Minnesota Walk-In Access (WIA) Program

Pays private landowners per acre to open land with good wildlife habitat to walk-in public hunting and other quiet uses from September 1 to May 31. Local SWCDs enroll land, usually for two or three years, and enrolled acres get state recreational-use liability protection.

• At least 40 acres, or contiguous with a WIA parcel of 40+ acres

• Priority to land in CRP, RIM or other conservation programs; other land with high quality natural cover may qualify

• No land within 500 feet of a home or occupied livestock corral (unless the cooperator's)

• Must be accessible from a public road; habitat maintained through enrollment

• 54 counties currently participate

Landowner or State may terminate with 30 days' written notice; liability protection under Minn. Stat. 604A.20-604A.27.

Published amounts: $18 per acre payment rates! (2025 fact sheet PDF)

To find out more information about enrolling land in the Walk-In Access program, please call your local Soil and Water Conservation District office (SWCD).

Deadline text on the page: No enrollment deadline published; sites open September 1 to May 31.