SIDNEY, IA - Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever announced two new land acquisitions in Fremont County partly through the Build a Wildlife Area program.

The tracts have been added to the Iowa Habitat and Access Program for public hunting access and prairie management.

The Copeland Bend wildlife management area located in Fremont County just northeast of Nebraska City has been added. The 174 acres connects multiple tracts of Copeland Bend to increase connectivity between the existing 1,000 acres of public land.

Also in Fremont County, the MU Payne Wildlife Area southeast of Copeland Bend adds 1,247 acres.

Both of the wildlife management areas are additions to existing public lands owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

A Pheasants Forever press release says the properties will allow the DNR to better manage the properties and surrounding habitat for upland birds.

 Here is the press release

December 2, 2025 – Sidney, Iowa – Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) are proud to introduce two new land acquisitions, which add to the more than 500,000 acres of public land in the Hawkeye State. The tracts have been enrolled in the Iowa Habitat and Access Program (IHAP), facilitating public hunting access and habitat management to improve the prairie and tackle woody encroachment.

 

These projects were made possible by chapters, partners and members who contribute to the organization’s Build a Wildlife Area® program. Build a Wildlife Area® is PF & QF’s permanent habitat protection program delivering strategic, fee-title acquisitions to conserve habitat and increase public hunting access. The program strives to create functional landscapes supporting wild, sustainable populations of upland birds and other wildlife, while providing ancillary benefits to natural resources and communities. Since 1982, the program has permanently protected more than 243,000 acres of publicly accessible habitat in 17 states.

 

Copeland Bend WMA Complex Addition 

Located in Fremont County, this 174-acre acquisition is just northeast of Nebraska City. It connects multiple tracts of the Copeland Bend WMA Complex to increase connectivity between the existing 1,000 acres of public land.

 

M U Payne Wildlife Area Addition

Just a few miles southeast are another 174 acres of land that will be permanently protected. This parcel adds to the 1,247 acres of the M U Payne Wildlife Area. This acquisition includes a public access easement to further improve access to the northern end of the existing wildlife area.

 

Both Fremont County parcels are additions to existing public lands complexes owned by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Both areas are heavily utilized by hunters in southwestern Iowa and southeastern Nebraska, and will offer opportunities for quail and pheasant hunting, along with other upland game species. These properties are both encumbered by U.S. Department of Agriculture easements and will allow the Iowa DNR to better manage the properties and the surrounding habitat for upland birds.

 

About Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever make up the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. This community of more than 500,000 members, supporters and partners is dedicated to the protection of our uplands through habitat improvement, public access, education and advocacy. A network of 754 local chapters spread across North America determine how 100 percent of their locally raised funds are spent — the only national conservation organization that operates through this grassroots structure. Since its creation in 1982, the organization has dedicated more than $1 billion to 580,000 habitat projects benefiting 31 million acres.