We are the Friends
of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge.
We are a non-profit organization that serves to conserve & enhance the natural and cultural resources, rural character and scenic beauty of the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge and to connect people to these resources.
The Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge was first established by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 2012. The bi-state refuge is located in McHenry County, IL and Walworth County, WI. The boundary employs a Cores and Corridors concept for wildlife preservation with a focus on migratory and grassland birds.
Exercise, fresh air, good company, and improving the quality of Hackmatack lands . . .it’s a great combination! See our Stewardship page for more information.
There are many ways to Support the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge. Find our more about how you can be involved in our mission to conserve.
Visit Our Events & Activities page for announcements, programs, events, community activities, and Board meetings.
Current Announcements
Fall Gathering 2026
Sept. 8, 2026
6:30 PM
Tamarack Farms
2026 Monarch Family Fun Fair
Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026
12:30 – 4 PM
Crystal Lake Park District
Main Beach FREE EVENT
How to Visit Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge
We are a different kind of refuge, with a Cores & Corridors Concept for growing. Building this type of refuge takes time. It will take many patient years to grow, and will consist of three types of protected land that form a “donut” shape in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.
Together, Refuge Core Areas + Local Conservation Lands + Privately Owned Protected Lands will create the unique Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge, which will provide protected space for migratory and grassland birds, native plants, and native animal species. Surrounding the refuge boundary lies the Greater Hackmatack Ecosystem, a network of areas on which conservation work is occurring, just outside the actual boundaries of the Refuge.
Areas of the Refuge Open to the Public
These areas are owned by the US Government and managed by the US Fish and Wildlife& Wildlife Service.
Hunting on the Refuge
Hunting regulations are specific to each site on Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge. Please see complete information on U.S. Fish & Wildlife website. Hunters are required to have an appropriate state license.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Wildlife Refuge System: 2025 Report
Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge: 826.731 Acres
Blackmon: 12 acres
Kundert: 180.768 acres
Perricone: 27.146 acres
Schaid: 34.64 acres
Sphar: 146.368 acres
Tamarack Farms: Phase 1: 160.84 acres
Tryon Grove: 46.2 acres
Turner: 86.731 acres
“IF YOU TRAVEL MUCH in the wilder sections of our country, sooner or later you are likely to meet the sign of the flying goose—-the emblem of the National Wildlife Refuges.
You may meet it by the side of a road crossing miles of flat prairie in the Middle West, or in the hot deserts of the Southwest. You may meet it by some mountain lake, or as you push your boat through the winding salty creeks of a coastal marsh.
Wherever you meet this sign, respect it. It means that the land behind the sign has been dedicated by the American people to preserving, for themselves and their children, as much of our native wildlife as can be retained along with our modern civilization.
Wild creatures, like men, must have a place to live. As civilization creates cities, builds highways, and drains marshes, it takes away, little by little, the land that is suitable for wildlife. And as their space for living dwindles, the wildlife populations themselves decline. Refuges resist this trend by saving some areas from encroachment, and by preserving in them, or restoring where necessary, the conditions that wild things need in order to live.” ~ Rachel Carson
Friends of Hackmatack NWR
P.O. Box 413
Richmond, IL 60071
friendsofhackmatacknwr@gmail.com
Call 262-448-3558 to listen for the latest updates on upcoming activities. If you need to reach us, please leave a message and we will return your call.
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