Seeing is believing, and nothing compares with experiencing the Prairie Pothole Region firsthand. Whistling wings and courtship calls; sapphire wetlands nestled in a sea of endless grass. Now, thanks to the generosity of three donors, DU supporters and the public can revel in the sights and sounds of the prairie on Ducks Unlimited’s newest property.
The Coteau Ranch is located near DU’s office in Bismarck, North Dakota. This 2,500-acre property contains the very best duck breeding habitat in the Missouri Coteau landscape, but it also has areas that exemplify how not to use this fragile land – for crop production. In these places, we are putting the pieces back together. Restoring native prairie, re-gaining nesting habitat. setting an example for land stewardship.
The Coteau Ranch will be a place for education, research, and inspiration. A place to showcase the best habitat and the best of our conservation work - a place for the ducks.
We first became interested in buying this property because it adjoined a quarter section of land previously gifted to us by Safford and Betty Peacock. Both properties also bordered the large Davis Ranch owned by The Nature Conservancy.
However, Governor John Hoeven denied our request to purchase the properties, and the deal was all but dead.
That’s when our friends stepped in.
In two remarkable acts of generosity, the owner of one of the tracts decided to donate his property and another donor purchased and later donated the other land we wanted.
This conservation showcase will also be a place to conduct research and to demonstrate “best management practices” for restoration and grassland management. Soon, we will have an interpretive trail and open the ranch to public hunting.
We plan to hold it long-term to accomplish these goals. Paul Bultsma will manage the property, so feel free to email him or give him a call (701-355-3500) if you are interested in more details and directions to the place.
It’s quite a gem!