MADELIA, Minn. -
The public is now able to hunt on more private land. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is expanding its Walk–In Access program to 14 new counties.
Hunting has changed over the years due to many reasons, but one of the key elements affecting hunters today is lack of land access.
DNR Information Officer Scott Roemhildt says, "When I was young you could just kind of go down the road and ask for permission, and as liabilities changed and the ownership has changed that is become more difficult."
DNR Information Officer Scott Roemhildt says in 2011 the DNR started the Walk–In Access program to provide new hunting opportunities on private land.
Roemhildt says, "Any place that you see the walk in access signs you don't need to ask for permission you can go in and hunt."
The walk in access program is completely voluntary for landowners but they get compensation for allowing access to their land.
Roemhildt says, "It's a base of $10 per acre with bonuses that are given if the land is more than 160 acres in size, if it adjoins state or federal habitat, or if a multi year contract is signed."
The money makes it easier for landowners to use environmentally sensitive land for conservation benefits rather than agriculture.
Roemhildt says, "It helps preserve grassland we are losing thousands of acres of grassland as landowner try to figure out with the economics of conservation versus production agriculture."
What started as 21 counties has now expanded to 35, including Blue Earth, Nicollet, Sibley, Faribault, and McLeod.
Roemhildt says, "It started as a pilot program for the past couple years and we are very interested on making this a permanent program."
The DNR continues to seek permanent funding to continue the program in 2015 and beyond.
Walk–in lands are open for public hunting only, each year from Sept. 1 to May 31. Landowners can contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District office for program details and enrollments.
