The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) Walk-In Access (WIA) program enrollment is now open through April 15. Landowners who enroll into WIA can earn income by allowing public hunting on their private land during any legal hunting season. Landowners can receive up to $18 per enrolled acre.
Landowners who are interested in enrolling their land, must meet the following criteria:
Must be at least 40 acres in size or it must be contiguous with another WIA parcel that is 40 acres or more in size.
Priority is given to lands enrolled in a conservation program such as the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) or the state Reinvest in Minnesota Reserve Program (RIM), or other state and federal conservation programs.
Lands not enrolled in a conservation program may be eligible if high quality natural cover exists and is maintained by the landowner.
Lands within 500 feet of a home or corral occupied by livestock cannot be enrolled, unless they are occupied by the cooperator or his/her livestock.
The enrolled parcel must be accessible from a public road.
The habitat must be maintained through the enrollment period.
Landowners, or the State, may terminate the contract at any time (effective 30 days after written notice of termination received).
If you are interested in enrolling or have questions, please contact the Stearns County SWCD office at 320.251.7800 ext. 3. or via email at info@StearnsCountySWCD.net. Our office works directly with landowners for program enrollment. An atlas of hunting parcels is available online at https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/walkin/index.html.
The Walk-In Access program funding includes a grant awarded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under number 69-3A75-16-509; a one-time appropriation from the MN State Legislature in 2012; a $5 surcharge on nonresidents hunting license; and donations made by hunters purchasing hunting license.
(Front cover photo: MN DNR)
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