Nelson County, North Dakota – Many years ago, Orville Engel of Nelson County gave this property along Stump Lake to the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District.
“We were looking for something that we could do that would be the highest and best use for this property,” said Duane Dekrey, manager of the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department was contacted by the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District to inquire about their interest in taking over the management of this land. But before the Department consented to manage the land, the road leading to it needed to be fixed for public access.
“Engel’s Point Wildlife Management Area is my newest wildlife management area in northeast North Dakota, and it is comprised of 265 acres. There’s native grassland on it. There’s planted grassland. There are wetlands. There’s cropland and there’s also some woody oak habitat along the shoreline as well, which makes it a really good wildlife habitat,” said Brian Prince, NDGF wildlife resource management supervisor.
Prince and his teams got to work right away making improvements to this land for the benefit of the local wildlife and people.
“We are currently working on fencing the property and installing two parking areas. In the future, we’re hoping to add more grassland habitat to the tract and decrease the number of cropland acres. And we have also been working on the noxious weed component that’s out here,” said Prince.
A wide variety of fauna can be observed at Engel’s Point.
“We’re seeing deer occupy the site. I’ve seen sharptail grouse, other upland game birds, and Stump Lake is a phenomenal waterfowl hunting area in the fall,” said Prince.
Anglers can also enjoy this newest WMA on a number of sites.
“The public should love this place. We’ve got fishing on one side. We’ve got upland game hunting on one side. We’ve got tree stand areas for hunting deer,” said Dekrey.
Early in September, the Engel’s Point Wildlife Management Area was dedicated.
