Nebraska was not a state I had frequented in search of upland birds, and that was primarily for one reason: There was a nearly complete lack of public lands, save for a few large pieces. I had chased deer and turkeys on private land, but without access to many acres of quality, publicly accessible lands, it can make for slow days afield behind a bird dog. However, there are big things brewing across the uplands—and it was for that reason that I was headed south. The plan: head to western Nebraska in search of prairie chickens , pheasants , and quail .
The Nebraska Community Access Partnership (NCAP) was precisely the reason I was making this journey. With more than 45,000 acres newly enrolled into walk-in access, I knew our odds of having the fields to ourselves in December were almost guaranteed. With eight-plus hours ahead of us, my hunting companion, Simon, and I aimed to pit stop halfway through our journey in the Sandhills to see if the prairie grouse would play—or if they’d spot us from counties away and vanish out of shotgun range. We eyed a piece of Open Fields and Waters land and dropped all five dogs—my pointer, setter, and Drahthaar, and Simon’s two setters. If nothing else, it would be entertaining chaos. But then, the telltale vibration—dog on point. Simon walked in as a pair of chickens went up. A snapshot later, we had a big boomer in our bag. Another quick turn, another bird. Within the hour, we had temporarily scratched the itch and pointed our steel pony southward for the final destination.
The next morning, we were greeted by an NCAP sign. Behind it, a rolling prairie dropped into a creek bed, flanked by corn. All the right ingredients. What we didn’t expect was a covey of bobwhites that far west. The flush of a pheasant is one thing, but a covey of quail is like a swarm of bees erupting underfoot. There were shots fired but no feathers cut. We flushed 15+ roosters, and while many escaped, we managed to add a few to our vests. The real takeaway: We had it all to ourselves. We didn’t see another bird hunter in four days.
When we turned east to head home, Simon told me he’d never shot a bobwhite. After a little mental math, I figured a 3:30 a.m. arrival at home was worth the sacrifice. Again, we hit the maps and found a textbook draw surrounded by ag fields. Little to no state or federal land within 30 miles—but plenty of private land opened via Open Fields and Waters.
It had the magic ingredients for quail. The aerial imagery showed patches of brushy cover scattered throughout the draw, and the surrounding milo fields sweetened the pot. We dropped Juniper, Simon’s seasoned setter, and my veteran pointer—two dogs who had logged countless braces together all across the country. It didn’t take long. We worked opposite sides of the draw, and within minutes, I heard a pair of shots ring out. I hustled over the ridge to see a head shake, as the covey rise was too much to handle. Juniper locked up again at the edge of the milo field, where tumbleweeds pressed into the brush of the draw. Simon moved in toflush but couldn’t produce a bird. However, Junie wasn’t convinced. I motioned for Simon to walk right off her nose, and sure enough, they erupted skyward. The covey just kept coming. Simon pulled up and doubled on the rise. We hooted and hollered under the winter sun, soaking in the moment before heading back north.
The P.A.T.H program is made possible by pheasants forever, onX hunt, and other industry partners. (Photo courtesy of Aaron Black-Schmidt) What is the P.A.T.H Program? These experiences weren’t always possible just a few years ago. But that’s changing thanks to the expanded Public Access to Habitat (P.A.T.H.) initiative by Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, and partners like onX Hunt. It’s part of amovement to unlock the potential of private lands, improve upland habitat, and ensure that future generations of hunters have access to wild places and wild birds.
Voluntary Public Access (VPA) programs—administered by state or tribal governments—offer incentives for landowners to open their properties to public hunting. These programs aren’t new, but what’s happening in places like Nebraska and South Dakota represents the next generation of innovation and investment in access and habitat.
In South Dakota, the P.A.T.H. program launched in 2023 with the goal of opening 10,000 acres in its first year. Thanks to a community-driven model and seed funding from onX Hunt, it hit that milestone. The hook? An additional $25 per acre incentive for landowners. And the momentum is real: inspired by P.A.T.H., Nebraska launched NCAP in 2024, supported by the Nebraska Environmental Trust, Pheasants Forever, and onX Hunt. Already, NCAP has enrolled over 45,000 acres in its Open Fields and Waters program.
But P.A.T.H. isn’t stopping there. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, with support from onX Hunt, have announced plans to scale the P.A.T.H. model nationally, building on the momentum started in South Dakota and Nebraska to accelerate community-based access across the country. The goal is ambitious: to create hundreds of thousands of new, publicly accessible acres, focusing on habitat-rich regions where opportunity exists. What’s clear is that this model has proven effective—not only for habitat and access, but for rallying communities around a shared goal. By tapping into local leadership, leveraging creative funding mechanisms, and building trust with landowners, P.A.T.H. is setting the standard for how scalable, community-led conservation can unlock new possibilities for hunters and wildlife alike.
Public access programs open millions of acres for public hunting and recreation each year. Why the P.A.T.H Program Matters A lot of the interesting insights and geospatial data analysis regarding the scale and impact of private access programs comes from the onX Hunt Private Land, Public Access report, which sheds light on how these programs function and why they matter. From walk-in acres opened, to landlocked parcels now accessible; the numbers tell a compelling story—when we invest in habitat and access, the payoff ripples far beyond the field.
More than 60 percent of all land in the U.S. is privately owned. That figure climbs to 85 percent in many eastern states, where the population density is highest and public land is scarce. East of the 100th meridian, access is a persistent problem. And when the few public lands that do exist see increasing hunting pressure, the quality of the experience for hunters and the sustainability of those lands both suffer.
Enter VPA-HIP, the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program. Funded by the Farm Bill, it’s helped open more than 30 million acres of private land to public hunting across 27 states. It’s not just a win for hunters. For every $1 of federal funding, VPA-HIP generates more than $8 in economic return. States like Kansas have seen a 236 percent increase in available hunting land through their WIHA program. Montana, Wyoming, and Oregon lead in overall acreage, but new models like P.A.T.H. and NCAP are showing that other states can get in the game too.
Still, Farm Bill funding alone can’t shoulder the entire burden. With demand for access outpacing available resources, it’s critical to get creative. Community-driven initiatives, private-sector partnerships, and locally tailored solutions are all part of the puzzle. The future of public hunting access will depend on a patchwork of support—from federal and state dollars to grassroots efforts and innovative programs like P.A.T.H. that meet landowners and hunters where they are.
The value of these programs goes beyond acreage. Walk-in areas often unlock otherwise inaccessible public lands. In Montana alone, walk-in programs have made over 700,000 acres of previously landlocked land available. In Wyoming, that figure is 500,000 acres. These programs are literal keys to hidden gates.
If we want the next generation of hunters to have places to roam, we need to invest in public access now. (Photo courtesy of Matt Addington) Why to Enroll Private Land into Public Access For landowners, it comes down to economics, conservation, and peace of mind. Many are farmers and ranchers whose income is tied to their land. These programs help offset habitat improvement costs, reduce liability concerns, andprovide enforcement support. For those with a conservation ethic, it’s also about giving back—protecting habitat and the hunting heritage for future generations.
But the balance is delicate. One of the top reasons landowners unenroll is private leases. A hunter finds success on a piece of ground and offers the landowner more money to lease it privately. Next on the list? Disrespect. Trash left behind. Rules ignored. That’s a responsibility that falls on us—44 percent of dropouts are due to reasons that are entirely preventable.
Hunters need to maintain the land and follow the rules of public access plots so that they aren't lost. (Photo courtesy of Matt Addington) Recruiting Public Access Acres Thirty million acres is a big number—but it’s also the price we pay for getting this wrong. Expanding access on private land is complex. The three main hurdles: recruiting willing landowners, staffing, and funding. At the heart of each ofthose? