| Finding a place to hunt is one of the biggest
concerns of hunters and NRA-ILA is actively working on multiple
fronts to promote solutions to this growing problem. One such
solution is called "Open Fields."
"Open Fields" programs provide incentives to land
owners to allow public access for hunters. The program--known by
different names in various states--provides modest payments to land
owners for opening up their lands to sportsmen in what are often
called "walk-in" programs. The program has seen great success in
states such as Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska and North Dakota, among
others. Expansion of the program to additional states provides the
opportunity to open millions of new acres to hunters.
In addition to state-based programs, federal
legislators have introduced the "Voluntary Public Access and Habitat
Incentive Program Act" in Congress. Senators Kent Conrad (D-ND) and
Pat Roberts (R-KS) are the primary sponsors of S. 548 in the U.S.
Senate, and Representatives Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) and Tom Osborne
(R-NE) have introduced a companion bill, H.R. 1351, in the U.S. House
of Representatives.
If passed, S.548/H.R.1351 would provide $20
million annually for five years to any state with an existing "Open
Fields" program, or to any state that implements a program that meets
the eligibility requirements.
This is a significant program because of the
potential it has to open many millions of acres of private land to
hunters. "Open Fields" is also important because it provides
incentives to landowners to improve the habitat for wildlife that is
essential for the future of hunting in America.
The federal program is designed to provide
immediate funding for ongoing programs, and as an incentive for
additional states to adopt "Open Fields." In so doing, the Voluntary
Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program will allow these programs
to expand as quickly as possible, without imposing burdensome federal
mandates on the design or implementation of the individual state
programs.
For more information on walk-in or Open Fields
Programs, contact the state administrators listed on the following
page.
|
State
|
Contact
|
Phone
|
Email
|
Acres
|
|
Arizona
|
Josh Avey
|
(602) 789-3624
|
javey@azgfd.gov
|
2,000,000
|
|
California
|
Tom Blankenship
|
(916) 445-3615
|
tblankin@dfg.ca.gov
|
2,000
|
|
Colorado
|
Ed T. Gorman
|
(970) 521-0233
|
ed.gorman@state.co.us
|
162,000
|
|
Idaho
|
Jeff Gould
|
(208) 287-2745
|
jgould@idgf.state.id.us
|
240,000
|
|
Kansas
|
Mike Mitchener
|
(620) 672-5911
|
mikewm@wp.state.ks.us
|
1,000,000
|
|
Kentucky
|
Rocky Pritchert
|
(502) 564-4858
|
rocky.pritchert@ky.gov
|
800
|
|
Michigan
|
Mark Sargent
|
(517) 241-0666
|
sargentm@michigan.gov
|
19,000
|
|
Montana
|
Alan Charles
|
(406) 444-3798
|
acharles@state.mt.us
|
8,800,000
|
|
Nebraska
|
Steve Riley
|
(402) 471-5420
|
sriley@ngpc.state.ne.us
|
180,000
|
|
New Mexico
|
Luke Shelby
|
(505) 476-8010
|
|
0
|
|
New York
|
Michael V. Schiavone
|
(518) 402-8943
|
mvschiav@gw.dec.state.ny.us
|
28,000
|
|
North Dakota
|
Kevin Kading
|
(701) 328-6371
|
kkading@state.nd.us
|
750,000
|
|
Oklahoma
|
John Hendrix
|
|
jhendrix@onenet.net
|
607,241
|
|
Oregon
|
Nick Myatt
|
(503) 947-6087
|
nick.a.myatt@state.or.us
|
3,871,783
|
|
Pennsylvania
|
Gary Camus
|
(717) 787-6400
|
gcamus@state.pa.us
|
4,300,000
|
|
South Dakota
|
Bill Smith
|
(605) 773-3096
|
bill.smith@state.sd.us
|
940,000
|
|
Texas
|
Linda Campbell
|
(512) 389-4395
|
linds.campbell@tpwd.state.tx. us
|
107,000
|
|
Utah
|
Wes Shields
|
(801) 538-4776
|
wesshields@utah.gov
|
20,000
|
|
Vermont
|
Tom Decker
|
|
tom.decker@anr.state.vt.us
|
100,000
|
|
Washington**
|
Mick Cope
|
(360) 902-2691
|
copemgc@dfw.wa.gov
|
3,000,000
|
|
|
George Tsukamoto
|
(360) 902-2367
|
tsukagkt@fw.wa.gov
|
|
|
Wyoming***
|
Matt Buhler
|
(307) 473-3428
|
matt.buhler@wgf.state.wy.us
|
672,000
|
|
**many agreements are at no charge but
are not mapped
|
Total:
|
|
***also includes 110 acres of lakes and
81 miles of streams for fishing access
|
26,799,824
|
|
