MN walk-in access program??

[brittman]

The quality of many Minnesota Game Management Areas in farm country are fair at best. The DNR has stated they often do not have the resources (people or $$) to maintain them. With that said:

What direction do those posting on this site think the MN DNR should go?

Develope a walk-in public access program such as Kansas and the Dakotas? or not?

Finance through independent fees or a special license stamp (ie those that pay can play) or with land money already in budget?

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I will start:

I would like to see MN try a walk-in access program for five years. If it works keep going - if not - live and learn.

If there is no $ in the budget, start a farmlands walk-in access stamp at $20. If half of the pheasant hunters buy it (50,000) => DNR has $1 million to work with.

The DNR can still continue to acquire land via estate donations and group fund raising drives such as pheasants forever!

[lawdog]

I haven't given this a tremendous amount of thought, but I think in this area at least, where the land is so good for farming, that the ONLY way the DNR is going to have much is when they own it. Not many farmers are going to want to open up their $3000/acre farm ground to hunting. They tile it and farm it ditch to ditch and don't have much for places left to hunt and really don't want to be bothered with open access hunting anyway. They don't get paid enough for that valuable of land. The Dakotas, where there is way more grassland and not much $3000 or $2900 or $3300 per acre ground, its a different deal altogether. I wouldn't mind having one, I just doubt it would work much around here...

[CodyDawg]

I have hunted IA, MN, SD, ND and MT. From first hand knowledge, the Dakotas programs are very poorly run. In the dakotas, the payment is made to the farmer and there is no incentive on the farmers part to make it better for hunters. However, the MT program is the opposite. The farmer gets paid by the # of hunters on his land...thus he has all kinds of incentive. Huge difference.

A problem that needs to be overcome is the deer hunting issue. Most areas are locked up for deer hunting. Other than that, a farmer might be willing, but deer hunting could be the deal breaker.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I'm confused as to what a "Walk-in" program is. Please fill me in.

[brittman]

DNR leases land on a year to year basis or maybe a 5 year basis. MN DNR could target permanent wetlands, CRP fields, CREP, etc... Could potentially double the amount of land available in the fall at much less cost.

North Dakota added a bunch of PLOTS land in 2004. So much so fast that some land was indeed poor. Some PLOT land is also designated as Working Lands - this meant that it was a mix of farmed cropland and wetlands or grassland.

Driving by some of these Working Lands PLOTs - you would swear they were worthless, but we had excellent success hunting these areas. Much better than getting "lost" in a 320 acre patch of chest high CRP.

Value of land should not be an issue, the value is only relavent when his heirs sell the land. Of course you do not target the drain tiled desert, but SC, WC, and SW Minnesota certainly has plenty of wetlands, some CRP, and other area that could offer good hunting.

I say try it for five years. If it is a success - great! If it a bust - live, learn, and move on.

[goldencasey]

I'm with you Britt. I have hunted the ND PLOTS land. It is a good program. I'd pay the extra $20 bucks in a heartbeat if it could be developed.

[Jackpine Rob]

I have hunted Walk-In land in South Dakota, and it worked out just fine for me. Basically, the GF&P (their equivalent of our DNR) signs a contract with the landowner for a year, signs are posted on the property alerting you it is open for public hunting, and a listing and atlas of all Walk In land is compiled.

The landowner is paid a set amount for participating, and is allowed to designate what you may hunt, and what you may not. Many of the landowners will only allow bird hunting, or waterfowl, or big game, or furbearers, etc. You need to get the listing to figure out what you can and can't hunt on a piece of ground.

The GF&P guy I talked to told me that when they are signing up land, they try to make sure that the land is worthwhile for hunting the species that are listed. By and large, I think they do a pretty good job. By opening up a Walk In area, the landowner doesn't have to put up with a stream of pickups through his yard, knocking and asking for permission.

If you go on the South Dakota HSOforum under Game Fish & Parks, you can download maps and listings for Walk In lands. I typically transfer that data to my atlas or plat book, and make sure to scribble in allowed species.

Last year a bunch of the ranchers in West River got PO'd at GF&P and cut off the Walk In access - I'm not sure what started the feud, but a whole bunch of acreage was eliminated out in Perkins and Harding counties. Those areas were then posted with new signs telling you it WAS NOT a Walk In area.

I think a Walk In program is sure worth a try in Minnesota. I'd be willing to bet that quite a few new opportunities would be available. One thing is certain - we won't know if we don't try!

[Guest]

Bow hunted in MT for deer and elk and got on some very good ranches in the walk-on program. Personally think all states should have a program like this.Add to the license fees to non-residents,you end up hunting on pretty good land instead of spending a half day trying to find a place to hunt.

[BLACKJACK]

I'm against a walkin program in Minnesota because I think the money would be better spent acquiring permanent public hunting lands that would be public hunting forever. Also, I think that paying farmers to hunt on their land sets a bad, bad precedent. Once Farmer Swenson sees his neighbor down the road getting paid to allow hunters access, what do you think hes going to say to the next hunter that knocks on the door? Pay me.

I've also driven by/hunted some of the Walk-in areas in SoDak. Some are very good, but others are unhuntable. One was 640 acres of chisled wheat stubbble. Another was a pasture with buffalo running around in it!! I'll bet the farmer chuckled on that one!!