In 1919 the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department made their first purchase of wildlife habitat. This one thousand acres of wetlands established the Sandbar Waterfowl Refuge and was the precursor of today’s Wildlife Management Areas. Since that initial purchase the department now owns over 118,000 acres throughout Vermont as part of the states Wildlife Management Area program. Managing these diverse habitats for the benefit of both wildlife and human use is a logistical and budgetary challenge. A unique and energetic group of friends may be the solution to keep these Wildlife Management Area’s a thriving resource for all Vermonter’s to enjoy.