Walk-In Access

Sponsoring Agency or Organization

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Contact: Boyd Blackwell

Email: boydeblackwell@utah.gov

Phone: 801-538-4776

Program details

What is the Walk-in Access program?
Managed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), the Walk-in Access program pays private landowners to allow public access to their properties. Traveling on foot, hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers can enter and use the land without obtaining special permission or paying a separate fee. This partnership between the state and private landowners helps maintain important wildlife habitat on private lands and improves public access for wildlife-related recreation on private property.

Why do we need it?
Utah’s population is skyrocketing, and many privately owned lands are being developed into subdivisions and shopping centers. As a result, important wildlife habitat on private lands is lost. In addition, outdoor enthusiasts often have trouble obtaining permission to use Utah’s remaining private lands, particularly near large urban areas.

This program applies to the following states:
  • Utah

    • (Click the links above to see access programs in that state.)

Program Focus:
  • Public Land Access
  • Private Land Access
Program Type:
  • Access (rights-of way) purchase or leasing program
  • Access leasing (private land leasing for the purpose of allowing hunting)
  • Walk-in programs
Program Scope: State-wide
Program Restrictions:
  • Mode of access
  • Number of hunters per day
  • Number of hunters by season
  • Game that may be hunted
  • Parking area restrictions
  • Time of year
Program Funding Sources:
  • Hunter license funds
Is written agreement with landowner required? Yes
Landowner Considerations:
  • Limit landowner liability
  • Increase law enforcement
  • Litter clean up
  • Post property
  • Supplies and materials provided
Cost to Participants:
  • Free
Landowner Payment Factors/Considerations:
  • By acre
Maps for this Program are Available:
  • Via the Internet
Program Promotion:
  • On-site (Kiosks, etc.)
  • Proclamations/regulations
Program started: 2007

Audience

Target Group:
  • Any properly licensed hunter
Target Participants:
  • Any properly licensed hunter
  • Upland/Small game hunters
  • Big game hunters
  • Waterfowl hunters
  • Spring turkey hunters
  • Wildlife damage control hunters
Actions Needed to Use Enrolled Land:
  • Limit landowner liability
  • Increase law enforcement
  • Litter clean up
  • Post property
  • Supplies and materials provided
Planning and Evaluation

Manual or Plan

This program has a manual or plan: Yes

Download plan: R657-56 Walk In Access .pdf

Evaluation

This program is evaluated: Yes

Metrics used to measure success and evaluate this program:
  • Number of acres
  • Habitat type or quality
  • Number of participants (landowners)
  • Hunter-days tabulated
  • Informal exit interviews with participants leaving the site
  • Informal after-season evaluations
  • Multi-year evaluations of participant landowners
  • Formal qualitative evaluations based on participant landowner feedback
  • Hunter surveys
  • Landowner surveys
  • Retention rate of participant landowners
  • Geographic distribution of areas
  • Other
How effective is the program at meeting your objectives?: Very effective
Would you recommend other agencies/organizations use this model?: Yes
Program Size

Minimum Property Size: 80 Acres

Acres Enrolled: 71,711 Acres / 8.25 miles of Stream / 13 acres of pond

Access Sites (rights of way) Established: Yes

Number of Hunters Participating: 3,058 hunters 3,123 anglers

Number of Landowners Participating: 80

Budget

Cost Type: Annual cost


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Published by

Boyde Blackwell