422 acres of sprawling woodland and grassland on the border of Madison and Clarke counties will be a dedicated rural haven thanks to a partnership between Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.
The Jim Wooley Family Tract, named after the Pheasants Forever regional biologist who worked for the organization for 31 years and established more than 125 local chapters of Pheasants Forever in six states, will provide "crucial wildlife habitat and public access for outdoor recreation," according to a news release.
"I'm incredibly honored to be recognized and have my name associated with this property, which is a beautiful property," Wooley told the Register. "It just looks to be incredible."
The 422 acres of rolling hills in south-central Iowa near Truro is home to hickory and oak trees and native grasses. Now acting as a dedicated wildlife area, it will provide ample habitat for ringneck pheasants, bobwhite quail, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys and a wide variety of other native wildlife, the release says.
The Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever partnered with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation to buy the land late in 2024.
“It is exciting to build on a complex of protected public land,” Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation senior land protection director and counsel Ross Baxter said in the release. “Partnerships like this allow us to protect more wildlife habitat that will also benefit soil health, water quality and outdoor recreation opportunities in Iowa.”
The tract borders the 1,021-acre Heritage Hills Wildlife Management Area, which is owned and run by the state. It is made up of 160 acres of grassland and 180 acres of woodland ideal for hunting. Together, the two areas will create one of the largest wilderness areas in Iowa without roads.
"Moving forward, this parcel will contribute to quality wildlife habitat, water stewardship, and support of rural communities with the economic revenue generated from hunters and recreationists visiting the one-of-a-kind property," the Pheasant Forever website says about the tract.
The Jim Wooley Family Tract joins more than 238,860 acres of protected land across 17 states through Pheasants and Quail Forever's Build a Wildlife Area program.
The tract will open to the public at a later date once management upgrades and funds are raised, according to Jared Wiklund, director of communications for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever.
Who is Jim Wooley?
The tract's namesake has dedicated most of his life to conservation efforts, starting as a kid in Michigan raised in a wildlife-appreciating family.
"My dad was a hunter. My mother was an avid birder," Wooley said. "I grew up hunting, and I was particularly interested in bird hunting, and I kind of carried that into my education."
Wooley, 73, has worked in conservation since 1977 when he took a job with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which was then called the Iowa Conservation Commission, as a research biologist. In 1985, he took a job with Pheasants Forever and he stayed there until his retirement in 2016.
"I feel like I've won the lottery," Wooley said. "First, to get a job with the Department of Natural Resources, and second, to work for Pheasants Forever. I feel particularly fortunate to have worked with some of the best people in the country interested in conservation."
Now he gets to add being the namesake of a dedicated piece of land to conservation to his list of accomplishments.
Wooley is a well-known name in conservation in the Midwest. He helped establish 125 local chapters of Pheasants Forever in six states, has led partnership efforts in Iowa, managed the Pheasants Forever seed program, helped create Quail Forever and has served on several Iowa chapters of Pheasants Forever.
“Wooley made a lasting impact on conservation and our organization,” Eric Sytsma, habitat protection officer for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, said in the release. “It’s an honor to work with our incredible partners to memorialize his legacy with a project that clearly represents our core mission – public access and permanently protected wildlife habitat.”
Wooley, who lived in Chariton for 37 years and moved to rural Indianola about 10 years ago, believes public spaces such as the Jim Wooley Family Tract and other dedicated areas are important to keep alive.
"I think that it is important that we have open spaces for outdoor recreation across this state," Wooley said. "Whether you're talking about fishing or hunting, or time in a park, or looking for birds, it's very important that folks enjoy these things."
Kyle Werner is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at [email protected].
This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.