Working For Wildlife Tour Pine Island WMA Restoration Project

We’re joining forces with the MN DNR & Mark Kenyon of Wired To Hunt and MeatEater to create, conserve, and restore wildlife habitat and access in the Northwoods of Minnesota

 

For the better part of a decade, Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters has worked diligently at the Minnesota State Capitol, Washington DC, and all over the country advocating for Boundary Waters protections, something we are enormously proud of. While this will remain one of the pillars that we continue to operate under, we’ve decided that there is a significant enough need here in the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota for us to get involved with “boots on the ground” stewardship projects that help improve the region’s outdoor experiences. 

This year, with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, we will be adopting the Pine Island Wildlife Management Area (WMA) on Lake Vermillion! Adopting a WMA is a great way to help your region’s wildlife managers, as they don’t always have the time and resources to prioritize upkeep for every one of them, especially if it sits within a district with several WMAs. The Pine Island WMA is just under 40 acres and sits within 1 mile of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, with several thousand acres of public land plots directly to its West. This region is heavily used by deer (especially for wintering), grouse, waterfowl, black bears, and various non-game species that help make Northeast Minnesota the beautiful place it is. As a part of our adoption, we hope to accomplish the following:

Create access for a difficult-to-reach WMA

Create and/or improve a series of Hunter Walking Trails

Plant approximately 2000 trees to improve White-Tailed Deer wintering habitat

Repair derelict signage and install an informational Invasive Species Kiosk

On August 24th, 2024, Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters staff will join forces with Mark Kenyon’s “Working for Wildlife” tour to rally volunteers and accomplish the majority of our work on Pine Island in one fell swoop! This is where YOU come in. We are seeking volunteers to meet us on August 24th in Tower, MN, to carry out tasks ranging from tree planting to brushing to helping repair the unit’s signs. Sign up below to volunteer for the day.

Following the work day, we will all get together for a follow-up event to enjoy the great Northern Minnesota weather, share stories from the day, get excited about the upcoming hunting seasons, or relax over a cold beverage!