Private land is open for turkey hunt this spring

The Department of Natural Resources has announced that nearly 38,000 acres of private land will be open for public access to hunters this turkey season thanks to a partnership between the department and the

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.

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.

Last year, THAP added 5,200 acres that hunters can use 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.

The success and future of these programs depends on ensuring landowners’ continued interest. Hunters using THAP and VPA-HIP lands should travel on foot only and respect the 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 such as the Conservation Reserve Program, State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement, Managed Forest Law in closed status and Wetland Reserve Easements 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.

For more information on THAP, visit dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Lands/THAP. For more information on VPA-HIP, visit dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Lands/VPA.

The spring turkey hunt has six periods running from April 21 to June 1. The youth turkey hunt is April 17 and 18.

For more information on the turkey hunting season, visit dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/hunt/turkeyquestion.html.

For information on the youth turkey hunt, visit p.widencdn.net/idrhvd/turkyouthhunt.