 Parcels enrolled in the Oklahoma Land Access Program will earn payments for the landowner or lessee while helping to preserve America's hunting and fishing traditions by allowing public walk-in access. (Jeff Tibbits/ODWC)
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Oklahoma
landowners can do something to help keep America’s rich hunting and fishing
heritage alive. They can become part of the Wildlife Department’s Oklahoma Land
Access Program (OLAP) and get paid for doing so!
Entering
its second year in September, OLAP is looking to build on its initial success
by increasing the number of private land hunting and fishing leases in its
inventory.
Wildlife
biologist Jeff Tibbits, OLAP coordinator for the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation, said anytime is a great time for landowners to enroll.
“OLAP
is ideal for landowners across Oklahoma, especially for absentee landowners and
those who are already enrolled in conservation programs. If they already have land
set aside for CRP, they might as well get another check for the land by
enrolling it in OLAP,” Tibbits said.
The
program uses federal grant money to increase public hunting and fishing
opportunities in exchange for incentive payments to private landowners.
Landowners who make parcels available through OLAP can choose which types of
public access they want to allow in the categories of walk-in hunting, walk-in
fishing, stream access and wildlife viewing. Compensation is variable up to $15
per acre based on the options selected, property
location, and term of lease. Additional payments have been pledged by Oklahoma
Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever if farmers choose to leave standing crops or
delay harvest.
“Just
about anyone who owns land in Oklahoma or who leases land here can qualify and
become part of OLAP,” Tibbits said.
Public
access to fishing, hunting and wildlife watching areas has become an
increasingly important issue facing outdoor enthusiasts in the past few
decades. As public access decreases, so do the number of hunters, anglers and
others who support fish and wildlife conservation. Programs such as OLAP are
operating in more than 30 states in an effort to increase public access and keep
our outdoor traditions in place.
“One
of the best benefits OLAP enrollees can get is the satisfaction of knowing that
they are doing something to preserve the American way of life, as far as
hunting and fishing are concerned, so that these wonderful pastimes don’t
vanish into history or become only things that can be enjoyed by a privileged
few,” Tibbits said.
In
addition to getting paid, OLAP enrollees get several benefits:
- Increased
law enforcement patrol by state Game Wardens and Department representatives.
- Protection
under state statutes granting enrollees immunity from normal non-negligent or
intentional liability.
- Property
signs and maps provided by OLAP, and physical marking of the OLAP area
boundaries.
- The right
to deny access to anyone with cause.
- The option
to temporarily deny access when it adversely affects farming or ranching
activities.
- The ability
to cancel their OLAP contract at any time.
Tibbits
said some of OLAP’s goals for 2018 are to increase dove hunting opportunities
near metro areas, add stream fishing areas in eastern Oklahoma, and increase
leases in western and southwestern Oklahoma.
OLAP
is made possible by a Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program
grant provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the
Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Landowners
can start the enrollment process online at www.wildlifedepartment.com/OLAP or contact Tibbits, (405)
535-7382, jeff.tibbits@odwc.ok.gov; or OLAP technician Kasie Joyner, (405)
535-5681, kasie.joyner@odwc.ok.gov.
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