blake
Life Member
New Habitat Access Program Enrolls 1,366 Acres for Hunting
Iowa’s new hunting access program has enrolled 10 sites in nine counties opening 1,366 acres of private land to hunters, beginning Sept. 1.
The program is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture farm bill. The Iowa DNR was awarded a $1.5 million grant by the USDA to test a pilot program. The program provides funding to landowners who voluntarily sign up to install wildlife habitat or habitat improvements on their land. In turn, the landowner would allow hunters access to their land.
“Landowners are interested in this program and based on the response during this first year, we are optimistic that we could increase the number of sites and acres enrolled each year,” said Kelly Smith, with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Bureau who is leading the new program.
Hunters who choose to hunt on these areas must obey hunting laws and must remain only on the land enrolled in the program.
“Hunters will need to familiarize themselves with the property and not stray off onto private land not enrolled in the program,” Smith said. “They should consider themselves guests and act accordingly. Pick up after yourself, identify your target and what is behind your target before taking a shot and respect private property.”
Smith said there are maps online that will identify property boundaries, including downloadable GPS files, at http://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/PlacestoHuntShoot.aspx then click on Habitat and Access Program. Land enrolled in the program will have signs identifying it, similar to signs that identify other public hunting areas.
“Of all the hunter surveys we do, one of the top issues is access to areas to hunt so we are interested in finding out what kind of use these sites receive this fall,” Smith said. “Hopefully, we continue to have landowner interest in the program that will allow us to install or improve habitat on the ground and provide access to new areas to hunt.”
County with property enrolled in the program, acres enrolled
Lucas, 202
Lucas, 192
Clinton, 135
Clarke, 192
Winneshiek, 138
Keokuk, 103
Mahaska, 151
Wayne, 80
Sac, 80
Tama, 93
Iowa’s new hunting access program has enrolled 10 sites in nine counties opening 1,366 acres of private land to hunters, beginning Sept. 1.
The program is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture farm bill. The Iowa DNR was awarded a $1.5 million grant by the USDA to test a pilot program. The program provides funding to landowners who voluntarily sign up to install wildlife habitat or habitat improvements on their land. In turn, the landowner would allow hunters access to their land.
“Landowners are interested in this program and based on the response during this first year, we are optimistic that we could increase the number of sites and acres enrolled each year,” said Kelly Smith, with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Bureau who is leading the new program.
Hunters who choose to hunt on these areas must obey hunting laws and must remain only on the land enrolled in the program.
“Hunters will need to familiarize themselves with the property and not stray off onto private land not enrolled in the program,” Smith said. “They should consider themselves guests and act accordingly. Pick up after yourself, identify your target and what is behind your target before taking a shot and respect private property.”
Smith said there are maps online that will identify property boundaries, including downloadable GPS files, at http://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/PlacestoHuntShoot.aspx then click on Habitat and Access Program. Land enrolled in the program will have signs identifying it, similar to signs that identify other public hunting areas.
“Of all the hunter surveys we do, one of the top issues is access to areas to hunt so we are interested in finding out what kind of use these sites receive this fall,” Smith said. “Hopefully, we continue to have landowner interest in the program that will allow us to install or improve habitat on the ground and provide access to new areas to hunt.”
County with property enrolled in the program, acres enrolled
Lucas, 202
Lucas, 192
Clinton, 135
Clarke, 192
Winneshiek, 138
Keokuk, 103
Mahaska, 151
Wayne, 80
Sac, 80
Tama, 93