Schmit Wildlife Area
Schmit Wildlife Area is a 78-acre property located in northern St. Croix County. The property was purchased in 2000 as a part of the Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area and consists primarily of grassland habitat (54 acres) with a wetland slough splitting the property in half (10 acres) and a small northern hardwoods woodlot along the wetland perimeter (14 acres). A small remnant prairie is located on the property giving a good representation of the habitat that was historically located in the area. The property is managed as part of the Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area, a landscape-scale wetland and grassland restoration project.
The property is located approximately 4 miles east of New Richmond. Follow County Highway K east out of New Richmond for 2 miles, then turn south on 170th Street for 1.5 miles. The property is located on the east side of 170th Street.
Management Objectives
The property is managed to provide opportunities for public hunting, trapping, wildlife observation and other nature-based outdoor recreation. Management objectives aim to maintain an open grassland community through prescribed fire, mechanical and chemical control of woody species and limited haying and grazing. Populations of invasive species are controlled or eliminated by cutting, pulling, burning, herbicide treatment and/or bio-control.
Recreation
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The Schmit Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:
- Birding;
- Cross-country skiing (no designated trail);
- Falconry (by permit);
- Hiking;
- Hunting;
- Snowshoeing;
- Trapping;
- Wild edible/gathering; and
- Wildlife viewing.
Maps
Download [PDF] a map of this property.
If you are interested in exploring this property further, you can access an interactive map.
Find out more about how to adopt this wildlife area.