Sandhill Wildlife Area

Sandhill Wildlife Area is named for its series of gently rolling sandy ridges crisscrossing the property. It features 9,150 acres of low, sandy uplands of oak, aspen and jack pine forests, large marshes and many flowages. A small herd of American bison, white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, Canada geese, ducks, loons, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, shorebirds, songbirds, hawks, owls, bobcats and badgers find their homes here.  Visitors will find the land is a remote, quiet wildlife oasis.

The Area was formerly a game farm developed by Wallace Grange for researching wildlife habitat restoration. His work focused on sandhill cranes and white-tailed deer. Grange conducted biological surveys and worked to restore the land to pre-settlement conditions. Today, the Sandhill Outdoor Skills Center hosts workshops and tours for the public. The Trumpeter Trail, a 14-mile auto or bike tour, takes visitors throughout the property. There is a foot travel-only trail (Swamp Buck Trail).   The property has three observation decks, including one that overlooks a bison range.

Under the direct will of Wallace Grange, Sandhill is managed as a wildlife demonstration area – a living laboratory used by wildlife biologists and researchers who test new wildlife management techniques designed to increase the abundance and diversity of wildlife native to the area. Sandhill has also been used to test the effects of manipulating hunter and trapper numbers, their hunting or trapping methods, season lengths and bag limits. Wildlife researchers evaluate these methods for application in other parts of the state.

Today, the Area is managed by a team of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) wildlife biologists, technicians, a wildlife researcher and a forester. The WDNR staff manages not only the Sandhill property, but also the Wood County Wildlife Area, Meadow Valley Wildlife Area and Cranberry Creek Natural Area in neighboring Juneau and Monroe counties. All combined, they manage over 90,000 acres for wildlife (and people who enjoy wildlife)! The Area is currently developing a master plan for the property.

Source: WDNR and The Great Wisconsin Birding and Natural Trail Guide