Walk In Access
Rates:
Rates were simplified in 2021 (no special rates for special conditions) AND increased to a flat rate of $18 per acre.
Enrollment Period:
Enrollment period typically takes place beginning of March to end of April each year. Contact us for specific dates.
Eligible Lands
- Enrollment is limited to 47 counties.
- Hunting is allowed during legal seasons between September 1 and May 31.
- Landowners are afforded liability protection through the Recreational Use Statutes. Specifically under Sections 604A.20 through 604A.27 under Public Benefit or Function Activities in the CIVIL LIABILITY LIMITATIONS Chapter
- Must be at least 40 acres in size or it must be contiguous with another WIA parcel that is 40 acres or more in size.
- Priority is given to lands enrolled in a conservation program such as the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) or the state Reinvest in Minnesota Reserve program (RIM), or other state and federal conservation programs.
- Lands not enrolled in a conservation program may be eligible if high quality natural cover exists and is maintained by the landowner.
- Lands within 500 feet of a home or corral occupied by livestock cannot be enrolled, unless they are occupied by the cooperator or his/her livestock.
- The enrolled parcel must be accessible from a public road.
- The habitat must be maintained through the enrollment period.
- Landowners, or the State, may terminate the contract at any time (effective 30 days after written notice of termination is received).
- Contact the Yellow Medicine SWCD for more information on enrolling land in the WIA program.
Hunters:
- You must purchase a WIA Validation to legally hunt WIA sites. Visit the state Walk in Access site for more information:
-
on purchasing the validation
-
downloading the hunting atlas
-
to find a walk in access using the DNR's interactive map
-
and more hunting info
Click here: Walk-In Access (WIA) Program | Minnesota DNR (state.mn.us)