Different states WIA programs

[Alaskan swamp collies]

Just thinking. I primarily hunt MT and ND but sunk down into SD this year. I also hunt almost exclusively public or private /public lands. I am Joe Blow tightwad public hunter. So for the heck of it I’m gonna rank access in those states and please chip in on access in other states just because I might want to go there, I like new places.
MT is great, block management and now open fields means you can hunt and never have to share a field. That said a bunch of the enrolled lands were enrolled when they were in CRP and now look like a billiard table overall bird density is not great still if you like walking and no crowds great.
ND has the plotprogram. Originally they had nothing compared to SD and MT, BUT you could hunt unposted lands and with the exception of the sw where there was a lot of leased lands there were a lot of places to go. Drive along a back road, see a a draw, check the corners and if not posted hunt. Then came electronic posting. Now finding unposted land is almost impossible. The plots are still there but even though there are less hunters in the campgrounds and motels there is more pressure on plots.
Then SD back in the nineties they had the worst access, bald WIAs. But got away with it because there was so many birds. This year for the first time in years I went to SD. I was amazed at the amount of good habitat to hunt nothing like I remember.
So SD is tops, MT is okay and ND really needs to work on it.
How’s KS and Nebraska, throw in Iowa and MN.

 

[benelli-banger]

CREP is a strong program in SD, at least within 50 miles either side of the James River, which runs from ND to NE…lots of decent to real good CREP spots…it’s private land that’s in CRP, but open to public hunting…non-tox not required…

 

[Alaskan swamp collies]

CREP is a strong program in SD, at least within 50 miles either side of the James River, which runs from ND to NE…lots of decent to real good CREP spots…it’s private land that’s in CRP, but open to public hunting…non-tox not required…

Yeah I was in awe of the CREP parcels, how could not there be birds in there. I also found PATH parcels and CHAP PARCELS that were excellent habitat. Way different from years ago. I am glad to see SD upping their game for the regular hunters.

 

[Bob Peters]

Yeah I was in awe of the CREP parcels, how could not there be birds in there. I also found PATH parcels and CHAP PARCELS that were excellent habitat. Way different from years ago. I am glad to see SD upping their game for the regular hunters.

Those CHAP pieces are they for big game hunters only or require registration? I agree CREP is awesome. MN has CREP too, but it is not huntable without permission from owner. MN has WIA and Iowa has IHAP and both can be good. I hope the programs continue to grow. One thing I learned about SD build in travel time with WIA, as some are barren, others are full of good habitat and birds.

ND I think suffered the most from duck hunting over the counter licenses, and also people blabbing online, in-person, whatever about the freedom of hunting un-posted land. You probably know better than me, that ship has sailed. Duck hunting there 5 years ago, my buddy got out to ask permission where a bunch of mallards were circling, before he could utter a word the guy said "it's posted for a reason." My buddy got back in the truck and left. The more people that ask the less likely your odds of getting on private land, that's my opinion anyways.

I know around Lewistown Montana, your odds of getting on to hunt a private ranch are nil unless you fork over $$$, are a local, or have a dad who is a magistrate.