75th - Landowners and Sportsmen Partnerships

Nearly 70 percent of Idaho is in public ownership and provides tremendous recreational opportunities for sportsmen and the general public. Yet, it is no surprise the remaining 30 percent that is in private ownership is some of the most productive and desirable land in the state. The original settlers of Idaho were smart; they settled the most fertile valleys and areas with abundant water. Jump forward a hundred years and sportsmen and the public recognize the importance of these private properties and the need for partnerships between sportsmen and landowners. Whether it is working together to give sportsmen access to private and public lands or working together to improve these areas for wildlife, partnerships are critical. Improving habitat for wildlife and sportsmen access to private lands relies on a vast interconnected web of partnerships. They include activities with landowners, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, non-profit conservation groups and sportsmen groups. Together these relationships have resulted in a number of impressive accomplishments. These include hundreds of thousands of acres enrolled in USDA conservation programs, hundreds of acres of wetlands restored on private land and over 80,000 acres of conservation easements being placed on private lands in Idaho in just the last 3 years. For more on this and other 75th Celebration stories, go to http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/75th.