Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge

     Situated along the Pee Dee River, the 8,443-acre Refuge is located a few hundred yards from the once famous "Lockhart Gaddy Wild Goose Refuge.” In the 1950's, Gaddy's pond welcomed each year more than 10,000 Canada geese. In October 1963, the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge was established to help further provide additional habitat for these geese and other waterfowl.
     Presently the wintering waterfowl numbers can fluctuate greatly from year to year, but can exceed 10,000 birds during a season. Cooperative farming in field impoundments, water level management, and the bottomland hardwood forest along Brown Creek provide excellent habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife.
     The Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge has more than just waterfowl. In fact, the refuge also supports an abundance of nesting neotropical migratory birds, bobwhite quail, wild turkey, and white-tailed deer.
     The diversity of habitat and management provides for more than 168 bird species, 49 reptiles and amphibians, 28 mammals, and 20 fish species.
     Refuge lands include the following habitat types: bottomland hardwood forest (3,000 acres), upland pine forest (1,500 acres), mixed pine/hardwood forest (2,000 acres), crop lands (1,000 acres), old fields, native warm season grass fields, and openings (1,000 acres).
For more information, visit www.fws.gov/peedee.

Wildlife and Habitat

     The variety of habitats supports a diversity of wildlife species. The refuge itself contains 3,000 acres of contiguous bottomland hardwood forest along Brown Creek. This hardwood bottom forms the largest remaining forest of its kind in the Piedmont of North Carolina, and has been placed on the state’s Registry of Natural Heritage Areas. The refuge also contains about 1,500 acres of upland pine forest, 2,000 acres of mixed pine/hardwood forest, 1,000 acres of crop lands, and 1,000 acres of managed openings, old fields, and native warm season grass fields.
     Peak populations of waterfowl in the fall and winter can exceed 10,000 birds, with the majority being mallards. Other ducks seen include wigeon, green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, pintail, and gadwall. For many reasons, the large migrating flocks of Canada geese are gone, but the refuge is still used by several hundred migrating Canadas and a growing flock of resident geese.
The refuge is also an important stopping point for bald eagles, snipe, woodcock, hawks, owls, herons, and egrets. In addition, the bottoms of Brown Creek provide excellent habitat for many migratory songbirds, including blue grosbeak, scarlet tanager, and prothonotary warbler. The endangered red-cockaded woodpecker no longer uses the refuge, but areas of potential habitat still remain. Bobwhite quail and wild turkey are popular upland game birds. The refuge bird list includes 188 species.
     The refuge mammal list contains 28 species, including white-tailed deer, red and gray fox, bobcat, beaver, gray squirrel, and fox squirrel. Amphibian and reptile species number 28 and 48, respectively. These include spotted salamander, American toad, pickerel frog, river cooter, box turtle, rough green snake, and copperhead. Refuge waters provide an excellent fishery, which includes channel catfish, largemouth bass, and several sunfish species.

History

     Before the 1700's, the area that is now the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge was occupied by a tribe of Siouan-speaking Native Americans called the Catawbas. The Catawbas were later joined by other tribes. They farmed, hunted, and fished for survival. As Europeans began to settle the area, many of the rich bottomlands and upland hills were cleared for more intensive farming. By the mid-1800's cotton was the principal crop, and remained so well into the 1900's. Today, a mosaic of corn and soybean crops are grown in the Pee Dee flood plain.
     The Pee Dee Refuge is located a few hundred yards from the once-famous Lockhart Gaddy’s Wild Goose Refuge. Mr. Gaddy was an avid goose hunter who used live decoys to hunt Canada geese in fields near the Pee Dee River. In 1934, he retired from hunting, making his small pond a refuge for the wintering Southern James Bay Canada geese.
     In October 1934, Gaddy’s live decoys attracted nine wild Canada geese to his private pond. By the early 1950's, the flock had grown to over 10,000. Bird watchers from all over the United States and several foreign countries visited the Gaddy Pond to feed and observe the geese. Following the deaths of Gaddy and his wife, their refuge was closed to the public.
     In the 1960's, numbers of both geese and ducks began to decline in south-central North Carolina. However, lands adjacent to the Pee Dee River and Brown Creek offered excellent potential for waterfowl habitat development. With local and state support, the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge was established in October 1963 to provide habitat for migratory waterfowl.
Source: The US Fish and Wildlife Service

Getting There...

     From Charlotte, NC: Take Hwy. 74 East to Wadesboro. Turn left on Hwy. 52 North and continue 6 miles. Refuge office is on the right. From Wadesboro, NC: Take Hwy 52 North for 6 miles. Turn right into the refuge office facility.

Become a Friend

     Friends of the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge is an  independent, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting conservation of the natural resources of the refuge, fostering public understanding and appreciation of the refuge and engaging in activities that will assist the US Fish and Wildlife Service to  meet its mandates.
     For more information, visit www.peedeefriends.org
     or click the links below for more...

Fact Sheet • Brochure • Bird List • Fishing Regulations • Hunting Regulations

Anson Treasure Featured
on Our State Cover

     The September 2006 issue of Our State magazine featured on its cover Anson County's Gaddy Covered Bridge, which can be found at the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge.  The monthly travel magazine included a pictorial essay of scenes found throughout the Uwharrie Lakes Region.
     For more information, visit peedeefriends.org

Buchanan Shoals Sportsman’s Preserve

     Offering a unique and unparalleled opportunity for the avid sportsman, Buchanan Shoals is designed for special clientele who enjoy all the amenities and services associated with a premier hunting preserve while allowing year-round access to its members. Just think -- 4,442 acres of land, guided hunts for all major wildlife species, a shooting preserve for quail and pheasants, skeet and target shooting ranges, freshwater fishing, hiking, camping, ATV riding, and other recreational activities available at your convenience -- whether you're arriving for a 4-day visit or dropping by for an afternoon of enjoyment.
     For more information, visit www.buchananshoals.com

My Memories of Gaddy's Goose Pond

By Buck Wheless

     The pond that is known today as Gaddy’s Goose Pond was constructed in 1933 and 1934 by hand labor and mule drawn drag pans. It took two summers work during the off season from farm work, July and August, to complete the one acre pond. The purpose that Mr. Gaddy had in mind for this pond was to provide a place for Mrs. Pat Ross, mother of Mrs. Hazel Gaddy to have a place to fish. She (Mrs. Ross) loved to fish.
     After the pond had filled with water, Mr. Gaddy moved the six Canada geese that he had used as live decoys to hunt wild geese in the fields along the Pee Dee River, to the pond. The use of live decoys for hunting was prohibited beginning in 1934. The decoys had been kept in a pen with a small water hole behind the Gaddy’s home on Grassy Island Road in Ansonville.
     read entire essay...

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