Iowa Habitat and Access Program (IHAP)

Iowa DNR pays landowners incentive payments for wildlife habitat improvements planned with a DNR private lands biologist. In return, the landowner opens the enrolled land to public walk-in hunting from Sept. 1 through May 31. Contracts run 3 to 10 years, and the program has grown to over 32,000 acres.

• Landowner, or someone with legal authority to sign a land contract for the landowner.

• At least 40 acres with adequate wildlife habitat, or the potential for it.

• Willing to open the enrolled land to public walk-in hunting from Sept. 1 through May 31. Only hunting is allowed; no trapping or fishing.

• The landowner chooses which part of the land to enroll.

Contracts last 3 to 10 years. The landowner can do the habitat work or hire a contractor, and the DNR pays when the work is complete. Enrolled land is open to walk-in public hunting Sept. 1 - May 31 and patrolled by conservation officers. State law limits landowner liability. A landowner can end the contract early with 60 days' written notice but must repay a prorated share of the habitat work's value.

Published amounts: Flat not-to-exceed incentive rates per practice (Incentive Rates PDF). Examples: Seed - Natives (Diverse/Nesting Cover) $200.00/acre; Prescribed Burning (Grassland) $60.00/acre; Tree/Shrub Estab (Hardwoods, Bareroot) $700.00/acre; Timber Stand Improvement - Med $150.00/acre; Wetland Shallow Excavation, 14-36" $6,815.00/acre. 'If other conservation payments are involved, the IHAP incentive rates will cover the difference between the flat rate for the practice and the amount received for that practice from another program up to the Not To Exceed rates listed above.'

A DNR staff member visits the property, and the DNR and landowner develop a wildlife habitat plan. DNR staff then submit the application, which is ranked against all others received in the same 30-day period. Landowners hear back within 30 days, and accepted landowners sign an IHAP contract. Contact the private lands biologist for your area to start.

Deadline text on the page: Applications are ranked and reviewed with all other applications submitted within the same 30-day period.