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Information for landowners
A Walk-In-Access (WIA) area is a tract of private land on which the Division of Wildlife Resources has leased hunting, trapping or fishing privileges for public recreation.
Landowners enrolled in the WIA program receive monetary compensation based upon suitable habitat and wildlife, the amount of land, and the length of time the land or water is enrolled in the program. In addition to monetary payments some landowners may also qualify for habitat restoration projects designed to benefit wildlife species.
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.
Compensation
Currently, the Division uses the chart below for a baseline to determine how much a landowner may expect each year for participating in the Walk-in Access Program. The amount may be varied depending on the limitations of the property, habitat quality, or other factors. The Division also provides discretionary conservation officer patrols and liability coverage under Utah State law.
Payments
Hunting or trapping access
| 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 |
Fishing access
| Water type | Payment |
|---|---|
| Ponds | $200/acre* |
| 1/4- to 1/2-mile stream | $1,000 |
| More than 1/2-mile stream | $250 for each additional 1/4-mile over 1/2-mile* |
| * The maximum payment for fishing access is $5,000 | |
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
