Land Access Programs in your state?

[SoonerMedic]

So, I was just browsing through Oklahoma's Wildlife Department website since they released a 2017-2018 season magazine and discovered one of the most awesome things I've seen in a while as far as WMA's are concerned. I read that the state of Oklahoma was given a grant for just under $3M to develop and conserve private lands. In exchange for the landowner's granting this access to the department of wildlife, they are considering these properties "WMA's" and are open for walk-in hunting and fishing to anybody. The landowner reserves the right to shoo off anybody they don't want on their property as well. They will be rolling out a mobile map that's updated in realtime on where you can hunt and it's divided into a few different categories. General hunting (archery and gun), Archery and Shotgun only, Fishing only, and wildlife viewing only.

I'm curious as to of any other states allow this?

Also, for any of my fellow Okies, it's listed under "OLAP" on the wildlife management's website.

 

[Patocazador]

Florida has over a million acres available for hunting in the WMA program. There is also a landowner mentor program (wrong name I'm sure) for youths to hunt. However, don't get caught trespassing with a weapon on private land or it could mean conviction for a third-degree felony, up to a year in jail/prison and a huge fine.

 

[Jason_W]

I haven't hunted out west yet, but what I've heard is that while there is a ton of public land out here, much of it is 'landlocked" by private property. A nonprofit dedicated to buying easements to such parcels would be nice.

 

[MCgunner]

Texas started the APH program, formerly known as "Type 2 WMA" system back in the 80s. I did plenty of walking around some of these. They were mostly lumber company lands that the state leased for public hunt, and still do. I never shot a deer on one. If you lived in East Texas and could scout year around, maybe you could have some success, provided you didn't get shot by some guy taking "sound shots".

I ended up buying land, a lot safer and a lot more success.

 

[MCgunner]

51 percent of New Mexico is public land. There's some really good mulie hunting out there.

 

[SoonerMedic]

I understand that probably all states have public hunting land....but this is a program for property owners to earn a little money from the state in return for opening their land to hunters.