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Information for landowners
Walk-in-Access (WIA) areas are tracts of private land which the Division of Wildlife Resources leases for the purpose of providing free public access for fishing, hunting or trapping.
Landowner qualifications
In order to qualify for the WIA program, the property must provide suitable habitat that can support the wildlife species and the intended wildlife activities.
There is no minimum acreage requirement, but the land or water area must be contiguous and practical to use. The landowner must also be able to provide a parking area suitable for expected visitors. WIA property leases may also be created if a corridor can be established which opens public land, which is otherwise inaccessible to the public.
Additional details can be found in DWR Administrative Rule R657-56, which governs the WIA program.
Compensation
Landowners enrolled in the WIA program receive monetary compensation based upon suitable habitat and wildlife, the amount of land or water made available, quality of opportunities, and the length of time of an agreement. In addition to, or in lieu of annual monetary payments, some landowners may also qualify for habitat restoration projects designed to benefit wildlife species.
Discretionary conservation officer patrols and liability coverage under Utah State law are also benefits to participating Walk-in Access landowners.
Payments
Fishing access
| Water type | 1-year contract* | 5-year contract* |
|---|---|---|
| Ponds/reservoirs | $200/acre | $240/acre |
| Stream length, ¼–½ mile | $1,000 | $1,200 |
| +$250 for each additional ¼ mile | +$300 for each additional ¼ mile | |
| *Maximum annual payment for a fishing WIA property is $5,000 per year | ||
Hunting or trapping access
Landowners finalizing WIA hunting or trapping contract agreements on or after April 1, 2021, are negotiated according to the following format:
- Each hunting or trapping property receives a standard annual base payment of $440 plus $1.10 per acre — with a maximum annual payment of $5,000 per year.
- As outlined in a cooperative contract, landowner payments may be reduced from the standard rate for landowner-imposed reductions of opportunities, seasons, species or other special restrictions.
WIA hunting or trapping contract agreements finalized prior to April 1, 2021, were negotiated under the following payment rates:
| Land acres | Base rate | 2 years (per year) | 3 years (per year) | 4 years (per year) | 5 years (per year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80–250 | $401 | $421 | $440 | $461 | $480 |
| 251–500 | $522 | $548 | $574 | $600 | $626 |
| 501–650 | $693 | $728 | $762 | $797 | $832 |
| 651–999 | $924 | $970 | $1,016 | $1,063 | $1,109 |
| 1,000–2,499 | $1,386 | $1,455 | $1,525 | $1,594 | $1,663 |
| 2,500–4,999 | $1,617 | $1,698 | $1,779 | $1,860 | $1,940 |
| 5,000-plus | $1,848 | $1,940 | $2,033 | $2,125 | $2,218 |
Contact us
Landowners that are interested may contact the regional WIA program managers for more information:
- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Northern Region
- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Central Region
- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Northeastern Region
- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Southeastern Region
- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Southern Region
