COOP Public Hunting Access

Whole farms units that offer a diverse mix of cropland and undisturbed habitat such as wetlands, CRP, and woody habitat are leased to provide walk-in public hunting opportunity.

• Driving is allowed on harvested crop land to place and retrieve waterfowl decoys and for disabled hunter permit holders to hunt any game (see payment options below based on vehicle type).
• No hunting is allowed while farm machinery is present in the fields.
• Enrolled land is open to all hunting for the duration of all hunting seasons in the enrolled area.
• State statutes (SDCL 20-9-12 through SDCL 20-9-18) protect landowners who enroll in these programs from certain liability.
• The cooperator must be legally able (ownership or rental agreement that includes hunting privileges) to enroll offered land.

Annual Payment Options

Driving Allowed by All Vehicles

• $3/acre if at least 20% of the land leased is undisturbed habitat
• $2/acre if less than 20% of the land leased is undisturbed habitat

Driving Restricted to ATVs/UTVs (All-Terrain Vehicles/Utility Terrain Vehicles) and Trailers Only

• $2.25/acre if at least 20% of the land leased is undisturbed habitat and driving is limited to ATVs/UTVs only
• $1.25/acre if less than 20% of the land leased is undisturbed habitat and driving is limited to ATVs/UTVs only

Signing Bonus

An upfront signing bonus is paid for multi-year contracts up to 10 years.

The signing bonus is calculated by multiplying 1/2 of the annual payment by the number of years of the contract.  Example:  A 3-year contract for 1,000 acres eligible for $2/ac. would receive an annual payment of $2,000 and a one-time upfront signing bonus of $3,000 (1/2 x $2,000 x 3 years).

The signing bonus must be repaid in full if the contract is terminated early for any reason by the cooperator.