Farming for Access: Farm Bill Programs Increase Public Land Access for Hunters
Renewed and updated every five years, the Farm Bill is a package of federal legislation with many far-reaching benefits, from enhancing wild turkey habitat to increasing public hunting access.
Over the years, the NWTF and its partners have worked with Congress to ensure programs funded through the Farm Bill continue to help conserve America’s vital natural resources, including programs that benefit wild turkeys. While Farm Bill programs directly impact the NWTF’s mission to conserve the wild turkey, there are Farm Bill programs that help the NWTF with the other part of its mission, the preservation of our hunting heritage.
One of the primary reasons new hunters say they give up hunting is that they do not have enough access to go afield to harvest an animal successfully. Increasing public hunting access is therefore integral to the NWTF’s mission to preserve our hunting heritage.
Luckily, the Farm Bill provides critical funding to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to administer the agency’s Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program. VPA-HIP helps states incentivize private landowners to open their lands to the public for hunting, fishing and other outdoor pursuits. The program allows the landowners not to assume any liability for the public-use activities detailed in the agreement. Also, it provides technical assistance to private landowners for wildlife habitat improvement and enhancement projects. It’s a win for wildlife and wildlife enthusiasts.
Many states have programs that increase public hunting access, from Arizona’s Landowner Relation Program to Wyoming’s Access Yes Program. As of 2020, the VPA-HIP program has facilitated recreational access on 6.4 million acres across 34 states and one tribal reservation.
In some states, NWTF state chapters have provided additional funds to bolster these programs. For instance, since 2006, the Kansas NWTF State Chapter has regularly helped fund the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks’ Spring Walk-In-Hunting Area program, providing more than $50,000 to help open over 55,000 acres. This program has provided many new hunters with their first spring-time gobbler, specifically through the Spring WIHA program.
Likewise, the Wyoming NWTF State Chapter has consistently supported the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Access Yes program since it began in 2008. Access Yes brings together numerous conservation organizations, agencies and interested parties to leverage funds to increase public land access across the state.
Every year, WGFD engages private landowners who’ve previously participated in the program and potential new landowners. From January to March, the department finalizes contracts with landowners, then properties are mapped throughout the summer, and maps are made available to the public. While most of these properties are open for hunting in the fall, numerous properties are accessible year-round, including during the spring turkey season. This process occurs every year and is one of the many programs in our country that is bolstered through the Farm Bill.
“This program resonates with outdoorsmen and women in Wyoming,” said Collin Smith, NWTF district biologist. “The bulk of funds are generated from the sale of conservation stamps purchased by hunters and anglers in the state. They can directly utilize and see where their purchases and donations are going.”
In 2020, the NRCS awarded $1,537,401 to WGFD’s Access Yes for recreational access opportunities and habitat improvements.
Kansas’ Walk-In program and Wyoming’s Access Yes program are just two of the many projects facilitated by the NRCS’ VPA-HIP program, and both illustrate the importance of the Farm Bill in delivering the NWTF’s mission.
“Whether it is helping purchase large tracts of land, securing access to public lands that are landlocked, advocating in law halls across the country or amplifying states with their access programs – the NWTF works in every possible capacity to ensure Americans have increasing access to go hunt,” said Matt Lindler, NWTF Director of Government Affairs. “We are lucky to have so many states participating in VPA-HIP programs that we can bolster through our grassroots efforts.