What is the OLAP, and How Can it Benefit Landowners?

Administered by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Oklahoma Land Access Program (OLAP) provides financial incentives to landowners who allow public hunting, fishing and/or wildlife viewing opportunities on private lands. Participating landowners receive annual payments which vary according to enrolled acres, habitat quality, location, and activities allowed.

A question many landowners have when first joining the program is – how does the program work? The OLAP is walk-in access only, so there are no vehicles or e-bikes allowed except at designated parking areas or access roads. Means of take is limited to archery equipment and shotguns, with no slugs or buckshot allowed. Landowners enrolled in the program are accorded limited liability by two state laws: The General Recreational Use Statute (§76-10.1), and the Limitation of Liability for Farming and Ranching Land Act (§2-16-71.1). Essentially, these laws grant immunity from normal, non-negligent liability, and the landowner incurs no duty of care towards anyone accessing the land. The landowner also has the right to deny access with cause, provided under O.A.C. 800-25-7-180-j.

OLAP sign with a gun a dove displayed around it — Hunting on properties enrolled in the Oklahoma Land Access Program (OLAP) is limited to archery and shotgun only, and only walk-in access is allowed. No vehicles enter the property.

Another common question is – why go with OLAP over a regular private lease? There are many benefits of joining the program beyond the lease rates that are offered. Game wardens patrol the areas, which helps to ensure that there is law enforcement available to check on the property. The OLAP staff clearly marks boundaries (both external as well as any internal “safety areas” which may need excluded from hunting access) and parking areas, while also being available, many times within a day, to come out and take care of anything that may arise (i.e. signs needing to be replaced, or a parking area needs to be mowed). The OLAP also has an option for Limited Access check-in for close-to-metro areas, which limits the total number of users each day and greatly reduces overall pressure. Roads also tend to stay in good shape since users are having to walk through the property rather than driving a vehicle over the roads after it rains, which is very common on private leases.

OLAP Sign — Properties that are enrolled in the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s Oklahoma Land Access Program (OLAP) will be clearly marked with signage, and game wardens will regularly patrol the properties. Landowners receive annual payments for their enrolled properties.

Now that you know how the OLAP works, you will also need to know what the OLAP staff is looking for in a potential lease, and if your property can qualify for the program. Walk-in Hunting Areas must be a minimum of 40 acres for consideration, have marked or easily identified boundaries, and all properties must be accessible from a public road. Our staff is looking for good quality wildlife habitat, which can be native range, forests, CRP, riparian habitat, or even agriculture which has grass or woody cover in or around the fields. We recently partnered with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, so high-quality quail habitat is one of our focuses. We are also looking to provide users with more fishing opportunities through our Stream Access, Annual, or Seasonal Fishing access. So, if you have a creek, stream, pond or small lake, you could qualify for those options.

Consider joining today, and be a part of Oklahoma’s conservation heritage. You can apply online and learn more about the OLAP here or email us at olap@odwc.ok.gov.