Habitat & Conservation  |  01/10/2022

Conservationist Gene Hauer Donates 115 Acres of New Public Lands in Minnesota


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Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are proud to announce a new land acquisition in Sibley County, Minnesota. Donated to The Habitat Organization by conservationist Gene Hauer of Shakopee, the 115-acre wildlife area located near Severance Lake was completed in partnership with the Sibley County Chapter of Pheasants Forever.

Hauer, 90, has farmed in the region for his entire life and made the decision to donate the property four years ago. “It’s been a dream of mine for a long time to see this land preserved,” said Hauer, “And it’s wonderful to know it’ll now be used by Minnesotans for years to come.”

The property is a mixture of upland and wetland habitat that supports pheasants, waterfowl, grassland nesting birds and pollinators. It had been fully restored through the Wetland Reserve Program prior to Pheasants Forever taking ownership. The Sibley County chapter of Pheasants Forever has committed $60,000 to ensure the Habitat Organization can maintain ownership in perpetuity. The land will be managed for wildlife habitat and open to the public access.

“All credit goes to Gene and the local volunteers of Sibley County. This is the perfect example of a partnership between a conservation supporter who wants to leave a public land legacy and a chapter dedicated to creating access in their local community,” said Will Clayton, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s senior regional representative in eastern Minnesota. “Raising $60,000 is no small task for a local chapter, but Sibley County stepped up to the plate and made that commitment to the Pheasants Forever Stewardship fund to make sure we’re able to maintain access and quality habitat in perpetuity.”



The Gene Hauer Land Donation is a permanent habitat protection project contributing to the goals of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Call of the Uplands® national campaign - a recently announced monumental initiative to save America’s uplands and cultivate the next generation of conservationists and hunters.