Popular Public Access Program Providing More Places

“More places for outdoor recreation please.”

It’s a common request among Illinois citizens wanting more public access for hunting, fishing and various other outdoor activities. Meeting the public demand for access to the outdoors is a major challenge faced by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

Illinois has ranked among the worst in the nation for available public land, yet is one of the most populated states. To help offset the need for more public access to outdoor areas, the IDNR secured about $1 million to start a new public access program, appropriately named the Illinois Recreational Access Program (IRAP). The program leases private property for a small stipend and provides thelandowner with a management plan written to create a quality wildlife habitat, and possible assistance in securing funds to implement the plan. Liability insurance also is provided for the landowner during the time the public is accessing their property.Young girl displays harvested turkey

Since its inception in late 2011, IRAP has leased more than 13,000 acres for the following outdoor activities:

• Youth turkey hunting,
• Pond and streambank fishing,
• Non-motorized boat launch areas on public waterways, and
• Birding and outdoor photography.

The most popular activity is youth turkey hunting. In 2014, 134 applications were received from youngsters (under age 16) wanting to bag a tom turkey on private land. This is a sizable increase from 99 applications in 2013 and 75 in 2012, IRAP’s first year.

Currently, there are 28 counties in which more than 100 IRAP youth turkey sites are available for each of the three spring season IRAP leases property: youth season and regular third and fourth seasons.

How the Youth Turkey Hunting Works

Youth turkey hunters download the application from the IRAP website and request a first and second choice of available county in which they would like to turkey hunt. Once applications are received by IDNR by the posted deadline, staff assign each youth hunter to a site. Packets are mailed out that contain an assigned IRAP site permit, a map and directions to the site. Youth hunters are required to adhere to the Illinois hunting rules and regulations, have an adult accompany them who has their F.O.I.D card and only may enter the property by foot.

IRAP leased property boundaries are marked by purple paint, fence line, field or a road. IRAP signs are posted at a designated parking area making access easy for first-time hunters.

The initial funding for IRAP was only for a couple of years. Fortunately, the new federal Farm Bill has $40 million in additional funding for public access. IDNR sought additional funding to continue, and expand, IRAP.

More information about IRAP can be found at https://dnr.illinois.gov/conservation/irap.html

Comments from IRAP participants:

It was good because without it, I couldn’t have hunted (no access to hunting grounds otherwise) — Luke Marsaglia, age 13

Absolutely fantastic! I wish the program was expanded to include other game. — Timothy Schipou, age 12