The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has secured a significant financial boost for its efforts to maintain public access to private lands for hunting and fishing. The agency received a $1.65 million federal grant designed to expand the “Access Yes!” program, which compensates willing landowners who open their properties to hunters and anglers.
Federal Funding Supports Landowner Incentives
The funding comes through the 2026 Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP), a federal initiative administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The program is funded under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, marking another instance of federal dollars supporting state conservation goals.
Access Yes! operates on a simple premise: landowners receive financial compensation to allow public access for hunting and angling activities. As of August 2026, the program has enrolled 328,000 acres of private property across Idaho. This network of accessible land remains critical for residents in rural communities like Sandpoint, Priest River, and Clark Fork, where private ownership dominates much of the landscape.
Idaho Fish and Game officials indicated that the new grant will be used to increase the number of enrolled acres over the next three years. Additionally, the agency plans to offer more competitive lease rates to current participants, aiming to retain existing partners while attracting new landowners to the program.
Addressing Shrinking Hunting Opportunities
The expansion comes at a time when access to private lands for hunting has become increasingly difficult. Oelrich, an official with Idaho Fish and Game, highlighted the challenges facing hunters in the modern landscape.
“Hunters and Idaho Fish and Game are dealing with less private land to hunt on these days, driven by economic pressures, other hunting access markets, and changing land use,” Oelrich told the Bonner County Daily Bee. “The good news is that with solid state and federal incentive programs working together, we can keep hunting access growing, support landowners and rural communities, and help conserve habitat.”
The quote underscores a broader trend in Idaho: as property values rise and development pressures mount, fewer landowners are willing to allow public access without compensation. The Access Yes! program serves as a bridge between recreational users and private property owners, ensuring that traditional outdoor activities remain viable.
Beyond Hunting: Wildlife Viewing Projects
While the majority of the grant supports hunting and angling access, a portion will also fund wildlife viewing initiatives. Specifically, some funds are directed toward a project in Teton Valley focused on sandhill cranes and waterfowl habitat. This dual approach allows the state to support both harvest-based recreation and non-consumptive wildlife observation.
Access Yes! is one of several programs Idaho Fish and Game uses to manage public access. It operates alongside the State Endowment Access program and the Large Tracts Program, each targeting different types of landowners and access scenarios. Together, these initiatives form a comprehensive strategy to preserve hunting and fishing opportunities across the state.
What Comes Next
Over the next three years, Idaho Fish and Game will begin implementing the expanded Access Yes! program. Landowners in Bonner County and elsewhere can expect to see updated lease rates and new enrollment opportunities. For hunters and anglers, this translates to more options for accessing private lands that were previously closed to the public.
The success of the program will depend on continued participation from landowners and sustained federal funding. As long as the VPA-HIP remains active, Idaho Fish and Game can maintain its investment in private land access, ensuring that future generations have opportunities to hunt and fish on Idaho’s diverse landscapes.