Senate Introduces Bill to Increase Sportsman Access on Private Land
By Jackalope Jordan
The United States Senate introduced a bill Monday that would renew and expand incentives for private land owners to allow public access for hunting and fishing.
Montana’s own Sen. Steve Daines and Colorado Democrat Sen. Michael Bennet sponsored the bill. The Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act and Habitat Incentive Program already established incentives for landowners allowing access and improving wildlife habitat. The new legislation would continue those programs as part of the 2018 Farm Bill, according to a release from Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.
From the release:
VPA-HIP is the only federal program aimed at enhancing access and opportunity on privately owned farms, ranches, and forest lands. The program grants money to states and tribes to support landowners who enroll in the program. Since its reauthorization in the 2014 Farm Bill, wildlife agencies across 29 states and tribal lands have received $40 million to expand public access and enhance wildlife habitat on more than 2.5 million acres.
Creative Commons Photo
