A Private Land Access Program for Illinois Mission Impossible?

Long-term Resident Hunting License Sale Trends

Reasons for change in hunting participation over the previous 10 years Illinois Hunter Harvest Survey

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

Difficulty encountered in finding a place to hunt in the specified hunting season Illinois Hunter Harvest Survey

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

What has been done? Place to Hunt Committee Place to Hunt Committee Access Illinois Program Developed Access Illinois Program Developed Adhoc Deer Committee Adhoc Deer Committee Rep. Watsons Private Land Access Meetings Rep. Watsons Private Land Access Meetings Deer Management Task Force Deer Management Task Force

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

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

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

What Have We Learned? Landowners have a desire to maintain exclusive use of their property for oneself and/or others 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. 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. A cooperative partnership between hunters, landowners and the groups that represent them is key to developing a successful program.

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

Walk-In Access Programs Annual payment per acre ranged from $0.45 in Montana to $8.52 in North Dakota Annual payment per acre ranged from $0.45 in Montana to $8.52 in North Dakota Most walk-in programs focus on upland game 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 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. Programs where the lease payment are provided as incentive are very expensive and require considerable manpower. Permanent access easements are very expensive Permanent access easements are very expensive

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 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 Concerns with how access may impact commercial value and income on the property Expensive long term contracts are necessary Expensive long term contracts are necessary

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