The Stengle Tract adds over 500 acres of public land access in South Dakota
Pheasants Forever is proud to announce the official dedication of “The Stengle Tract,” a 560-acre addition to the Frozen Man Creek Game Production Area in Stanley County, South Dakota. The Build a Wildlife Area project was made possible in part by Pierre native Nicole Stengle, who donated $150,000 toward the addition in honor of her late father.
“The Heart of the Build a Wildlife Area program, like so much of Pheasants Forever’s mission, lies in grassroots support,” said Jake Hanson, Pheasants Forever’s director of development. “Nicole has an incredible passion for community and family — as well as for upland hunting and conservation. Through her generosity, and with extensive support from our partners, we’ve been able to strengthen the already outstanding quality of habitat and public access in the pheasant capital.”
The Frozen Man Creek addition is part of Pheasants Forever’s Build a Wildlife Area®initiative, which strives to create functional landscapes that support wild, sustainable populations of upland birds and other wildlife, while providing natural resources and community benefits. By permanently protecting high-quality habitat, Pheasants Forever’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.
“The previous owners of the property wanted to keep it in its current state, and because of my dad, I wanted to give people access,” Stengle said. “I wanted to give people a place to run their dogs and hunt that’s protected. And I also want to help keep the pheasant populations high for my state, because it helps with everything - tourism dollars, water quality, habitat, everything.”
This project was completed with the help of onX Hunt, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, as well as numerous other partners including the Pierre/Ft. Pierre Chapter of Pheasants Forever, the Black Hills Chapter of Pheasants Forever, the Okobojo Creek Chapter of Pheasants Forever, the Yankton Chapter of Pheasants Forever, High Plains Wildlife and additional private donors.