Sign up Now for Magic Valley Access Yes! Pilot Program

Landowners in the Magic Valley Region who are interested in letting hunters or anglers on their private land can get more than money this year. New for 2007, landowners interested in sharing access can get help with repairing a section of fence, a special habitat project or get big game controlled hunt tags, or they can get paid. "The new Access Yes! pilot program is going to be a lot more user friendly," said Steve Elam, Idaho Fish and Game staff biologist. "In the past we have always been limited by the amount of money available; now we have several options so we can customize a program for nearly any landowner and hopefully be able to acquire more access to private lands." The new program allows various forms of compensation to private landowners in exchange for hunter, angler and trapper access to and through their private lands. Landowners can choose from direct monetary payments, habitat improvement projects, access development projects, limited nontransferable controlled hunt tags within the Magic Valley Region, or Fish and Game personnel patrolling the landowner's property. "The Access Yes! Program has been a great success in the Magic Valley Region," Elam said. "Last year we had 38 landowners enroll 184,000 private acres. We continue to receive very positive comments from landowners, hunters and anglers about the program." In many ways the program remains the same. Landowners can set access restrictions and name their price for the type of access they will allow on their deeded lands through a bidding process. A local five-member committee reviews the bids and advises the department which ones should be accepted for funding. Idaho Fish and Game coordinators then determine which of the properties will best serve the hunters and anglers. Selected properties are required to have Access Yes! signage, and will be listed on the Internet with maps and access restrictions. Landowners interested in participating in the Access Yes! Program may contact Steve Elam at 324-4359.