Landowners interested in participating in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Walk-In Access program can enroll through May 14.

WIA program landowners earn income by allowing public hunting on their private land during any legal hunting season. This year, landowners can receive up to $18 per enrolled acre.

Landowners interested in enrolling their land must meet the following criteria:

Parcel size. The land must be at least 40 acres in size or be contiguous with another WIA parcel that is 40 acres or more in size.

Conservation priority. Lands enrolled in a conservation program such as the federal Conservation Reserve Program, the state Reinvest in Minnesota Reserve Program, or other state and federal conservation programs are given priority.

Quality area. Lands not enrolled in a conservation program may be eligible if high-quality natural cover exists and is maintained by the landowner.

Proximity to livestock limited. Lands within 500 feet of a home or corral occupied by livestock cannot be enrolled unless they are occupied by the cooperator, or his or her livestock.

Accessibility. The enrolled parcel must be accessible from a public road.

Upkeep. The habitat must be maintained through the enrollment period.

Landowners or the state may terminate the contract at any time.

Since the launch of the program in 2011, over 28,000 acres of private land is open for public hunting from Sept. 1 through May 31. Hunters with a $3 WIA validation may hunt a half-hour before sunrise until a half-hour after sunset.

WIA land is for hunting only; no target practice, trapping, dog training, camping, horseback riding, or fires are allowed. Interested hunters can obtain a WIA validation pass when purchasing a hunting license. The DNR has placed bright yellow-green signs on WIA boundaries.

An atlas of hunting parcels is available online at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.