To encourage owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch, or forest land to voluntary make that land available to public access for hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-dependent recreation…

This federal Project Grant award of $467,244.38 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) under the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (CFDA 10.093) aims to encourage private landowners in Illinois to voluntarily make their farm, ranch, or forest land available for public access to hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-dependent recreation. The award will fund initiatives by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to develop or expand state-level public access programs that provide financial incentives to private landowners to open their lands for these recreational activities. The project period runs from July 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026. As a multi-faceted state government agency, IDNR has extensive experience managing federal grants for various wildlife conservation and natural resource management programs across Illinois.

To encourage owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch, or forest land to voluntary make that land available to public access for hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-dependent recreation in the state of illinois.