An Oklahoma Public Hunting Access Initiative
Hunting in Oklahoma has an annual economic impact of $1.3 billion, and supports over 8,700 jobs throughout the state. Unfortunately, hunter numbers are declining, with lack of access widely acknowledged as a primary barrier to participation. Only 4% of Oklahoma is publicly owned, making access to private land crucial to the future of upland bird hunting in the state. Recognizing these challenges, the Oklahoma Dept. of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) developed the Oklahoma Land Access Program (OLAP) to increase public hunting access to private lands. OLAP is a voluntary program that provides financial incentives to private landowners willing to allow public, walk-in access for hunting.
Pheasants Forever's Public Access to Habitat (PATH) program, already widely successful in South Dakota and Nebraska, will now help bolster the existing OLAP program in Oklahoma. There are currently 86,582 acres enrolled in the program, but inconsistent funding has limited program expansion. To help overcome this challenge, funds raised for Oklahoma PATH will be matched with ODWC funds (including Pittman-Robertson dollars) to increase programmatic funding, that will be used to expand public hunting opportunities in key geographies throughout the state.
Program Goals
Oklahoma PATH builds on the success of the program in South Dakota and Nebraska. The program will now expand throughout Oklahoma's primary upland range, across five PATH grassland priority areas. Collectively, Oklahoma PATH will create 10,000+ acres of new grassland habitat that will be open to public access for 10 years.
Primary Objectives
- Over the next two years, enroll 10,000+ new acres of high-quality upland bird habitat into OLAP within the 5 PATH Grassland Priority Areas.
- Improve connectivity of Oklahoma's publicly accessible lands for hunters.
- Increase hunter awareness and public support of OLAP (and PATH).
- Engage local stakeholders and communities to reinforce the connection between hunting, public land, and the rural economy.
How it Works
Creating communities committed to conservation.
How to Enroll
Private landowners interested in PATH (and OLAP) are encouraged to fill out an online application and/or contact Joshua Luft, ODWC's OLAP biologist at (405) 535-7382 or joshua.luft@odwc.ok.gov.
Program FAQ's
Annual, per-acre payment rates offered through PATH (and OLAP) are based on habitat quality, property location, and hunting opportunities provided.
To be eligible for PATH (and OLAP), landowners must be willing to allow public, walk-in access to their land for hunting during all legal seasons (archery and shotgun only) from September 1st - May 16th.
To be eligible for higher payment rates offered through PATH, private lands must:
- provide high-quality grassland habitat,
- exceed 40 acres in size, and
- occur within one of the five “PATH Grassland Priority Areas” located throughout the state.
PATH (and OLAP) agreements are two years in length. In the future, Quail Forever and ODWC anticipate re-enrolling PATH properties and/or offering longer contract durations but this will be dependent on funding availability.
With the primary objective of PATH being to enroll 10,000 acres of NEW, high-quality habitat into OLAP, existing and/or expiring OLAP contracts are not eligible. That being said, creating, improving, or maintaining high-quality habitat on your property ensures that you are eligible for maximum payment rates offered through OLAP.
Yes, there are a variety of voluntary, conservation programs available to private landowners in Oklahoma that provide technical and financial assistance to improve habitat and/or address other natural resource concerns on your property. To learn more about cost-share programs available in your areas, please contact your local Quail Forever biologist, ODWC private lands biologist, or USDA Service Center.
Yes, PATH is delivered through OLAP via a partnership between Quail Forever and ODWC.
Want More Places to Hunt? Support PATH today!
The PATH vision is to develop Oklahoma as a destination for upland bird hunters and help boost the rural economy. Our initial fundraising goal of $130,000 will secure public access to the first 10,000 acres of high-quality upland bird habitat. PF & QF and ODWC intend to grow Oklahoma's PATH Initiative in future years to further increase OLAP enrollment and expand public hunting access in key geographies throughout the state. Your gift will be matched with programmatic financial support from onX Hunt and leveraged with federal grant funds to maximize your impact.