The purpose for the newly created reserve in Sullivan County will be to protect wildlife and aquatic resources and provide hunting and other public recreation opportunities, according to the Fish and Game news release that sourced the Valley News article.

The Conservation Fund is a national environment nonprofit. The total cost of the project was $3.4 million. Key funding, according to the article, came from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wildlife Restoration grant program, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Service’s Aquatic Resource Mitigation Fund and the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program, or LCHIP.

William B. Ruger founded the Sturm Ruger Company, and his son, William B. Ruger Jr., was a longtime Newport resident, according to an article by the New Hampshire Union Leader. The family, the article says, was active in local charities.

“The Ruger manufacturing plant in Newport has long been one of the state’s largest employers,” the article continues. Ruger passed away two months after the purchase. He was 79.

One parcel includes wetlands and cold-water streams spanning nearly 3 miles, while the other includes Ash Swamp Brook, which is 83 acres of wet meadow and shrub wetlands. The land is adjacent to Corbin Park, a private game reserve. Various wildlife can inhabit the purchased land, including moose, deer, bears, waterfowl, minks, otters, and snowshoe hares.

“While there are no plans to install a trail system, the area contains a network of class 5 and 6 roads and will remain open to activities such as hunting, fishing and hiking, which already were popular there under Ruger ownership,” the article concludes.

For more information, visit wildlife.state.nh.us.