Opening a Gate: How VPA-HIP Boosts Habitat

June 9, 2025

One of the core functions of VPA-HIP is its ability to support private landowners in implementing habitat restoration projects

The thrill of a crisp morning hunt or casting a line in a quiet stream often depends on something many don’t think about: access. For hunters and anglers across the country, that access increasingly comes from private lands— 70 percent of this nation’s lands, exclusive of Alaska, are in private ownership. As a result, a majority of this country’s hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation opportunities are on private land. It also means that a majority of this nation’s wildlife habitat improvement and enhancement projects sit in the hands of farmers, ranchers, and other private landowners. That’s where the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) comes in.

What Is VPA-HIP?

The Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, once commonly known as “open fields,” is the only federal program dedicated to creating public access on private lands. 

Championed by the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership’s founder, Jim Range, VPA-HIP helps states and Tribes create innovative ways of incentivizing private landowners to open their lands to the public for wildlife-dependent recreation. It is the only federal tool aimed at increasing recreational access on private lands, yet it is not nearly the most well-known of Farm Bill conservation programs. 

But it doesn’t stop at access, VPA-HIP also incentivizes landowners to restore and enhance habitat, making it a win-win for wildlife and the people who enjoy it.

With proposed funding increases to $150 million under the Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2025, this program stands to do even more for conservation and recreation alike.

Why It Matters for Habitat

While access is the headline, one of the core functions of VPA-HIP is its ability to support private landowners in implementing habitat restoration projects.

VPA-HIP encourages habitat restoration and stewardship on enrolled lands, helping private landowners improve conditions for wildlife while offering recreational opportunities to the public.

Let’s look at some examples of how VPA-HIP creates or enhances wildlife habitat:

Landowners enrolled in the Illinois Recreational Access Program (IRAP) report that assistance with habitat improvement is their number one reason for signing up. IRAP creates hunting opportunities for deer, turkey, upland bird, and waterfowl hunters on private lands in Illinois. In exchange, enrolled landowners receive a free habitat management plan, custom built for their property by Illinois Department of Natural Resources biologists. Landowners who implement these plans receive bonus payments for habitat improvements, incentivizing better habitat for both game and non-game species.

After flood damage along the Rio Grande River, the Santa Clara Pueblo used VPA-HIP funding to construct off channel ponds and make habitat improvements for fishing opportunities, restoring and improving public fishing access in Santa Clara Canyon.

On top of incentivizing access, the Wisconsin VPA-HIP provides financial assistance to landowners who create or enhance habitat through practices like prescribed burning, planting native grasses and forbs, or removing invasive species like honeysuckle, buckthorn, and multiflora rose.

Arkansas is a top destination for waterfowl hunters, and rice fields are a crucial food source for wintering waterfowl. Through the Arkansas Waterfowl Rice Incentive Conservation Enhancement (WRICE), farmers receive payments to leave rice stubble intact, rather than tilling fields in the fall, and flood these same fields during the migration. This creates incredible waterfowl habitat and hunting opportunities.

Through the Iowa Habitat and Access Program (IHAP), Iowa DNR biologists work with landowners to create a habitat management plan for their property and provide incentive payments when those habitat improvements are completed. In exchange, landowners allow public hunting access.

Hunters and Anglers Reap the Rewards

Whether you’re glassing for elk or calling in spring gobblers, healthy habitat is essential. Through VPA-HIP:

More land becomes accessible for hunting and fishing.

Game populations improve as habitat quality increases.

Outdoor traditions are preserved for future generations.

The Bottom Line

The Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program is more than an access program—it’s a key piece of modern conservation. By bringing together landowners, hunters, anglers, and conservationists, VPA-HIP helps restore critical habitats and expand outdoor opportunities across the country.

With renewed investment and continued bipartisan support, this program is poised to make an even bigger impact on the landscapes, wildlife, and sporting traditions we all care about.

Want to support programs like VPA-HIP? Urge your lawmakers to support this critical program in the next Farm Bill so that more landowners can create access, open landlocked public lands, and enhance wildlife habitat.  Click HERE to take action today.

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by: Aaron Field

posted in: Farm Bill

May 12, 2025

TRCP Applauds USDA Opening CRP Enrollment

Landowners can now enroll in the USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program, a unique opportunity to enhance habitat and water quality.

