A Private Land A Private Land Access Program for Access Program for

IllinoisIllinois

Mission Impossible?

Long-term Resident Hunting Long-term Resident Hunting License Sale TrendsLicense Sale Trends

0

100000

200000

300000

400000

500000

600000

1938 1947 1956 1965 1974 1983 1992 2001

Licenses

Reasons for change in hunting participation over the previous Reasons for change in hunting participation over the previous 10 years.10 years.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Loss of suitablehunting land

New interests oropportunities

Lack of ordecrease in

specific species

Too ManyRules/ regulations

Other

2005-2006 Illinois Hunter Harvest Survey

Attitudes Toward Hunting – Access to private lands is the Attitudes Toward Hunting – Access to private lands is the greatest problem facing hunters in Illinois.greatest problem facing hunters in Illinois.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

StronglyAgree

Agree SlightlyAgree

Unsure SlightlyDisagree

Disagree StronglyDisagree

2001-2002 Illinois Hunter Harvest Survey

Difficulty encountered in finding a place to hunt in the Difficulty encountered in finding a place to hunt in the specified hunting season.specified hunting season.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Deer SmallGame

UplandBird

Turkey Dove Waterfowl Furbearer

Very DifficultSomewhat DifficultNot at all Difficult

2007-2008 Illinois Hunter Harvest Survey

Review of Private Land Access Review of Private Land Access ProgramsPrograms

Review previous attempts that have been made Review previous attempts that have been made to develop a private land access program in to develop a private land access program in Illinois.Illinois.

Review what have other states have done to Review what have other states have done to provide hunters access to private land?provide hunters access to private land?

Review of the literature on private land access Review of the literature on private land access programsprograms

What has been done?What has been done?

1985 - Place to Hunt Committee1985 - Place to Hunt Committee 1995 - Access Illinois Program Developed1995 - Access Illinois Program Developed 2000 - Adhoc Deer Committee2000 - Adhoc Deer Committee 2002 - Rep. Watson’s Private Land Access 2002 - Rep. Watson’s Private Land Access

MeetingsMeetings 2008 - Deer Management Task Force2008 - Deer Management Task Force

Review of State ProgramsReview of State Programs Colorado, Small Game Walk-In Access ProgramColorado, Small Game Walk-In Access Program Idaho, Access yes!Idaho, Access yes! Kansas, Walk-in Hunting Access Program and Hunter Referral Kansas, Walk-in Hunting Access Program and Hunter Referral

ProgramProgram Michigan, Hunting Access ProgramMichigan, Hunting Access Program Montana, Block ManagementMontana, Block Management Nebraska, CRP-Management Access ProgramNebraska, CRP-Management Access Program North Dakota, PLOTS (Private Lands Open to Sportsmen)North Dakota, PLOTS (Private Lands Open to Sportsmen) Oregon, Access and Habitat ProgramOregon, Access and Habitat Program South Dakota, Walk-In Access ProgramSouth Dakota, Walk-In Access Program Wyoming, Private Lands Public Wildlife Access programWyoming, Private Lands Public Wildlife Access program

Private Land Access Program Private Land Access Program AlternativesAlternatives

Hunter Referral ProgramHunter Referral Program Walk-in Hunting Access ProgramWalk-in Hunting Access Program Commercial Land Access ProgramCommercial Land Access Program Permanent or Long-Term Private Land Access Permanent or Long-Term Private Land Access

ProgramsPrograms

What Have We Learned?What Have We Learned?

Access programs west of the Mississippi River have Access programs west of the Mississippi River have been more successful then those east of the riverbeen more successful then those east of the river

Liability is the biggest concern of landownersLiability is the biggest concern of landowners Trespass and hunter misconduct are a significant Trespass and hunter misconduct are a significant

concerns of landowners.concerns of landowners. Asking permission for access is important to Asking permission for access is important to

maintaining a positive relationship between hunters maintaining a positive relationship between hunters and landownersand landowners

Landowners that already providing access are the Landowners that already providing access are the ones most likely to sign up for an Access Programones most likely to sign up for an Access Program

What Have We Learned?What Have We Learned?

Landowners have a desire to maintain Landowners have a desire to maintain exclusive use of their property for oneself exclusive use of their property for oneself and/or othersand/or others

Rural and urban landscapes require different Rural and urban landscapes require different approaches to private land access.approaches to private land access.

A cooperative partnership between hunters, A cooperative partnership between hunters, landowners and the groups that represent them landowners and the groups that represent them is key to developing a successful program.is key to developing a successful program.

Hunter Referral ProgramsHunter Referral Programs

No direct incentives for landowner to provide No direct incentives for landowner to provide accessaccess

Risk of program serving as a brokerage for Risk of program serving as a brokerage for hunting leaseshunting leases

Economical to implementEconomical to implement Lack of success with achieving access goalsLack of success with achieving access goals

Walk-In Access ProgramsWalk-In Access Programs

Annual payment per acre ranged from $0.45 in Annual payment per acre ranged from $0.45 in Montana to $8.52 in North Dakota Montana to $8.52 in North Dakota

Most walk-in programs focus on upland gameMost walk-in programs focus on upland game Short-term programs can facilitate leasing by Short-term programs can facilitate leasing by

establishing a minimum lease price upon which establishing a minimum lease price upon which hunters out-bid the statehunters out-bid the state

Programs where the lease payment are provided as Programs where the lease payment are provided as incentive are very expensive and require considerable incentive are very expensive and require considerable manpower.manpower.

Permanent access easements are very expensivePermanent access easements are very expensive

Large Commercial Land Access Large Commercial Land Access ProgramsPrograms

Large corporations, land trusts, etc. are starting Large corporations, land trusts, etc. are starting to moving away from public leasing to to moving away from public leasing to allowing commercial interests to manage allowing commercial interests to manage huntinghunting

Concerns with how access may impact Concerns with how access may impact commercial value and income on the propertycommercial value and income on the property

Expensive long term contracts are necessary Expensive long term contracts are necessary

Traditional Landowner Incentives to Traditional Landowner Incentives to Provide Hunters AccessProvide Hunters Access

Reduced LiabilityReduced Liability Cost Sharing for Habitat ManagementCost Sharing for Habitat Management Tax BreaksTax Breaks CashCash Free Loan of EquipmentFree Loan of Equipment Federal Farm Program SubsidiesFederal Farm Program Subsidies Free LaborFree Labor