ATTENTION Cimarron, Texas, Woodward, Major, and Woods County Hunters!
To monitor CWD presence, hunters should read the Selective Surveillance Area (SSA) rules and regulations.
SSA Rules & Regulations
OLAP Hunting Regs OLAP Fishing Regs Check-in (Limited Access Only) Subscribe to OLAP Email Newsletter
- Information
Administered by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, The Oklahoma Land Access Program (OLAP) provides financial incentives to landowners who allow public access for hunting, fishing, stream access, and wildlife viewing opportunities on private lands. It began when the ODWC received a $2.26 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as part of the 2014 Farm Bill, through the Voluntary Public Access – Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). VPA-HIP programs are successful at simultaneously rewarding conservation on private lands and providing more opportunities for sportspersons. Since that time, ODWC has grown, expanded, and improved the program to add additional opportunities.
A core principle of the OLAP is to increase walk-in access opportunities for hunting, fishing, stream access, and wildlife viewing. This goal compliments a main tenant of the North American Conservation Model: that every citizen has an opportunity, under the law, to hunt and fish. The democratic foundation of this conservation model has made it the most successful in the world, and the OLAP seeks to increase access for multiple opportunities throughout the state.
Another core principle of the OLAP is to include and reward conservation-minded landowners. American conservationist Aldo Leopold said that “Conservation will ultimately boil down to rewarding the private landowner who conserves the public interest”. The program is designed to give landowners the flexibility to maintain their current farming or ranching practices while providing outdoor recreational opportunities. Enrolled landowners will be compensated based on enrolled acres, location, access type, and contract length. Additional compensation is available for properties enrolled in conservation programs, such as CRP, to further reward landowners making efforts to conserve and sustain wildlife. In addition, a bonus is available to multiple landowners to form local cooperatives to provide multiple opportunities in an area.
Almost anyone who owns or leases land can qualify, and ideal properties include CRP-enrolled grassland, native rangeland, weedy crop stubble, forests, riparian corridors, wetland areas, and wildlife-friendly field buffers. Once enrolled, property boundaries are posted with signs, and parking areas (if present) will have informational signs indicating access dates and allowed activities. Enrolled landowners are accorded limited liability by existing state laws, and game wardens will periodically patrol OLAP properties. Landowners retain the right to temporarily deny access while ranching or agricultural activities are occurring. Access is limited to foot traffic only, and vehicles are prohibited.
Properties in OLAP are NOT owned by ODWC, instead ODWC pays a lease price annually. While ODWC has grant funds to help pay these leases, some Agency funds are still required as match for these grants. To cover these match funds, ODWC has implemented a Land Access Permit requirement for OLAP properties, similar to Honobia Creek & 3 Rivers WMAs (which are also leased properties). In addition, a hunting and/or fishing licenses is required, unless a person is exempt.
- Newsletter
- Turkey Season Opens April 16
- New Faces
- OLAP Limited Access
- Wildlife License Modernization Act and Changes to the OLAP
For an archive of OLAP Newsletters click here.
- Landowner Information
Landowners interested in enrolling can fill out an application and/or contact the OLAP biologist or technician. To qualify, the applicant must be the legal owner of record, representing the legal owner of record, or lessee with operational authority of proposed land for the extent of the contract. Applicant’s land must be accessible from a public road. The minimum parcel size for hunting properties is 40 acres. The OLAP biologist and/or technician can assist landowners with the application process.
How OLAP Works
A Land Access Permit is required to access all OLAP properties.
To purchase a Land Access Permit go to GoOutdoorsOklahoma.com and search for "Land Access Permit" under Licensing.
Funds from the sale of this permit will be used as match for the federal funding grant for the program.
OLAP properties are broken down into several different types, each with its own set of regulations and allowable activities. Here's a breakdown of each type:
- Walk-in Hunting Area: Archery/Shotgun Only
These areas make up the majority of properties enrolled in the OLAP and do not require check-in beforehand to access. Open to all hunting seasons besides elk season, hunters may access these properties from September 1st – May 16th. Hunters may pursue game with archery equipment or shotgun (not shot size larger than T shot); centerfire rifles or pistols (arrow rifles are considered rifles), rimfire rifles or pistols, and muzzleloaders are prohibited.
*** Online check-in is not required.
- Limited Access
Online check-in required before accessing these properties. Restricts the number of hunters that may access a property at a given time, which provides a better experience to hunters and property owners in high-traffic areas. Open to all hunting seasons besides elk season, hunters may access these properties from September 1st – May 16th. Hunters may pursue game with archery equipment or shotgun (not shot size larger than T shot); centerfire rifles or pistols (arrow rifles are considered rifles), rimfire rifles or pistols, and muzzleloaders are prohibited.
Limited Access walk-in areas are subject to the same regulations as Archery/Shotgun Only walk-in areas.
Additional Information:
- Limited Access is now a daily check-in (no more drawings) on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- Check-in for a specific day opens 2 days before that day at 8:00 am.
- The number of available spots will shift according to the hunting season. For example, a tract might allow more hunters on the tract during dove season in September versus duck season in December.
- Walk-in Fishing Area
Catch and release fishing only. No more than three rods per person and three hooks per line. Seasonal fishing areas are available on some currently enrolled Walk-in Hunting Areas and open up to public fishing after the hunting season from May 17th – August 31st. Annual Fishing Areas are open year-round.
*** Online check-in is not required.
- Walk-in Stream Area
Stream access areas provide the public access to a stream corridor for fishing, swimming and/or launching/retrieving non-motorized boats. Sportspersons must remain in the designated stream corridor. These areas are open year-round.
*** Online check-in is not required.
- Wildlife Viewing Area
Available to the public for non-hunting activities. These areas are open year-round for viewing wildlife or hiking. Trapping, hunting, and fishing are prohibited, unless designated otherwise.
*** Online check-in is not required.
The OLAP Map Directory is a web app that can be accessed via desktop, tablet, or mobile devices. The app includes real-time maps of OLAP walk-in areas, including details such as parking areas, boundaries, access type, access dates, habitat descriptions, possible species present, and photographs. These maps will be updated by 6:00 pm of the preceding day to reflect the temporary closure of specific walk-in areas
Please note that the only accurate, up-to-date digital mapping service available for the OLAP is the OLAP Map Directory administered by the ODWC. Third-party apps display static information that may be weeks out of date. Sportspersons are strongly advised to use the OLAP Map Directory as a primary source of information for Walk-in Areas.
ArcGIS Field Maps App for Smartphones and Tablets
Use the free ArcGIS Field Maps App to bring the OLAP Walk-in Areas to your mobile device (data signal required). Once the app is installed on your device, search the Maps for "OLAP" and select Public OLAP Web Map".
Please note: This app requires a cellular signal. This is the best option for viewing the OLAP Map Directory in the field.
Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
How to use the Oklahoma Limited Access Check-In
Check-in is required if you see this icon in the area where you plan to hunt.
The accompanying video shows how to access property with limited access that are part of the Oklahoma Land Access Permit or walk-in areas that allow you to hunt private lands for free.
Sign up for OLAP Email Newsletter
This material is based upon work supported by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under number 69-3A75-16-513. All opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.