Kickapoo River Wildlife Area - Bell Center Unit
Kickapoo River Wildlife Area-Bell Center Unit is a 1,550-acre property located within the Lower Kickapoo and Kickapoo Conservation Opportunity Area in Wisconsin's Wildlife Action Plan and is of continental significance for its driftless area features. The property is also an Important Bird Area because the forests in the southern portion of this site are among the largest and most intact in the whole driftless area and contain significant populations of forest interior birds such as red-shouldered hawk, Acadian flycatcher, wood thrush, cerulean warbler and Kentucky warbler. Prairie and savanna habitats host Bell's vireo, brown thrasher, blue-winged warbler, field sparrow, bobolink and eastern meadowlark. Thousands of migrants use the area, particularly in spring. The northern units of the Hogback Prairie State Natural Area are found within the Bell Center Unit.
Kickapoo River Wildlife Area-Bell Center Unit began as a perpetual hunting and fishing easement unit of the lower Wisconsin River Wildlife area in 1968. In 1975, the Kickapoo River Wildlife Area was separated from the lower Wisconsin River project and conversion of easements to fee ownership was begun. Gradually about 1,100 acres have been converted to DNR fee ownership. About 300 acres remain under easement. Many croplands have been converted to upland cover.
The Bell Center Unit contains a rich diversity of habitat types for a smaller property. The Kickapoo River runs through the unit and provides paddling opportunities with county-maintained canoe launches in nearby towns. Waterfowl and furbearing mammals inhabit the associated wetlands, which transition to forested uplands with various aspects. High-quality prairie remnants are found on the south and west-facing hillsides, which are dominated by oak and hickory. These forest stands provide habitat for deer and small mammals. Pheasants are stocked by a volunteer group in the larger grassland areas.
Find the area 2 miles south of Gays Mills along state Highway 131.
Management Objectives
The Bell Center Unit is managed to provide opportunities for public hunting, fishing, trapping and other outdoor recreation while protecting the qualities of the unique native communities and associated species found on the property. The upland forests are primarily southern dry-mesic forest types with management focusing on maintaining oak as a viable forest component, incorporating oak savanna habitat adjacent to bluff prairie sites (through application of prescribed fire and understory management) and minimizing conversion to northern hardwood types. Delete [Bottomland hardwoods are managed passively.] Cropland is slowly being converted to prairie and oak savanna, with prescribed fire, mowing and brushing used to maintain the open grassland. Populations of invasive species are controlled or eliminated by cutting, pulling, burning, herbicide treatment and/or bio-control.
The University of Wisconsin Extension has established a butternut orchard to test treatments for butternut canker and develop resistant strains.
Visit the property planning for more information on master planning for this and other wildlife areas around the state.
Recreation
The Kickapoo River Wildlife Area-Bell Center Unit offers many recreational opportunities:
- Birding
- Canoeing
- Cross-country skiing (no designated trail)
- Fishing
- Hiking (no designated trail)
- Hunting (noted for waterfowl, woodcock, deer, wild turkeys, pheasants and furbearers)
- Trapping
- Wild edibles/gathering
- Wildlife viewing
Note: The easement properties are privately owned and the only allowable uses are hunting, fishing and trapping on some parcels. See the Wildlife Area Easements in Crawford and Richland Counties document for more information.
Amenities
- Bathroom - none.
- Parking lot - there are four parking areas throughout the property.
- Campground and size - none.
- Trails, Types and Lengths - none.
Maps
Download a map of this property.
If you are interested in exploring this property further, you can access an interactive map.
