that have supported the Build a Wildlife Area Program. The property will be conveyed to the Missouri Department of Conservation for permanent ownership and management.