The US Department of Agriculture is putting $21 million into 10 more projects that encourage landowners to open private land to hunting, fishing and other wildlife-dependent recreation, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) said.
The money comes through the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP), a competitive grant for state and tribal governments. This second round covers projects in Arizona, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. The first round, announced in July 2026, gave $49 million to 19 projects, bringing the total to $70 million in 29 projects.
Projects can run up to three years and will receive between $833,000 and $3 million. Sponsors may use up to 25% of the funds for incentives to landowners who improve wildlife habitat on enrolled land.
In Kansas, the state's Department of Wildlife and Parks will expand its walk-in hunting and fishing programmes, aiming for another 40,000 acres of public hunting land, 250 acres of fishing access, two river access sites and 180 more landowner enrollments.
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma will set up a new tribal access programme across lands in southeastern Oklahoma. Texas Parks and Wildlife plans more public hunting areas and days, more leased land and drawn-hunt permits, and new leased river sites for fishing and paddling.
"One of my main priorities has been expanding wildlife conservation and outdoor access through locally led partnerships," said NRCS Chief Colton L. Buckley, adding that the programme supports rural communities and helps keep "working land in working hands."
Northern Ag Network carried the USDA announcement, credited to Colton Young.
Photo: CMEarnest / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Source: Northern Ag Network
Comments
(0)