Little-known Pheasant Farm Facts
1933—The current BCC Pheasant Farm was owned by the City of Berlin and was known as the “City Wood Farm”. That year the Berlin Boy Scouts received the Standard Oil Company service station and moved it to the “City Wood Farm” to be used as a Scout cabin.
1934—The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (one of President Roosevelt’s Depression work projects) cleared some of the land and assisted with an addition to the cabin.
1936—The Berlin Conservation Club (BCC) was formed. They obtained $16,170 of WPA monies to begin the construction of a pheasant-rearing facility on the “City Wood Farm”.
1937—The “City Wood Farm” was ready to begin rearing pheasants. The BCC released 988 pheasants into the local area in the fall of 1937. The “City Wood Farm”, under the sponsorship of the BCC, was placed into a State Game Refuge for five years.
1939—The “City Wood Farm” pheasant area was one of the most modern facilities in the state, with a mortality rate of 50 birds out of 1,500.
Early 40’s—The “City Wood Farm” not only raised pheasants but also Chukar partridge.
40’s and 50’s—The “City Wood Farm” annually released between 1,500 and 3,000 pheasants into the local area.
1954—The BCC purchased from the City the 98.63 acre “City Wood Farm”. They continued the contract with the Wisconsin Conservation Department, which placed the BCC Game Farm in a Wisconsin Wildlife Refuge. There were 20 brooder houses that were in use.
1955—$3,500 was spent on six new pheasant pens.
50’s and 60’s (1955–1969)—Better than 2,400 pheasants were raised and released annually into the surrounding area.
70’s—These were “down” years at the Game Farm, and the number of pheasants released had decreased to 735.
Early 80’s—Activities were restarted on the Game Farm as Dr. Harry Woods donated his garage to be used as storage shed.
1983—The pheasant pens are rebuilt.
1988—Two new gas brooder houses were built and new pens with new netting were installed. The remodeling of the Game Farm cost $12,600 and proceeds from the woodland lot tree harvest were used to buy the materials.
1991—The current system of determining the number of birds received per member’s volunteer hours was established.
1934—The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (one of President Roosevelt’s Depression work projects) cleared some of the land and assisted with an addition to the cabin.
1936—The Berlin Conservation Club (BCC) was formed. They obtained $16,170 of WPA monies to begin the construction of a pheasant-rearing facility on the “City Wood Farm”.
1937—The “City Wood Farm” was ready to begin rearing pheasants. The BCC released 988 pheasants into the local area in the fall of 1937. The “City Wood Farm”, under the sponsorship of the BCC, was placed into a State Game Refuge for five years.
1939—The “City Wood Farm” pheasant area was one of the most modern facilities in the state, with a mortality rate of 50 birds out of 1,500.
Early 40’s—The “City Wood Farm” not only raised pheasants but also Chukar partridge.
40’s and 50’s—The “City Wood Farm” annually released between 1,500 and 3,000 pheasants into the local area.
1954—The BCC purchased from the City the 98.63 acre “City Wood Farm”. They continued the contract with the Wisconsin Conservation Department, which placed the BCC Game Farm in a Wisconsin Wildlife Refuge. There were 20 brooder houses that were in use.
1955—$3,500 was spent on six new pheasant pens.
50’s and 60’s (1955–1969)—Better than 2,400 pheasants were raised and released annually into the surrounding area.
70’s—These were “down” years at the Game Farm, and the number of pheasants released had decreased to 735.
Early 80’s—Activities were restarted on the Game Farm as Dr. Harry Woods donated his garage to be used as storage shed.
1983—The pheasant pens are rebuilt.
1988—Two new gas brooder houses were built and new pens with new netting were installed. The remodeling of the Game Farm cost $12,600 and proceeds from the woodland lot tree harvest were used to buy the materials.
1991—The current system of determining the number of birds received per member’s volunteer hours was established.