| Ackley Wildlife Area | |
|---|---|
  Location in Wisconsin  Location in United States | |
| Location | Langlade County, Wisconsin |
| Nearest city | Antigo, Wisconsin |
| Coordinates | 45°08′40″N89°24′12″W / 45.144409°N 89.403356°W |
| Area | 4,386 acres (17.75 km2) |
| Established | 1951 |
| Governing body | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources |
Ackley Wildlife Area is a tract of protected land located in southern Langlade County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). [1]
The earliest logging activities in the general vicinity first occurred in the late 1800s. In the early 1900s, deforestation and farming attempts had made the area particularly susceptible to wildfires, all of which reduced the once great tree cover to grasses, shrubs and aspen. These new growth flora allowed for the water table to rise, and subsequently, stocks of sharp-tailed grouse and other similar fauna rose. The Ackley Wildlife Area was founded in 1951 to allow for the management of hunting in the property. [2]
Langlade County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,491. Its county seat is Antigo.
Ackley is a town in Langlade County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 524 at the 2010 census. The town was founded March 4, 1879. It was named after William L. Ackley, who established a logging camp in the area.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) is a government agency of the U.S. state of Wisconsin charged with conserving and managing Wisconsin's natural resources. The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board has the authority to set policy for the WDNR. The WDNR is led by the Secretary, who is appointed by the Governor of Wisconsin. The WDNR develops regulations and guidance in accordance with laws passed by the Wisconsin Legislature. It administers wildlife, fish, forests, endangered resources, air, water, waste, and other issues related to natural resources. The central office of the WDNR is located in downtown Madison, near the state capitol.
The Mead Wildlife Area is a state wildlife area covering over 33,000 acres (130 km2) in central Wisconsin. It includes portions of Marathon, Portage, and Wood counties. It is managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). The Area is commonly referred to as "the Mead". Five WDNR staff manage the Area. The non-profit organization Friends of the Mead/McMillan Association, Inc. assist with raising funds to support the area's activities.
The Allenton State Wildlife Area is a wildlife area in Wisconsin along the East Branch of the Rock River tributary of the Mississippi River in western Washington County, Wisconsin. The area was once a glacial lake and is now a wooded bottomland. It is popular with birders and is part of the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail. Theresa Marsh and its state wildlife area is to the park's north.
The Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area is a 1,180 acres (480 ha) tract of protected land located in Door County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Land to be used for the Wildlife Area was first acquired in 1958, and the master plan for the Wildlife Area was completed in 1980.
The Paradise Marsh Wildlife Area is a 1,588 acres (643 ha) tract of protected land located in Columbia County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Land to be used for the Wildlife Area was first acquired in 1962 with the hopes of improving the habitat conditions for various waterfowl. In addition to conservation of wildlife, plans for further draining the marsh were laid out, with the marsh previously being drained as early as the early 1900's.
The Powell Marsh Wildlife Area is a 4,850-acre (19.6 km2) tract of protected land located in Vilas and Iron counties, Wisconsin, owned and partially managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). The nearby Dead Pike Lake has drawn attention to the wildlife area from conservators and homeowners nearby due to surface and groundwater flows shared between the two, with man-made structures in the latter harming the water quality of the lake.
The Swan Lake Wildlife Area is a 2,466 acres (998 ha) tract of protected land located in Columbia County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Land to be used for the wildlife area was first acquired in 1963 to provide for hunting and other outdoor recreational activities in the county. In addition to outdoor recreation activities, the wildlife area was established to protect the Fox River watershed.
The French Creek Wildlife Area is a 3,506 acres (1,419 ha) tract of protected land located in Columbia County and Marquette County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Land to be used for the wildlife area was first acquired in 1947 to provide for increased production of wildfowl and hunting opportunities. Prior to 1947, the area was used for the cultivation of wire grass which is used for the creation of grass rugs and mats.
The Big Beaver Creek Wildlife Area is a 572-acre (231 ha) tract of protected land located in Dunn County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Land to be used for the wildlife area was first acquired in 1959 to provide access to the Big Beaver Creek and Little Beaver Creek, along with the associated wetlands complex. The other major goal was to open up the area to state-sponsored timber harvesting, specifically that of tamarack.
The Augusta Wildlife Area is a tract of protected land located in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). The land to be used for the Wildlife Area was first acquired in 1942, and the land contained within it has grown from 2,020 acres (820 ha) to the 2,503 acres (1,013 ha) that it is now, with an ultimate goal of controlling 2,640 acres (1,070 ha). The Wildlife Area falls within the bounds of both the Western Coulee and Ridges Ecological Landscape and the Central Sand Plains Ecological Landscape.
The Vernon Wildlife Area is a 5,967-acre (2,415 ha) tract of protected land located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). The first parcel of land to be used for the Wildlife Area was leased in 1946 to function as a public hunting ground, focusing primarily on small game and various game birds. The Vernon Wildlife Area is one of ten state protected areas included in the Southern Kettle Moraine Region Planning Group, a WDNR classified area.
The Amsterdam Sloughs Wildlife Area is a 5,052-acre (2,044 ha) tract of protected land located in Burnett County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). The Amsterdam Sloughs Wildlife Area is one of three such wildlife areas within the bounds of the Glacial Lake Grantsburg project, the others being Crex Meadows and Fish Lake.
The Fish Lake Wildlife Area(FLWA) is a 13,649 acres (5,524 ha) tract of protected land located in Burnett County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Lands to be included in the wildlife area were first purchased in 1945 with the goal of restoring the conditions of the general area to what was observed in 1850, right before the first human settlements reached the area. The FLWA is made up of three separate areas, the 13,609 acres (5,507 ha) Fish Lake Habitat Management Area, the 40 acres (16 ha) Fish Lake Pines State Natural Area and the Grettum Flowage Wildlife Refuge zone.
The Albany Wildlife Area(AWA) is a 2,007 acres (812 ha) tract of protected land located in Green County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Lands to be included in the wildlife area were first purchased in 1945 with the intention of them being used for inclusion in a new public area dedicated to hunting opportunities and conservation of indigenous species. That wildlife area was activated in 1956 as a Federal Aid Fish and Wildlife Restoration Project.
The Amberg Wildlife Area (AWA) is a 1,190-acre (480 ha) tract of protected land located in Marinette County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). The wildlife area is surrounded by other protected areas, operated by either the county or other WDNR lands. The property was established in 1948, primarily to protect rare swamp conifer land, made up of 90-100 year old white cedar. The wildlife area is split up into two land management areas, the 909-acre (368 ha) native community management area of the Amberg Swamp Conifers and the eponymous 299-acre (121 ha) habitat management area.
Cylon Wildlife Area is a tract of protected land located in the northeastern corner of St. Croix County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). The wildlife area presents a unique opportunity to preserve the last public land in St. Croix County.
The Balsam Branch Wildlife Area is a 180 acres (73 ha) tract of protected land in central Polk County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). The wildlife area is characterized by marshland, prairie fields, and a pond set in the center of the property.
The Avon Bottoms Wildlife Area is a tract of protected land located on the border of Illinois in Rock County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR).