In 2021, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources rolled out the Ohio Landowner Hunter Access Partnership Program (or OLHAPP).  This program, funded by the 2018 federal Farm Bill, is designed to pay landowners for allowing access to their property by individuals to hunt those acres that are enrolled.  Conversely, this program allows an individual hunter to “reserve” private property that is signed up in the OLHAPP for a day in the field.   This is the third year of the program in Ohio.

With regards to interested landowners, if you sign up your property in the OLHAPP, it is for a term of two years.  Since the program started in 2021, properties that were enrolled in the year 2021 are now eligible for re-enrollment.  The payments are made by the ODNR to the landowner when the property is initially enrolled for the entire two-year term.  These payments are on a per acre basis with the landowner receiving $30 per acre for permanent wildlife cover such as forested, wetland, or grasslands and $2 per acre for hayfield, cropland, and nurseries/orchards.

OLHAPP only allows one hunter for every 50 acres that are enrolled.  Additionally, landowners are notified by the ODNR when their property will be used by a hunter the evening prior to the hunt.  Participating landowners are free from any injury claims by users through the Recreational Use statutes and, again, when a participating hunter signs their permit.

Properties that are signed up in the OLHAPP become available for private use on September 1^st and extend until June 1^st.    In order to sign up to hunt a property, the hunter must use the ODNR website or mobile app and a property can only be reserved after 8:00 p.m. the evening before the hunter wishes to hunt a property.  Properties are available to hunt from 05:30 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. on the day of the hunt.  Currently, there are three properties in Seneca County signed up in the OLHAPP.

For additional information on the OHLAPP, see the following link:  https://ohiodnr.gov/buy-and-apply/hunting-fishing-boating/hunting-resources/ohio-landowner-hunter-access.  This site also includes a Frequently Asked Questions section, a list of properties in the program, and ODNR contacts for signing up or any additional questions you may have.  In addition, feel free to contact Rick Hassinger, Seneca Conservation District, at (419) 447-7073 for a site visit or follow-up information.