Coyour became a state conservation officer in 1988 to fulfill one of his dreams. During his 11 years with DNR, he received numerous letters praising his professionalism and his courteous and compassionate personality. He was recognized for his valor during an armed hostage situation, his outstanding work with personal watercraft education and enforcement, his involvement with the Career Mentor Program at Fond du Lac Community College, his involvement in Paddle for Courage for the disabled and impaired, and his promotion of the Take a Kid Fishing program.

He will be honored again next year for his dedication to wildlife, water quality and recreation, when land southwest of Fergus Falls will be donated to the DNR and become the Conservation Officer Grant Coyour Memorial Wildlife Management Area.

"Grant was full of life and greatly enjoyed the outdoors and protecting the resources," said Col. Mike Hamm, DNR Enforcement Division chief. "He is still missed within the DNR Enforcement family, and this is a wonderful tribute to his memory."

The 160-acre tract of land was mostly purchased with $123,000 in court-ordered restitution following a series of violations of the Wetland Conservation Act dating back to 1998. The remaining funds for the purchase came from a group of wildlife volunteers including Pheasants Forever Minnesota Habitat Fund, the Habitat Corridors Partnership, local Pheasant Forever chapters, and conservation groups. Once the project is finished, 28 acres of wet meadow and shallow marsh will be restored, with the remainder being upland restoration.

"This quarter section will be restored and provide benefits to all current and future generations of Minnesotans," said Matt Holland, Minnesota director of conservation for Pheasants Forever (PF).

Holland also noted that the project is "smack dab in the middle of a complex of private and public land habitat projects." He expects once the project is finished, it will attract a wide range of waterfowl, songbirds, pheasants, prairie chickens and deer.

Dale Krystosek, Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) wetland specialist, said DNR and BWSR recently entered into an agreement with PF to purchase the land. Local PF chapters providing funding include Otter Tail, Pelican River, and Clay County. The Fergus Falls Fish and Game Club, the Bios De Sioux Watershed District and Ashby Coots Unlimited also provided funding. The Habitat Corridors Partnership funding is made possible by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.

"We're pleased to see such a positive outcome to the original wetlands violations," Krystosek said. A formal dedication of the site is expected to take place next year.