LAMAR, Colo. – The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) is looking for land to lease in southeast Colorado for the 2009 hunting seasons.  The DOW’s Big Game Access Program (BGAP) is in the third year of a three-year pilot program. 
 
This pilot is focused on deer and pronghorn hunting on private lands in the following Game Management Units: 116, 117, 120, 121, 122, 125, 126, and 127.  These units are located in Kit Carson, Cheyenne, Lincoln, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero, Prowers, and Bent Counties.
 
The DOW will pay landowners to allow big game hunting access on their property — similar to existing programs that allow access to hunt small game and upland birds.
 
Eligible cover types of land for this program are upland grass or prairie habitat with a focus on pronghorn, and river bottom or riparian land with a focus on deer.  Landowners whose properties meet the eligibility requirements can receive payment for allowing hunters onto their land. 
 
Payments can range from 25-cents per acre up to a maximum of $3 per acre depending on the size of the property, type of the habitat, and number of days access is allowed.
 
Landowners must apply by Feb. 25, 2009.  A ranking process conducted by the Colorado Division of Wildlife will rate each property based on habitat quality, number of pronghorn or deer, and budget limitations.  Only a limited number of properties can participate. 
 
BGAP benefits both landowners and hunters.  The benefit to landowners is that it provides additional income.  Hunters benefit because it opens up more hunting opportunities.
 
Enrolled properties will be clearly marked with DOW “Walk-in Access” signs.  All posting is done by the DOW.  Landowners’ names, addresses or telephone numbers are kept confidential.  
 
Access to hunt on the land enrolled in BGAP is by walk-in only.  Hunters must have a valid license for the season they hunt in and buy a $40 BGAP permit to gain access to enrolled properties.  BGAP permits may be purchased at any license agent or DOW office. 
 
The access stamp will apply to Pronghorn and Deer hunting only.  Any other hunting on the lands enrolled in this program (such as small game) will be at the discretion of the landowner with permission only.
 
Following the 2009 hunting seasons, the DOW will re-evaluate to determine if the program will be expanded.  The evaluation will be based on landowner satisfaction, sportsmen satisfaction, game harvest by species, economic viability, and overall participation in and success of the three year pilot.
 
Basic information on GMU’s, locations, and ranches enrolled will be posted on the Colorado Division of Wildlife website (http://wildlife.state.co.us/) prior to the big game license application deadline.  Maps of enrolled properties will be available on the internet as soon as possible after enrollment is completed.  Landowner applications may also be downloaded from the same site.
 
For more information, or to obtain an application to enroll your land, please contact the DOW office in Lamar at (719) 336-6600.  Correspondence can be sent addressed to the Colorado Division of Wildlife c/o BGAP, 2500 South Main St., Lamar, CO. 81052.