06/10/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/10/2021 14:07
The Michigan Department of Natural ResourcesHunting Access Program is enrolling private propertyin portions of thesouthern and northeasternLower Peninsula, as well as the eastern Upper Peninsula.
To enroll, landowners should haveat least 40 acresof landwith somewildlife habitat(forest, brush, grassland and/or wetland).
Priority for enrollment will be given to lands near urban and suburban areas with limited public access. Enrollment also will focus on:
There are 46 counties in the Lower Peninsula eligible for enrollment. A map of counties with enrollment opportunities can be found at Michigan.gov/HAP.
The Hunting Access Program is one of the nation's longest-running dedicated private-land, public-access programs. Since 1977, HAP has provided private landowners another option to earn income from their land for allowing controlled huntingaccess.
Benefits to landownersinclude:
Most counties have local conservation district staffavailable to assist with enrollment and help landownerslearn what they could earn fortheir land.Enrollment will remain open through Sept. 1.
There are no extra costs for hunters to use HAP lands, but they are responsible for reviewing rulesfor each propertythey plan to hunt(available online), checking inat the propertybefore each day of hunting and respecting the landowners'property.
Questions about enrollment? Contact Mike Parker at 517-898-3293or DNR-HAP@Michigan.gov.