The United States Department of Agriculture announced on May 12^th that enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP, is now open.

First introduced in the 1985 Farm Bill, the CRP provides incentives and rental payments to landowners who choose to put a portion of their land into conservation cover, particularly on acres that would be more productive as wildlife habitat than they are for crops, as well as in other key locations for water quality or wildlife habitat. This gives landowners an opportunity to devote their land to its fullest potential without sacrificing their bottom line and provides multiple ecological benefits to all Americans.

“With 1.8 million acres available for all CRP enrollment this fiscal year, we are very aware that we are bumping up against the 27-million-acre statutory cap,” said FSA Administrator Bill Beam. “Now more than ever, it’s important that the acres offered by landowners and those approved by USDA address our most critical natural resource concerns. With the limited number of acres that we have available, we’re not necessarily looking for the most acres offered but instead prioritizing mindful conservation efforts to ensure we maximize the return on our investment from both a conservation and economic perspective.”

“In farm country nationwide, the CRP is synonymous with habitat” said Aaron Field, TRCP’s director of private lands conservation. “The CRP’s ability to create and enhance habitat while improving water quality makes it one of the most important federal programs for both hunters and anglers. It’s great to see USDA recognize the value of this program by prioritizing this signup.”

Many of the species we love to pursue find habitat in farm country thanks to the CRP. Without the CRP, pheasant numbers would plummet, the northern plains states would lose much of their duck breeding habitat, sage grouse in the West would be at even greater risk, and brook trout would decline in Eastern headwaters. Put simply, without the CRP, millions of sportsmen and women would lose hunting and fishing opportunities across rural America.

Learn more about the Conservation Reserve Program here, and if you are a landowner interested in enrolling, find your nearest USDA Service Center here.

Learn more about Farm Bill Conservation Programs here

by: Noah Davis

posted in: Farm Bill

May 8, 2025

TRCP Launches Video Series on Private Land Conservation and Hunting in the Mississippi River Delta

Series highlights hunting culture and benefits of Farm Bill programs

In January 2025, TRCP traveled to the Mississippi River Delta to talk with land manager Alex Harvey, founder of Legacy Land Management, about the hunting traditions of the region as well as his work to enhance the wildlife values of private property by implementing conservation measures with support from United States Department of Agriculture programs included in the Farm Bill.

“If a landowner is able to make conservation improvements on their property, they will likely be able to utilize it more,” Harvey explains. “Better conservation practices mean more rabbits, ducks, and deer. More animals means better hunting, and that means the landowner and their family will spend more time hunting there.”

Find the full series below or watch the full playlist on YouTube HERE.

The Land Manager

Harvey speaks about the elemental and communal aspects of hunting and how his own upbringing in the world of hunting and fishing led to his career in forestry. He now uses his expertise to help landowners utilize voluntary programs in the Farm Bill to enhance the wildlife qualities of their properties.

The Complex Wildlife Challenges of the Mississippi River Delta

Harvey identifies some of the complex wildlife challenges of the Mississippi River Delta, and the opportunities for restoration to increase the habitat values of the Delta.

The Importance of Private Land Conservation

Wildlife doesn’t recognize the boundaries between private and public land, so good habitat management across property lines means better hunting and fishing for all. Harvey discusses how deliberate land management creates a sense of connection and identity with people and the land.

Farm Bill Programs and Benefits

Harvey discusses the process of working with landowners and the programs included in the Farm Bill, such as EQUIP and Conservation Stewardship, that benefit and support private land conservation in the Mississippi River Delta.

The African American Hunting Tradition of the Mississippi River Delta

Harvey discusses the rich African American hunting tradition of the Mississippi River Delta, a culture that he is a part of, and the importance of private land hunting opportunities in the Delta.

Watch the full YouTube playlist of this video series HERE.

Read TRCP’s duck hunting and Farm Bill blog on Split Reed.

by: Dan Morgan

posted in: Farm Bill

March 26, 2025

Wildlife for the 21st Century: A Policy Briefing to Safeguard Our Outdoor Heritage

On March 25, 2025, TRCP joined conservation leaders and policymakers for a crucial briefing on the most pressing challenges in wildlife conservation and outdoor access

Every four years, the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP), a coalition of 52 leading hunting and wildlife conservation organizations, releases Wildlife for the 21st Century (W-21)—a comprehensive set of recommendations aimed at ensuring a thriving future for America’s wildlife and outdoor traditions. These recommendations serve as a guiding framework for policymakers, addressing the most pressing challenges in wildlife conservation and outdoor access while offering actionable solutions.

