The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced that nearly 38,000 acres of private land will be open for public access to turkey hunters this season because of a partnership between the department and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS).
With USDA-NRCS support, the DNR could partner with private landowners who lease their land for public access through the Turkey Hunter Access Program (THAP) and the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP).
In 2020, THAP added 5,200 acres that hunters can be used only during spring turkey hunting seasons. Another 2,300 acres were added to VPA-HIP for hunters to use throughout the year for hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife observation.
Spring turkey hunters interested in scouting and hunting THAP and VPA-HIP private properties available for use can find additional details and maps by following the links above. Hunters using THAP and VPA-HIP lands should travel on foot only and respect the landowner’s property.
The programs provide financial incentives such as annual leases to private landowners who open their property to public hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife observation. Eligible land types include grassland, wetland, forestland, and in some cases, agricultural land. Landowners also enrolled in conservation programs like the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE), Managed Forest Law (MFL) in closed status and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRP/WRE) are eligible for enrollment.
Landowners enrolled in VPA-HIP who complete recommended practices may be eligible for habitat-based financial incentive payments, in addition to the lease payments. Regional Public Access Liaisons stationed in Baldwin, Janesville, Hartford, and Wisconsin Rapids along with Wisconsin’s Farm Bill Biologists will coordinate a habitat plan for interested landowners.
