Partners Celebrate 43-Acre Addition to Ohio’s Big Island Wildlife Area

October 19, 2026 – New Bloomington, Ohio – Pheasants Forever and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife are celebrating the addition of 43 acres to the Big Island Wildlife Area in Marion County, Ohio. Pheasants Forever acquired the parcel in the fall of 2024 through its Build a Wildlife Area® initiative and recently transferred the acreage to the Ohio Division of Wildlife in August 2026 for increased public hunting access.

Internally referred to as the “Golf Course Tract,” the land served as a golf course for many years before a portion was converted back to cropland and the remainder was left fallow. Now, nearly all 43 acres of the property will be restored to native upland habitat to benefit the local pheasant population and other grassland species. Bordered on opposite sides by Big Island Wildlife Area, the Golf Course Tract was a key addition that increases habitat connectivity and adds to over 7,000 acres of protected habitat in the area, including previous Build a Wildlife Area projects the Mallett Family Tract and Beaver Wildlife Area.

“The Division of Wildlife is grateful for partners such as Pheasants Forever who work in tandem with our mission to improve and conserve fish and wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainable use and appreciation by all,” said Ohio Division of Wildlife Chief Kendra Wecker. “This land will increase valuable habitat at Big Island Wildlife Area. We are thankful to Ohio’s sportsmen and women for their support of our mission and of this project.”

“We are incredibly grateful to the Ohio PF & QF chapters and others who made this project possible by supporting the Build A Wildlife Area initiative. Likewise, we are thankful to longtime member and chapter leader, Margie Snoke, for jumpstarting this acquisition in a big way,” said Cody Grasser, PF & QF state coordinator in Ohio. “This project aligns perfectly with the mission and strategic priorities for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever in Ohio. We’re excited to transfer this parcel to the state and look forward to partnering with the Division of Wildlife on future public land projects.”

This project was made possible by our trusted partners at ODNR, with program support from Enbridge through their Sustainable Communities initiative, and by continued support of Build a Wildlife Area from the following dedicated volunteer chapters of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever in Ohio:

• Ashland County

• Athens County

• Auglaize County

• Butler County

• Cincinnati

• Clinton/Highland

• Crown City

• Darke County

• Deer Creek

• Erie/Ottawa/Sandusky

• Fulton County

• Greater Columbus

• Greater Dayton

• Hancock County

• Hardin County

• Henry County

• Logan County

• Marion County

• Mercer County

• Miami County

• Northeast Ohio

• Southeastern Ohio

• Union County

• Wyandot County

Build a Wildlife Area is Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever's permanent habitat protection strategy, delivering strategic, fee-title acquisitions to conserve habitat and increase public hunting access. The initiative strives to create functional landscapes that support wild, sustainable populations of upland birds and other wildlife, while providing natural resources and community benefits. To date, we’ve opened more than 248,000 acres of permanently protected and publicly accessible upland wildlife habitat.

About Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever make up the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. This community of more than 560,000 members, supporters and partners is dedicated to the protection of our uplands through habitat improvement, public access, education and advocacy. A network of 740 local chapters spread across North America determine how 100 percent of their locally raised funds are spent — the only national conservation organization that operates through this grassroots structure. Since its creation in 1982, the organization has dedicated more than $1 billion to 585,000 habitat projects benefiting 35 million acres. 

Media Contact
Mikayla Peper
715-294-0688
mpeper@pheasantsforever.org