South Dakota Path Initiative
A South Dakota Public Hunting Access Initiative
Quality habitat, healthy wildlife populations and an abundance of publicly accessible lands create a formula providing tremendous dividends for hunters, families, and communities throughout pheasant country. In South Dakota, Pheasants Forever expanded this model for community-based conservation with the launch of its statewide Public Access to Habitat (PATH) Initiative in September 2023.
Hunting in South Dakota has an annual economic impact of $508 million and supports over 3,560 jobs throughout the state. Unfortunately, hunter numbers are declining across the country — with lack of access widely acknowledged as the primary barrier to participation. Less than 8% of South Dakota is publicly owned, making access to private land crucial to the future of upland bird hunting in the state. Recognizing these challenges, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (SDGFP) developed the Walk-In Area (WIA) Program to increase public hunting access to private lands. WIA is a voluntary program that provides financial incentives to private landowners willing to allow public, walk-in access for hunting.
Enrollment in SDGFP's WIA Program reached record levels in recent years (1.65 million acres enrolled in 2024-25), thanks in part to Pheasants Forever's Public Access to Habitat (PATH) Initiative. South Dakota PATH provides additional, one-time incentive payments (up to $25/acre) to private landowners that enroll new, high-quality habitat into the WIA Program for 10 years. Offered statewide, PATH targets the enrollment of undisturbed grasslands, wetlands, shelterbelts, and other forms of quality upland bird habitat. Since fall 2023, PATH has helped secure public hunting access to over 70,000 acres of high-quality habitat on private lands, and represents a key strategy to expanding the WIA Program. South Dakota PATH also provides a unique opportunity for hunters, PF & QF chapters and donors, local communities, and other stakeholders to directly support the expansion of public hunting opportunities in South Dakota, while boosting rural economies.
Watch: A Path Forward
Program Goals
Modeled after the successful community-based access initiative around Aberdeen, South Dakota (Aberdeen Pheasant Coalition), South Dakota PATH helps accelerate the enrollment of high-quality upland bird habitat into SDGFP's WIA Program, securing public hunting access for 10 years. PATH enrollments are often coupled with USDA Farm Bill programs (e.g., CRP, CREP, EQIP, etc.) and/or other habitat programs that help restore and maintain high-quality grassland cover for ring-necked pheasants and other wildlife. Click here to consult with a wildlife biologist to discuss available program options.
Primary Objectives
- Create New Public Access: Incentivize enrollment of 10,000+ acres/year of private lands into 10-year WIA Program contracts,
- Maintain Quality Habitat: Target enrollment of high-quality upland bird habitat (i.e., undisturbed grasslands, wetlands, shelterbelts, etc.) and work to maintain and improve habitat on enrolled properties,
- Bolster Rural Economies: Engage local stakeholders and communities to strengthen the connection between hunting, public access, and the rural economy.
Listen & Learn: Podcast Ep. 227 — Introducing the Public Access to Hunting (PATH) Initiative
How it Works
Creating communities committed to conservation.
How to Enroll
Private landowners interested in enrolling in PATH are encouraged to connect with their local PF Farm Bill Biologist or contact Matt Gottlob, PF's South Dakota State Coordinator at mgottlob@pheasantsforever.org.
Program Administration
Enrollment
South Dakota PATH incentives are in addition to those offered through SDGFP's existing WIA Program and are administered in a similar manner. Interested landowners will work with a private lands biologist for site evaluation, implementation, and approval by an established review team. PATH incentives are only offered on new WIA contracts (no re-enrollments at this time) and are only applied to the acres consisting of high-quality habitat. Cropland acres are not eligible unless they are being restored or converted to wildlife habitat. Program payments are administered through Pheasants Forever.
Example 1: 160-acre CRP/WIA
- PATH payment: 160 acres X $25/acre = $4,000
- South Dakota GFP WIA signing bonus: 160 acres X 10 years X $10/acre = $16,000
- South Dakota GFP WIA payment: 160 acres X $10/acre = $1,600 annually
- Annual CRP payment (based on location)
- Total Payment: $36,000 for Public Access + Annual CRP Payments
Example 2: 2,000-acres Working Lands with Habitat
- PATH payment will match GFP signing bonus for 10 year contracts
- PATH payment: 2,000 acres X $1/acre = $2,000 up front
- South Dakota GFP WIA: 2,000 acres X $1/acre = $2,000 annually
- Possible South Dakota GFP Signing Bonus
- Total Payments: $22,000 for Public Access
* These figures are for illustrative purposes only
Signage
All lands enrolled and impacted by the South Dakota PATH Initiative will be recognized with a PATH sign in addition to the SDGFP WIA Program sign on the property.
Program FAQ's
- CRP and high-quality undisturbed habitat is a base rate of $25/acre.
- Other acres will be assessed by a review team to determine quality and eligibility of the project.
- Habitat that remains undisturbed annually, outside of required habitat management practices (CRP MCM).
- Shelterbelts, wetlands, CRP, easements, existing grass that has not been hayed or grazed annually.
- All acres but cropland will be assessed, unless these are being restored.
- Land enrolled into CREP is not eligible.
- Minimum contract length of 10 years.
- There may be exceptions for existing CRP to be prorated for years remaining on contract.
- Termination of contract would require re-payment.
- Expiring WIA contracts are not eligible for PATH payments when re-enrolling for 10 years at this time.
- Existing WIA contracts are not eligible for PATH payments at this time.
No cost share is available through PATH but other resources may be available.
Yes, to enroll lands in PATH a South Dakota GFP WIA contract is required.
Want More Places to Hunt? Support PATH today!
The PATH vision is to increase public hunting opportunities on South Dakota's private lands that support high-quality upland bird habitat. Our initial fundraising goal of $535,000 will secure public access to a minimum of 20,000+ acres over the next two years. Your contribution will be matched with programmatic support from onX Hunt and leveraged with other funding sources to maximize your impact.