Work Bees:
Along with the ownership of this large expanse of property comes the obligation to wisely manage it. We do so by conducting periodic “Work Bees” throughout the year. Common Work Bees include cleaning and maintaining the two cabins, checking and installing woodduck houses, repairing embankments and water control structures, cleaning and grooming the beach, among many others. We are always seeking volunteers so please step up and help out.
Cabins:
There are two primitive cabins on Red Wing Wildlife League property and are available for use by all valid members. Both cabins are built on floating structures so as to withstand seasonal flooding. Both cabins have wood stoves, however, there is no electricity or running water. Both cabins are typically stocked with fire wood for use in an emergency.
Wood Duck Houses:
Every spring hundreds of woodduck pairs nest in the floodplain forest of the Red Wing Wildlife League property. For several decades the league has been installing and maintaining woodduck houses to support habitat for these cavity nesting waterfowl and their young. New houses are built and installed in the winter when ice allows for easy access. Existing houses are also cleaned and checked for success from the previous nesting season.
Youth Waterfowl Day:
Each year we organize the Annual Soup Campbell Youth Waterfowl Day in coordination with Minnesota’s Youth Waterfowl Hunt in September. Scott (Soup) Campbell was a past president and avid supporter of the Red Wing Wildlife League. Among the many things people remember Soup by, his commitment to youth and getting kids introduced to hunting was one of his many accolades. To carry on Soup’s memory we host Youth Waterfowl Day in his honor. If you know of a youth that would like to be involved next season or would like to volunteer to take somebody out, please get in contact with the organization. The adults have just as much fun as the kids!
Food Plots:
Several food plots are maintained onsite to provide additional forage for wildlife. Food plots can be difficult to maintain with the seasonal flooding, so they are managed as weather and water conditions permit.
Charitable Gambling:
The Red Wing Wildlife League is financially supported through annual membership dues and charitable gambling within the city of Red Wing. Chartitable gambling is conducted at Liberty's Restaurant and Lounge located in historic Red Wing, MN. Liberty's Restaurant has been a partner with the League since inception of our chartitable gambling program, and the allowance of this activity at their establishment continues to provide financial security to the organization. Please consider stopping in at Liberty's Restaurant next time you are looking for a meal. Routine gambling business is discussed and voted on each monthly meetings. In the past ten years the Red Wing Wildlife League as donated approximately $120,000 of our charitable gambling proceeds back to non-profit organizations within the Red Wing community. Our donations have help support the Red Wing Environmental Learning Center, Red Wing High School FFA, Red Wing Conservation Club, Red Wing Izaak Walton League, Red Wing Youth Trap League, Minnesota Conservation Federation, Burnside School 4H Club, among many others.
MN Land Trust Conservation Easement
With the good foresight of our members and board, the Red Wing Wildlife League property was enrolled in a conservation easement with the Minnesota Land Trust beginning in 2000. Conservation easements are intended to protect private land for the public good. By partnering with the Minnesota Land Trust, certain restrictions are put on the property for perpetuity and therefore the natural and scenic values of the entire Red Wing Wildlife League property are protected from development or other activities that would diminish its natural quality. This was a significant milestone in the history of preserving the Red Wing Wildlife League for future generations.
Timber Management:
In 2014 we developed a Woodland Stewardship Plan to aid in managing our wooded floodplain forest. Much of the property hasn't had a timber cut for several decades resulting in a large overstory with limited undergrowth. Our intent is to better manage the forest for wildlife by creating variable age class timber while also supporting the organization through the sale of merchantable timber. We have been working with local logging crews to remove maples, cottonwood and ash with plans to replant swamp white oak and walnut.
Pooh Bear Open:
During the first Saturday of June we held the annual Pooh Bear Open walleye and sauger fishing tournament. The tournament was held in memory of late member Paul "Pooh Bear" Martin. In 2018 we completed 20 successful years of holding the tournament in memory of Paul. Each season fisherman and women brought in very respectable stringers of walleye and sauger! After 20 years the organization decided to retire the PBO tournament, however, the memories with great friends and good fishing will last a lifetime.
Conservation Advocacy
Our current membership totals nearly 300 individuals, all of which span a range of age and avocation. Despite the variability in interests our members are bound by a common thread – utilizing the Mississippi River and backwaters for an array of recreational uses and promoting for sound management of land, fish, and wildlife to ensure a sustainable resource is available for future generations to enjoy. We can not predict the future; thefore, it is imperative that we have the most sensible management for this stretch of River. As an organization we advocate for sound conservation practices. As of recent, we have submitted comments to the MN and WI DNR agencies regarding the current Border Water fishing regulation review. Click here to see our Official Border Waters Statement. We all have a voice, but it does no good if we remain silent.
