A History of Conservation and Stewardship

1925: The Northern States Amateur Field Trial Association (NSAFTA) which was organized in Appleton, MN in 1922 conducts its first dog trial at the Bird Sanctuary.

1935:  Douglas County establishes the ‘Bird Sanctuary’.  Land clearing was conducted by the Works Project Administration (WPA).

September 22, 1935: The ‘Bird Sanctuary and Club-House’ are dedicated.

1937: NSAFTA holds the first United State Chicken Champion dog trial, which has been held annually since then. (This trial began when prairie chickens, which were frequently called ‘chickens’, were present on the property; hence the term chicken in the name refers to prairie chickens which are no longer present in this area.)

1946: Representatives of field trial organizations, the press, the US Forest Service, and the Conservation Department met and recommended establishment of at lease two areas in central and northern Wisconsin for research and experimental work on sharp-tailed grouse, prairie chicken and bobwhite quail. They further recommended continuation of controlled burning, thinning of cover, spring planting for fall bird feeding, and predator control at the Douglas County Bird Sanctuary.

November 8, 1947: A public hearing was held in Superior on the Conservation Commission’s proposal of withdrawing Douglas County forest crop lands to be leased to the state for a grouse study area.

November 14, 1947: The Conservation Commission approved establishment of the Douglas County Grouse Management Area.

1948: A 50-year lease and agreement was signed between Douglas County and the State of Wisconsin (Conservation Commission) for 2,480 acres of land now under forest crop for 10 cents/acre/year.

August 17, 1953: A new 50-year lease agreement was made between Douglas County and the Wisconsin Conservation Commission for 2,760 acres at 20 cents/acre/year. The purpose of the new lease was to give the WCD greater latitude in management and to allow the Townships to receive one-half of the lease payments.

1966/67: Douglas County withdrew 197 acres of County Forest to lease to the State. The lease was amended to 2,957 acres and rate increased to 40 cents/acre/year.

1972: The lease was amended to add 40 additional acres; leased lands total 2,997 acres.

1985: The lease was amended to increase the lease rate to 60 cents/acre/year.

August 18, 2003: A new 25-year lease is negotiated between Douglas County and the Wisconsin DNR.  The lease rate is increased to $5.00/acre/year.