South Dakota Cooperative Management (Co-Op) Hunting Access Areas

Co-op areas lease whole-farm units of cropland and undisturbed habitat (wetlands, CRP, woody cover) for public walk-in hunting, while letting hunters drive on harvested cropland to place waterfowl decoys and disabled-permit hunters drive to hunt. GFP pays $1.25–$3 per acre per year depending on habitat share and vehicle rules, plus an upfront signing bonus on multi-year contracts.

• Guide: 'Whole farms units that offer a diverse mix of cropland and undisturbed habitat such as wetlands, CRP, and woody habitat'.

• 'The cooperator must be legally able (ownership or rental agreement that includes hunting privileges) to enroll offered land.'

• 'No hunting is allowed while farm machinery is present in the fields.'

Signing bonus 'must be repaid in full if the contract is terminated early for any reason by the cooperator.' Liability protection under SDCL 20-9-12 through 20-9-18.

Published amounts: Guide p.17: driving by all vehicles '$3/acre if at least 20% of the land leased is undisturbed habitat' or '$2/acre if less than 20%'; ATV/UTV-only $2.25 / $1.25 per acre. 'An upfront signing bonus is paid for multi-year contracts up to 10 years' = 1/2 of the annual payment x years.

Contact GFP landowner-program staff in your area.

Deadline text on the page: No deadline published.