A Blueprint for the Future of Conservation

The latest edition, Wildlife for the 21st Century, Volume VII, represents over a year of dedicated work by AWCP partners. It identifies strategic opportunities to enhance wildlife conservation, sustain public access to natural spaces, and protect America’s cherished outdoor traditions. The document is designed to help policymakers make informed decisions that will shape the conservation landscape for the next four years. You can access Wildlife for the 21st Century, Volume VII HERE

A Critical Briefing on Capitol Hill

On March 25, 2025, TRCP joined key conservation leaders and policymakers in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center for a crucial briefing on W-21. Hosted by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and sponsored by leading conservation organizations—including the Boone and Crockett Club, Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants/Quail Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and Wildlife Mississippi—the event provided a platform to discuss and advocate for the commonsense recommendations outlined in W-21.

“We extend our sincere gratitude to the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation for hosting this important event and to all the sponsoring organizations and attendees for their unwavering commitment to conservation,” said Joel Webster, chief conservation officer at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and vice chair of AWCP. “By working together, we can ensure that America’s lands, waters, and wildlife continue to thrive for the benefit of hunters, anglers, conservationists, and outdoor enthusiasts nationwide.”

The briefing featured insights from some of the foremost voices in conservation policy and highlighted critical policy priorities, focusing on how sportsmen and women, conservationists, and policymakers can work together to ensure healthy wildlife populations, protect vital habitats, and promote responsible land and water stewardship across the nation.

The Wildlife for the 21st Century policy recommendations serve as a vital tool for shaping the future of wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation in the United States. As we move forward, it is essential that decision-makers embrace these strategies to safeguard our nation’s rich outdoor heritage for generations to come.

You can find a copy of Wildlife for the 21st Century, Volume 7 HERE.

Top photo by USDA

The TRCP is your resource for all things conservation. In our weekly Roosevelt Report, you’ll receive the latest news on emerging habitat threats, legislation and proposals on the move, public land access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now.

by: Zach Bodhane

posted in: Farm Bill

March 20, 2025

New Legislation Aims to Codify Highly Successful USDA Migratory Big Game Initiative

The Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act is aimed at expanding voluntary efforts to enhance wildlife habitat connectivity on private and working lands. 

This week, Congressmen Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) and Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) introduced the Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act. This bill would expand voluntary efforts to improve wildlife habitat, including big game habitat, on working lands.  

Building on the success of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Migratory Big Game Initiative (MBGI) in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, the bill would codify USDA’s ability to leverage unique cost-share, technical assistance, and payments provided under the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (GCRP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for the benefit of wildlife and agricultural producers.

The MBGI partnership has been both innovative and highly successful. In Wyoming, enrollment in conservation programs in priority corridors increased by 264% compared to before the partnership. However, the USDA is unlikely to expand this model nationwide unless the Farm Bill is updated as proposed in this legislation.

In addition, the bill will spur USDA research on virtual fencing technologies, which allow for greater wildlife movement and animal safety on livestock operations. It also provides additional incentives through EQIP for the adoption of conservation practices that conserve or restore wildlife habitat connectivity.   

“Working lands provide key habitats for migratory wildlife, including big game like elk, mule deer, and pronghorn,” said Joel Pedersen, president and CEO at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “USDA’s voluntary conservation programs need to work together to support farmers, ranchers, and other producers who create and enhance this habitat. The next Farm Bill is our opportunity to make that happen. The Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act removes unnecessary barriers to support conservation on private land that will improve habitat conditions for big game and other migrating wildlife. The TRCP thanks Congressmen Vasquez and Zinke for their leadership on this bill and urges its inclusion in the Farm Bill.”

TRCP is excited about the Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act because it helps complement successful public land corridor conservation efforts with the long track record of voluntary, incentive-based conservation on private land promoted through the Farm Bill. We appreciate the leadership of Congressmen Vasquez and Zinke and hope to see this common-sense bill included in the next Farm Bill as it is a clear win-win for agricultural producers and wildlife.  

Learn more about Farm Bill conservation programs HERE