Welcome to Ackley Wildlife Area. Shortly after the turn of the century, harvest of the original hardwood, hemlock and pine timber types occurred on the area now knows as the Ackley Wildlife Area. Later, wild fires and abortive attempts at farming reduced the cover types to grasses, shrubs and aspen. These activities resulted in the wildlife area and surrounding lands developing into ideal habitat for sharp-tailed grouse.
This property was originally created in 1951 as an area to manage for prairie (sharp-tailed) grouse. Since that time, wildlife managers have developed 27 shallow waterfowl flowages encompassing more than 400 acres of water. The remainder of the property is a mix of native grasslands, aspen and northern hardwood stands.
If you like hunting, Ackley provides excellent opportunities to pursue a variety of game species, such as deer, turkey, black bear, ruffed grouse, woodcock and waterfowl. Beavers, muskrats, fishers and coyotes are abundant on this property and on the 27,000 acres of surrounding county forest lands.
