USDA Adds $21M More for Walk-In Hunting and Fishing Land

The USDA just put another $21 million into opening up private land for hunters and anglers, and if you've ever walked in on a state access area, this is the program that made it possible.

Key points

• New funding: NRCS announced $21 million for 10 new Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) projects, covering Arizona, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.
• Running total: Combined with $49 million awarded in July for 19 projects, NRCS has put $70 million into 29 state and Tribal access programs this year.
• Beats the Farm Bill: TRCP notes that $70 million in one year tops what the 2018 Farm Bill provided for VPA-HIP over its entire five-year run.
• What it's for: VPA-HIP, around since 2008, pays landowners to open gates to hunters and anglers, covering liability and habitat costs along the way.
• Shaky history: The program went without reliable funding after the 2018 Farm Bill expired, and was only restored through the 2025 budget reconciliation law.

Quick take

More walk-in acres and river access is good news for anyone tired of fighting for a spot on crowded public ground. TRCP argues the program pays for itself many times over through rural recreation spending, and the funding history here shows why consistent money matters more than one big check — these programs need landowners to trust they'll still exist next season.

Read the full story: trcp.org