hunting access programs

Walk-in Area Program (WIA) Celebrates 30 Years in 2018

In 2018, a Legislative Commemoration was issued commending the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks and the landowners of South Dakota on 30 years of partnership to provide public hunting access through the Walk-In Area Program.

The Walk-In Area program began in 1988 leasing public hunting access from 26 landowners on 23,161 acres, and has grown to partnering with 1,458 landowners, in 2017, who provide public hunting access to 1,239,580 acres of private land.

Cumulatively over the last thirty years the Walk-In Area program has paid landowners over $3 5 million to provide public hunting access opportunities to over 23 .2 million acres.

The Walk-In Area program plays a critical role in enhancing local economies across the state as hunters spend an estimated $15. 9 million per year for the purposes of hunting on Walk-In Areas.

Forty percent of hunters annually utilize Walk-In Areas for their annual hunting experiences and opportunities.

The Walk-In Area program has been a valuable asset in the efforts to retain, recruit, and reactivate hunters.

The Walk-In Area program has been an integral part of preserving South Dakota's hunting heritage.

Thank you to the 93rd Legislature of the State of South Dakota for this formal honoring.

Introduced by: Conzet, Dennert, Diedrich, Di Santo, Goodwin, Gosch, Hawley, Heinemann, Holmes, Hunhoff, Jensen (Kevin), Johns, Kaiser, Lake, Latterell, Lesmeister, Lust, Marty, McCleerey, Mickelson, Mills, Peterson (Kent), Pischke, Qualm, Rhoden, Rozum, Schaefer, Schoenfish, Steinhauer, Turbiville, Wiese, Willadsen, and Zikmund and Senators Otten (Ernie), Bolin, Cammack, Frerichs, Greenfield (Brock), Heinert, Kennedy, Klumb, Kolbeck, Langer, Momoe, Novstrup, Partridge, Stalzer, Sutton, Wiik, and Youngberg.