Wisconsin Rapids City Times

Top Menu

  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Business Directory
  • Subscribe

Main Menu

  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Business Directory
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Business Directory
  • Subscribe

logo

Wisconsin Rapids City Times

  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Business Directory
  • Subscribe
Around the CountyFeatured
Home›News›Around the County›DNR to discontinue game farm license at Sandhill Wildlife Area

DNR to discontinue game farm license at Sandhill Wildlife Area

By kleonhardt
October 2, 2021
439
0
Share:
Sandhill Wildlife Area

For the City Times

WOOD COUNTY – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently announced that it will discontinue its game farm license at Sandhill Wildlife Area in Wood County.

An information session on the decommissioning process will be held at Sandhill Wildlife Area on Oct. 6 at 5:45 p.m.

Since purchasing the property in 1962, the DNR has managed Sandhill to provide unique wildlife viewing, hunting and research opportunities to the public while maintaining a deer farm status per state regulation.

“Sandhill Wildlife Area offers opportunities for hikers, hunters, trappers, birders and paddlers to experience the unique landscape of Wisconsin’s Central Sands,” said Ryan Haffele, DNR Wildlife Management Area Supervisor. “Knowing a game farm license could jeopardize future public access, we made the difficult decision to relinquish our license.”

The department has held a game farm license for Sandhill Wildlife Area since 2003. Following the terms of this license, the DNR has maintained a perimeter fence around the property’s 9,150 acres.

Following state regulations, game farms affected by chronic wasting disease (CWD) must implement a biosecurity plan to prevent the spread of the disease. While CWD has not yet been found in any Sandhill deer, it has been found in Wood County.

If the disease were to be found on the property, the public would have restricted access to the property and interfere with habitat management due to the required biosecurity plan.

The DNR will relinquish its game farm license to safeguard the public’s continued enjoyment of Sandhill Wildlife Area. As part of this process, the department will follow all state regulations for decommissioning a game farm, including depopulating the deer herd within the existing fence and then removing the fence itself. A timeline has not been established for the decommissioning process.

While the property will no longer operate as a game farm, all other aspects of the property will remain in place at Sandhill Wildlife Area. Operations continuing on the property include the Outdoor Skills Center, dormitory, Trumpeter Trail, hiking trails and the wildlife refuge and operation as a Wildlife Demonstration Area.

The 9,150-acre State Wildlife Area was named for a series of gently rolling sandy ridges crisscrossing the property. Sandhill Wildlife Area lies within the bed of ancient Glacial Lake Wisconsin – an expansive region of flat, marshy land interspersed with forests covering parts of seven counties in central Wisconsin.

The property features low, sandy uplands of oak, aspen and jack pine forests, large marshes and many flowages. A small herd of American bison, ruffed grouse, Canada geese, ducks, loons, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, shorebirds, songbirds, hawks, owls and furbearers find a great home here at Sandhill.

More information on Sandhill Wildlife Area is available on the DNR website.

TagsDNRgame farmSandhill State Wildlife Area
Previous Article

Illinois man arrested for eighth OWI

Next Article

From the Publisher: Homelessness

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • Christian W. Cold
    Arts & EntertainmentEducation

    DNR wildlife tech to appear at open house

    May 13, 2019
    By kleonhardt
  • Community

    Marshfield and Rapids law enforcement to send off Special Olympics athletes

    June 2, 2019
    By Julie Schooley
  • Wisconsin DNR
    Around the CountyFeatured

    DNR confirms CWD in Wood County, renews baiting and feeding bans

    January 21, 2021
    By kleonhardt
  • Nekoosa sign
    FeaturedGovernment

    DNR seeks feedback on Nekoosa Safe Drinking Water Loan project

    April 13, 2021
    By kleonhardt
  • The Wisconsin Rapids water tower
    CommunityFeaturedGovernment

    DNR seeks public comment on Wisconsin Rapids Safe Drinking Water Loan Program

    May 21, 2021
    By kleonhardt
  • DNR parks
    Community

    Annual state park stickers available

    November 29, 2021
    By kleonhardt
Copyright © 2020 Multi Media Channels LLC.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted without the prior written consent of Multi Media Channels LLC.
×