Enrollment Open for Michigan DNR Hunting Access Program in Select Regions

lschultz • June 17, 2021

In a June 10 Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) press release, the DNR announced payments are available for private landowners in southern Michigan, the northeast Lower Peninsula and the eastern Upper Peninsula that enroll land in their Hunting Access Program (HAP). Started in 1977, HAP is one of the nation’s longest-running private land, public access programs. By enrolling their lands in HAP, private landowners are able to earn income for allowing controlled hunting access on their property. Currently, land located in areas near urban or suburban regions that have limited public land access will be given priority for enrollment.

Priority for enrollment will be given to l ands near  urban and suburban areas with limited public access. Enrollment also will focus on:

  • Areas where the distance to public lands is over 30 miles.
  • Land with sharp-tailed grouse hunting opportunities in the eastern U.P.
  • Counties where bovine tuberculosis has been identified in the northeastern Lower Peninsula.   

To enroll in the program, landowners need to have at least 40 acres that contain wildlife habitats like grasslands, forests or wetlands. To learn more about the DNR’s HAP program and to read the most recent press release on the subject please click here .

Recent Posts

By Olivia Triltsch January 22, 2026
Michigan winters are long, but that just means fishing season doesn’t stop, it adapts to the weather. For many anglers, winter means ice fishing: drilling holes in frozen lakes, scouting for perch or pike, and enjoying fresh air with family and friends. This year, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is making it even easier to get out on the ice by holding a Free Fishing Weekend that’s perfect for both experienced anglers and folks trying ice fishing for the first time.
By Olivia Triltsch January 15, 2026
Squirrels have been part of Michigan’s forests and woodlands since before European settlement, thriving in diverse habitats from dense hardwood forests to
By Olivia Triltsch January 8, 2026
Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) are not year-round residents in Michigan, but they have a long history of passing through the state during seasonal migrations
More Posts