Walk-In Area

Sponsoring Agency or Organization

South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks

Contact: Mark Norton

Email: Mark.Norton@state.sd.us

Phone: 605-773-3096

Program details

The Walk-In Area program leases the hunting rights on private land with a primary goal to provide the best possible free public hunting access to high quality game habitat with the available budget. It is delivered statewide by 44 local widlife conservation officers and one private lands resource biologist.

Website: SD Private Lands Access

This program applies to the following states:
  • South Dakota

    • (Click the links above to see access programs in that state.)

Program Focus:
  • Private Land Access
Program Type:
  • Access leasing (private land leasing for the purpose of allowing hunting)
  • Walk-in programs
Program Scope: State-wide
Program Restrictions:
  • Mode of access
  • Parking area restrictions
Program Funding Sources:
  • Pittman-Robertson funds
  • Hunter license funds
Is written agreement with landowner required? Yes
Download Agreement: WIA Contract 2009 CRP.pdf
Landowner Considerations:
  • Limit landowner liability
  • Post property
  • Supplies and materials provided
Cost to Participants:
  • Free
  • Program cost built into general hunting license
Landowner Payment Factors/Considerations:
  • By acre
  • By habitat quality
Maps for this Program are Available:
  • For free
  • Via the Internet
  • As hard copies
  • Available at State offices
  • Available at other local sites
Program Promotion:
  • Other
Program started: 1988

Audience

Target Group:
  • Any properly licensed hunter
Target Participants:
  • Any properly licensed hunter
Actions Needed to Use Enrolled Land:
  • Limit landowner liability
  • Post property
  • Supplies and materials provided
Planning and Evaluation

Manual or Plan

This program has a manual or plan: Yes

Download plan: PLStrategicPlan.pdf

Evaluation

This program is evaluated: Yes

Download evaluation: WalkIn 05 Survey.pdf

Metrics used to measure success and evaluate this program:
  • Number of acres
  • Number of participants (landowners)
  • Number of participants (hunters)
  • Formal after-season evaluations
  • Multi-year evaluations of participant hunters
  • Informal qualitative evaluations based on participant landowner feedback
  • Informal qualitative evaluations based on participant hunter feedback
  • Formal qualitative evaluations based on participant hunter feedback
  • Hunter surveys
  • Landowner surveys
  • Geographic distribution of areas
How effective is the program at meeting your objectives?: Very effective
Would you recommend other agencies/organizations use this model?: Yes
Program Size

Minimum Property Size: 80 acres

Acres Enrolled: 1,244,647.0

Access Sites (rights of way) Established: Yes

Number of Hunters Participating: 38% of resident hunters & 31% of nonresident hunters

Number of Landowners Participating: 1,100

Budget

Cost Type: Annual cost

Program cost: $2.2 million


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Published by

Mark Norton