ICORE holds work bee at Deadhorse Ruffed Grouse Management area

Mercer, WI – Eleven members of the Iron County Outdoor Recreational Enthusiasts (ICORE) gathered at the Deadhorse Ruffed Grouse Management Area on Friday, November 20, for a work bee to trim brush and clear the trail. Volunteers came ready to do good work for their community and brought with them an assortment of their own hand tools. ICORE members and volunteers took advantage of the mild November day to trim back branches that were hanging into the trail and remove branches and small trees from the trail. 

ICORE has adopted two trails through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Adopt-A-Trail program: the Deadhorse Ruffed Grouse Management Area and the Hidden River Trail. The trails are both located in the Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area managed by the Wisconsin DNR. The Adopt-A-Trail program requires volunteers to spend one hour a month surveying the trails to look for any maintenance issues that might impede users ability to access the trail, and to conduct at least one work bee per year. ICORE volunteers have committed to do minor maintenance and report any major problems on the trails to the DNR Scenic Waters Area property manager Beth Feind. 

Because of ICORE’s work the trails are ready for hunters, hikers, and snowshoers. The Deadhorse trails pass through a variety of forest types, wetlands, bogs and small lakes. Its Management Demonstration Area is intensively managed in cooperation with the Ruffed Grouse Society to enhance habitat for ruffed grouse. The emphasis is to provide a variety of habitat types of various age classes.The trail also includes interpretive signs sharing information on grouse management and habitat efforts in the area. Access to the Deadhorse Trail is from Popko Circle West, approximately 2 miles south of County FF.

The Hidden River Trail is also located off Popko Circle with its trailhead at Fisherman’s Landing. This loop trail system winds along the shore of the flowage to Turtle Point and features scenic views, mature stands of hemlock hardwood, and a mile long interpretive trail loop.  

For more information on these trails and many other trails in Iron County, visit the ICORE website at www.ironcountyoutdoors.org. 

Photo L to R: Beth Fiend, Bob Traczyk, Larry Testin, Karen Hagemann, Bill Litke, Bob Glembin, Aline Fetter, and Rich Scott