The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced that nearly 38,000 acres of private land will be open for public access to hunters this turkey season due to a partnership between the agency and the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.
As part of the joint program, the DNR could partner with private landowners who lease their land for public access through the Turkey Hunter Access Program and the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program.
In 2020, THAP added 5,200 acres that hunters can be used only during spring turkey hunting seasons. Another 2,300 acres were added to VPA-HIP for hunters to use throughout the year for hunting, fishing, trapping and wildlife observation.
The programs provide financial incentives such as annual leases to private landowners who open their property to public hunting, fishing, trapping and wildlife observation. Eligible land types include grassland, wetland, forestland and in some cases, agricultural land. Landowners also enrolled in conservation programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE), Managed Forest Law (MFL) in closed status and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRP/WRE) are eligible for enrollment.
Categories: Wisconsin, Rural Lifestyle