Idaho opening private lands

Idaho hunters are pretty much spoiled with 20.5 million acres of national forests, virtually all of it open to hunting without ever having to knock on a door and ask permission for hunting privileges.

But national forests are only one of many options for hunting in Idaho.

Since it debuted last year, the Idaho Fish and Game Department’s Access Yes! program has opened more than 240,000 acres of private land to public hunting, Brad Compton, Idaho Fish and Game Department program manager in Boise said Monday.

The program is modeled after those in other states, such as Montana’s Block Management, and compensates landowners for granting public access. In its second year, the program has grown to include 70 landowners.

The money — $270,000 has been raised and spent on the program this year — comes from sportsman’s license and tag fees and raffle tickets for special hunts.

“This is just the beginning,” said Compton. “Our goal is to have a million acres of private land in the program, but we’ll have to generate a million dollars to make it work.”

The department has given high priority to enrolling private lands that also unlock access to previously land-locked public lands. More than 250,000 acres of previously inaccessible public land have been opened to the public, Compton said, adding that the department is now focusing on small-game and waterfowl hunting opportunities.Several Panhandle areas have been added to the program this year:

• 1,840 acres of private forest and cropland near Bonners Ferry.

• 7,500 acres of Forest Capital timberland in the Trout Creek area (Game Unit 6) near St. Maries.

• 18,000 acres of Forest Capital Timberland in the John Creek area (Game Unit 5) near Tensed.