Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP)

Call your county KDWP Wildlife Biologist (county-by-county biologist phone numbers are on the KDWP Contact Us page).

Deadline text on the page: No deadline published ("Don't Delay, Call Your County Wildlife Biologist Today!").

General office

Private Lands Coordinator

The Voluntary Public Access program pays Kansas landowners with CRP or Continuous CRP contracts for long-term public hunting access on those acres, at $2 to $6 per acre per year for the life of the CRP contract, paid up front. Participants can also receive extra incentive payments for new or recently enrolled CRP.



- Quality properties with CRP or Continuous CRP contracts.
- New or recently enrolled CRP can qualify for additional incentive payments.

Payment per unit of land to do or avoid certain practices related to land management.

Easement

Lease runs for the duration of the CRP agreement; all payments are made up-front.

Published amounts: Public hunting leases range from $2 to $6 per acre annually, run for the duration of the CRP agreement, and all payments are made up-front. Participants can also receive additional incentive payments for new or recently enrolled CRP.

Contact your nearest KDWP Regional Office to learn more about enrolling your property in the WIFA Program.

Deadline text on the page: No enrollment deadline published; WIFA sites are open to the public March 1 to October 31 or year-round.

Hays Region 1 Office

Topeka Region 2 Office

Wichita Region 3 Office (closed for renovations through Summer 2027)

Dodge City Region 4 Office

The Walk-In Fishing Access program leases privately owned ponds, streams and big-river access sites from Kansas landowners for public fishing, paying per surface acre, per stream mile or per river access site. Some participating landowners are also eligible for fish stocking, habitat management, fence crossers, cattle guards, rock boat ramps or rocked parking areas. KDWP publishes enrolled waters in an annual fishing atlas and patrols the sites.



- Landowners with privately owned ponds, streams, or launch sites on the Kansas, Arkansas or Missouri rivers.
- Big-river sites need adequate launch facilities.

Access is limited to foot traffic except on landowner-designated roads; anglers must stay within 50 feet of the shoreline. Impounded WIFA waters carry special creel limits.

Published amounts: Ponds: base lease rates range from $75-$125/acre/year by county, plus $10/acre/year for carry-in boats or $25/acre/year for all-boat access. Streams: $500 to $1,500/mile per year. Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri River access sites: $1,500/site per year ($2,000/site if within 10 river miles of another public access site). Year-round access adds a 10% lease increase.

Fill out the application in the WIHA brochure and send it to the Regional Office in your area, or contact the Private Lands Coordinator at the Pratt Operations Office. The where-to-hunt page also directs interested landowners to email wes.sowards@ks.gov.

Deadline text on the page: Contract dates can be established from September 1 or November 1 through January 31 of each year; other lands are leased for spring turkey hunting only (April 1- May 31). Applicant brochure: applications are accepted year-round, but those received after July 15 (fall access) or January 15 (spring access) may not be considered until the following year.

Wes Sowards

WIHA/iWIHA enrollment contact

The Walk-in Hunting Access program leases private Kansas land for public walk-in hunting, paying landowners based on acres enrolled, habitat quality and lease period. CRP, native rangeland, wheat or milo stubble, riparian and wetland areas can be enrolled; KDWP posts signs, publishes the properties in the Hunting Atlas and patrols them. The Interactive WIHA (iWIHA) option adds hunter check-in and daily hunter limits.



- Land enrolled can be in CRP, native rangeland, wheat or milo stubble and riparian or wetland areas.
- Applicant brochure: almost anyone who owns or leases at least 80 contiguous acres can qualify, including resident and absentee landowners, tenant farmers, estate and trust managers.
- KDWP biologists review properties for hunting opportunity, size, location and likelihood of use.

Annual or multi-year leases; landowners can withdraw at any time with a prorated payment. Access is foot traffic only during the posted access period; trapping is not allowed. Liability is waived from private individuals who lease land to the state for recreational purposes.

Published amounts: Landowners receive a modest payment in exchange for allowing public hunting access. Payments vary by the amount of acres enrolled and length of contract period. Applicant brochure: maximum rates are set by county map and all rates are negotiable; fall lease payments are made around Dec. 1 and spring-only leases around May 1.

List of Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) Funding Opportunities