Oklahoma Land Access Program

The OLAP provides hunting opportunities throughout the state in a variety of different habitat types. Our goal is to provide users with the opportunity to pursue multiple different species across Oklahoma. Whether you hunt small game, doves, upland game, waterfowl, or deer the OLAP offers chances to chase them all. There are also several different spots to go fishing, which include ponds, streams, and small lakes.

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 Wildlife Department funds are still required as match for these grants. To cover these match funds, The Wildlife Department has implemented a Land Access Permit requirement for OLAP properties, similar to Honobia Creek, Three Rivers, and Herron Family WMAs (which are also leased properties). In addition, a hunting and/or fishing license is required, unless a person is exempt.

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.

The OLAP 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 WHIP, CRP, or EQIP to further reward landowners making efforts to conserve and sustain wildlife.

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.

Landowners interested in enrolling can fill out an application and/or contact the OLAP biologist or technician for assistance with the application process. 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.

Learn How To Apply Online

LANDOWNER BROCHURE

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.” 

Administered by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the 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 Wildlife Department 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.

In 2023, the current Farm Bill expired, and additional funds were then required to continue to keep the program running. To make up for the reduction in federal funds, the Wildlife Department had to switch to State funds. These funds are acquired by requiring users to purchase a Land Access Permit to access OLAP properties. This permit also provides access to Honobia Creek, Three Rivers, and Herron Family WMAs.

In 2025, the Wildlife Department partnered with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s (PFQF) Public Access to Habitat (PATH) initiative to provide Oklahoma sportspersons access to more high-quality upland habitat. This partnership comes in the form of financial assistance, with the goal of acquiring 10,000 new acres in the first two years. Since then, the ODWC has continued to expand, grow, and improve the program to add additional opportunities for Oklahoma sportspersons.