Agricultural News
OK Wildlife Deptartment Introduces Program to Increase Outdoor Recreation Access for Landowners
Wed, 04 Jan 2017 16:47:05 CST
Area land owners need to place Thursday, January 12th on their schedules and plan on attending the Oklahoma Land Access Seminar hosted by the Canadian County OSU Cooperative Extension Service from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
The program is administered by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Oklahoma Land Access Program (OLAP) is a new public access program aimed at increasing hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing opportunities on private lands. Participating landowners receive annual payments which vary according to enrolled acres, habitat quality, location, and activities allowed, and multiple year leases.
Jeff Tibbits, OK. Dept. of Wildlife Biologist shared with Kyle Worthington, Canadian County OSU Extension Ag Educator, "Land enrolled in conservation programs, such as the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), are ideal candidates for the program. Native rangeland, crop stubble, wetlands, and riparian areas are also considered for OLAP enrollment. Fallow and failed cropland enrolled in OLAP can help landowners mitigate operating costs and provide sportsmen with great hunting opportunities."
The program officially begins September 2017, and will offer a variety of recreational activities such as walk-in hunting, walk-in fishing, streams access, and wildlife viewing. Controlled youth hunts for antler-less deer can help landowners manage their deer herd health.
Oklahoma state laws provide that landowners enrolled in this program are immune from damages or injuries that result from ordinary negligence. Landowners can withdraw from the program at any time.
Being a part of the OLAP program is a great way to earn extra income, achieve your management objectives, and support Oklahoma's Conservation heritage.
Landowners interested in enrolling can learn about the qualifications, procedures and agreements on how to fill out an application, and/or con-tact the OLAP biologist or technician. To qualify, the applicant must be the legal owner of record or leasee with operational authority of proposed land for the extent of the contract. Applicant's land must be accessible from a public road. Landowners must also provide a legal description of proposed land, as well as evidence of property ownership. The OLAP biologist and/or technician can assist land-owners with the application process. After an application is submitted, an OLAP representative will visit the candidates' property to assess habitat and suitability for the program.
If all of the above qualifications are met, the Department will draft a lease agreement that specifies terms, conditions, and compensation. The agreement is not active until both parties have signed.
Either party has the right to terminate the contract at any time. Additionally, if an enrolled property changes ownership, the OLAP agreement is terminated. The new owner has the option of renewing the lease in the following year.
The informative seminar will be held at the Canadian County Fair Grounds Education Building, 220 N. Country Club Rd., El Reno, OK. Please contact the Canadian County OSU Extension Office to RSVP for the seminar luncheon by Tuesday, Jan. 10th.
For more information about this and other educational opportunities being offered by the Canadian County OSU Extension Center contact Kyle Worthington, at 405-262-0155.
Source - Canadian County OSU Extension Office
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