New walk-in hunting program readies for fall

So far landowners have enrolled about 7,700 acres in Minnesota's new walk-in hunting program, which will provide hunters free access to private lands. Landowners in 21 southwestern Minnesota counties have until Friday to enroll land in the program. DNR officials earlier had hoped to have up to 10,000 acres by this fall, but now likely will fall short of that. "Ten thousand acres was a bit ambitious,'' said Marybeth Block, walk-in program coordinator. She said about 8,500 acres could be enrolled by the shut-off date. "We're pretty happy. That will be a decent start,'' she said. The three-year pilot program, which pays landowners $10 to $13 per acre to allow access, is expected to grow. The DNR wants to enroll 25,000 acres by 2012 and 50,000 acres by 2013. Crews are expected to start putting up signs on the enrolled lands beginning Aug. 22, Block said. Interested landowners can sign up at their local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) office. To be eligible, landowners must enroll a minimum of 40 acres that are currently enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Reinvest In Minnesota or Wetlands Reserve Program. The program is funded by $2.7 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Voluntary Public Access Program. Only walk-in hunting traffic is allowed on enrolled acres, which are not open to trapping, trap shooting, dog training or activities other than hunting. No vehicle traffic is allowed. Parking is along roads or in designated parking areas. Landowners who enroll 160 or more acres receive a bonus. Bonuses also are paid if the land is within one-half mile of other public hunting land, such as a wildlife management area or waterfowl production area. Landowners who sign multi-year contracts also are eligible for bonuses.

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