A Private Land Access Program for Illinois

1. A Private Land Access Program for Illinois Mission Impossible?

2. Long-term Resident Hunting License Sale Trends

3. Reasons for change in hunting participation over the previous 10 years. 2005-2006 Illinois Hunter Harvest Survey

4. Attitudes Toward Hunting – Access to private lands is the greatest problem facing hunters in Illinois. 2001-2002 Illinois Hunter Harvest Survey

5. Difficulty encountered in finding a place to hunt in the specified hunting season. 2007-2008 Illinois Hunter Harvest Survey

6. Review of Private Land Access Programs • Review previous attempts that have been made to develop a private land access program in Illinois. • Review what have other states have done to provide hunters access to private land? • Review of the literature on private land access programs

7. What has been done? • 1985 - Place to Hunt Committee • 1995 - Access Illinois Program Developed • 2000 - Adhoc Deer Committee • 2002 - Rep. Watson’s Private Land Access Meetings • 2008 - Deer Management Task Force

8. Review of State Programs • Colorado, Small Game Walk-In Access Program • Idaho, Access yes! • Kansas, Walk-in Hunting Access Program and Hunter Referral Program • Michigan, Hunting Access Program • Montana, Block Management • Nebraska, CRP-Management Access Program • North Dakota, PLOTS (Private Lands Open to Sportsmen) • Oregon, Access and Habitat Program • South Dakota, Walk-In Access Program • Wyoming, Private Lands Public Wildlife Access program

9. Private Land Access Program Alternatives • Hunter Referral Program • Walk-in Hunting Access Program • Commercial Land Access Program • Permanent or Long-Term Private Land Access Programs

10. What Have We Learned? • Access programs west of the Mississippi River have been more successful then those east of the river • Liability is the biggest concern of landowners • Trespass and hunter misconduct are a significant concerns of landowners. • Asking permission for access is important to maintaining a positive relationship between hunters and landowners • Landowners that already providing access are the ones most likely to sign up for an Access Program

11. What Have We Learned? • Landowners have a desire to maintain exclusive use of their property for oneself and/or others • Rural and urban landscapes require different approaches to private land access. • A cooperative partnership between hunters, landowners and the groups that represent them is key to developing a successful program.

12. Hunter Referral Programs • No direct incentives for landowner to provide access • Risk of program serving as a brokerage for hunting leases • Economical to implement • Lack of success with achieving access goals

13. Walk-In Access Programs • Annual payment per acre ranged from $0.45 in Montana to $8.52 in North Dakota • Most walk-in programs focus on upland game • Short-term programs can facilitate leasing by establishing a minimum lease price upon which hunters out-bid the state • Programs where the lease payment are provided as incentive are very expensive and require considerable manpower. • Permanent access easements are very expensive

14. Large Commercial Land Access Programs • Large corporations, land trusts, etc. are starting to moving away from public leasing to allowing commercial interests to manage hunting • Concerns with how access may impact commercial value and income on the property • Expensive long term contracts are necessary

15. Traditional Landowner Incentives to Provide Hunters Access • Reduced Liability • Cost Sharing for Habitat Management • Tax Breaks • Cash • Free Loan of Equipment • Federal Farm Program Subsidies • Free Labor