EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The Wisconsin State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation is continuing its commitment to habitat conservation and public access by providing funds for the recent acquisition of Bald Bluff, an 86-acre addition to the Boscobel Bluffs State Natural Area along the Wisconsin River in southwest Wisconsin. The purchase, finalized Dec. 29, 2025, was orchestrated by the Mississippi Valley Conservancy.
The expansion strengthens one of the region’s most scenic and ecologically important landscapes while safeguarding public access to high-quality habitat for wildlife and outdoor recreation. The purchase was made possible through a combination of conservation-focused grants and partnerships committed to conserving Wisconsin’s natural resources for future generations.
Access to public lands like Bald Bluff plays a critical role in preserving hunting heritage and ensuring the next generation has opportunities to experience the outdoors. Recognizing that value, the NWTF Wisconsin State Chapter allocated funding through its Super Fund to the project in fiscal year 2025, reinforcing the NWTF’s mission to conserve the wild turkey and preserve our hunting heritage.
The Wisconsin NWTF State Chapter’s support of the Mississippi Valley Conservancy extends well beyond this project. The organization has previously backed turkey habitat improvement efforts and helped fund the acquisition of the 198-acre Woodman Floodplain property located a few miles downstream on the Wisconsin River.
Additional funding for the Bald Bluff acquisition came from the Wisconsin Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund, the Wisconsin Land Fund and a generous donation from the Simes family, who owned and carefully managed the property with conservation in mind for more than 40 years.
With Bald Bluff now conserved, the Boscobel Bluffs State Natural Area has grown to 475 contiguous acres, offering expanded opportunities for public hunting, hiking and wildlife viewing. The property’s forested bluffs are dominated by mature bur, red and white oak, with a diverse understory of native plants such as lead plant, Canada wild rye, panic grass, upland boneset, alumroot and Culver’s root.
Those habitats support a wide array of wildlife, including white-tailed deer and wild turkeys, along with numerous bird species such as barred owls, Cooper’s hawks, red-tailed hawks, blue-gray gnatcatchers and both black-billed and yellow-billed cuckoos.
“It’s not just for turkey hunters,” said Clayton Lenk, NWTF district biologist for Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. “This property provides accessible outdoor space for people from the surrounding population centers, supporting a range of recreational uses.”
