Outside in Wisconsin

©KIRK SCHLEIFE

The importance of having access to public lands for hunting was a theme we heard from several contributors to our “women who hunt” coverage. State-managed wildlife areas are an excellent resource — for hunting and any number of outdoor activities — and Crex Meadows Wildlife Area is one of the most outstanding. In Burnett County near Grantsburg, Crex features 30,000 acres of forests, wetlands and brush prairies, with all but a 2,400-acre refuge open for hunting. Scenic sunrise marsh vistas will greet waterfowl hunters at the wildlife area, established in 1946 when the state purchased 12,000 acres of land once used by the Crex Carpet Co. for production of grass rugs. Other hunting opportunities include deer, small game and bear. Bird conservation, featured in this issue, also is closely tied to Crex, a designated Important Bird Area and one of few sites in Wisconsin with management for northern sedge meadows and marshes, pine-oak barrens and emergent marsh habitats. Also boasting two State Natural Areas, Crex Meadows is a wonderland for wildlife viewing and spectacular scenery year-round.

— Andrea Zani