Over the years, one of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ more challenging problems has been how to provide public recreational access and outdoor opportunities to residents.

“The State of Illinois is mostly privately owned, around 93 – 95 percent of the property is privately owned,” Tammy Miller, IDNR IRAP Manager, said. “There are not a lot of public places for people to go.

One way that the INDR has been able to help get Illinoisans outdoors is through its recent Illinois Recreational Access Program (IRAP).

In 2011 IDNR received a grant from the US Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency, which it then used to help launch the program and open up private lands for outdoor activities.

“What we do is lease property from private land-owners for a small lease fee and they open up their land for whichever activities they choose,” Miller said. “We also offer to write a [habitat] management plan for the land-owner and assist with the implementation of the plan.”

Currently the lands are being used for youth turkey hunting, fishing, non-motorized boat access, and outdoor naturalist (birding and outdoor photography).

One of the important aspects of the program for the private landowners is the assistance with habitat restoration and management.

“Many of the properties don’t have a management plan so we provide that to them, go over it with them, and get them involved with managing the property along with our staff here,” Miller said. “The land-owner is putting time into it and learning how to take care of their land, which is great.”

Currently more than 12,000 acres has been leased for IRAP activities in counties throughout the state, including many in Central Illinois such as McLean, Fulton, and Woodford counties.
Currently the IDNR is offering youth turkey hunters under the age of 16 a chance to apply for the youth season and season 3 and 4.

Youth turkey hunting through IRAP has been quite successful so far.

Out of a total of 53 youth season applications received as of February 10th, 24 had hunted through IRAP previously.

The program has also been successful in giving those who have never hunted an opportunity to do so.

“It gives them a place to go,” Miller said. “A lot of times families want to get their kids involved, but they just don’t know somebody that owns the land to do it. This opens it up for them.”
The program has received lots of positive feedback from those who have used it.

“Even if the kids don’t actually get a turkey they are raring to go back next year,” Miller said. “They just have a great experience.”

In 2014 the IDNR received a new grant, which the department is using to expand the program, add activities, and resign landowners whose initial agreements are expiring.

This summer they plan to add activities such as small game, upland game, and wetland game hunting, as well as archery deer hunting in October.

So far the program has been a success for all involved.

“It’s a win-win-win,” Miller said. “It’s a win for the public, a win for the landowners, and a win for the habitat.”

For more information on the youth turkey hunting opportunities as well as more information on IRAP you can visit http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/.