Some properties are special. Others leave you standing there thinking, “This is something truly different.” This is one of the most impressive recreational properties I’ve ever had the privilege of stepping foot on in Minnesota, and once you see it in person you will instantly see why. Properties with this combination of habitat, food, water, terrain, and surrounding landscape are becoming increasingly difficult to find, especially in a location like this.
Located just one mile east of Highway 10 and approximately 10 minutes southeast of St. Cloud, this 93.44+/- acre tract offers a rare combination of habitat diversity, natural food sources, water, bedding cover, and strategic terrain. With paved road frontage and access off both 47th Street SE and 60th Avenue SE, this property offers exceptional accessibility without sacrificing the secluded, wild feel that makes a hunting property truly special.
The backbone of this property is over a mile of Elk River bottom frontage, creating an extensive corridor of thick bedding cover, natural travel routes, and reliable water. Mature bur and red oaks provide abundant acorns, while native vegetation, including hazelnut, dogwood, wild plum, American red raspberry, and willow, adds valuable browse and diverse cover. Additional native species further contribute to the varied habitat, creating a landscape with natural food and security wildlife thrive on throughout the property.
Moving up from the river bottom, the sloping terrain transitions toward approximately 12 acres of agricultural ground, consisting of roughly 6.5 acres of soybeans and 5.5 acres of hay this year. The combination of agricultural food sources, acorn-producing oaks, native browse, and thick bedding cover gives wildlife multiple reasons to frequent the property. Just as importantly, the terrain creates natural transition zones between these features, offering an abundance of potential stand locations, travel corridors, and strategic hunting setups.
The surrounding landscape only adds to the appeal. Hundreds of acres of neighboring corn and soybean fields provide an extensive agricultural food base, while this property offers the thick, diverse cover that wildlife need to bed, travel, and seek refuge. Adding another significant advantage, a 133+/- acre nature preserve sits kitty-corner to the northwest boundary. With that preserve providing additional undisturbed habitat, this property benefits from an exceptional neighboring sanctuary that complements its already impressive habitat and cover.
And the early results speak for themselves. Trail cameras have captured an abundance of deer and turkeys on a daily basis, including quality bucks within the first 24 hours of having cameras set up. Beyond the trail-camera activity, the property is absolutely loaded with fresh rubs, scrapes, and well-used trails, revealing the consistent wildlife activity taking place across this diverse landscape.
Properties like this do not come around often. The combination of over a mile of river-bottom habitat, an abundance of mature oaks, agricultural food sources, diverse topography, established trails, and a neighboring nature preserve makes this a truly special offering. You can study maps and aerials all day, but this is one of those properties you need to walk to fully appreciate. Step foot on it, experience the terrain and habitat firsthand, and you’ll understand exactly what makes this tract stand out.
