The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) received grant funds through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). IDNR received more than $2 million for the Illinois Recreational Access Program (IRAP) that was designed to encourage owners of private land to allow access to the public for wildlife-dependent recreation like hunting and fishing.

IDNR Director Colleen Callahan said, “We are very excited to receive these grant funds to continue and expand the IRAP program. IRAP is a wonderful program that increased public access in Illinois for hunters, anglers and other outdoor recreationalists while at the same time assisting private land owners with habitat improvements on their land.”

The Illinois Recreational Access Program currently leases about 22,000 acres in 49 counties for hunting and fishing. More information on the IRAP program can be found here.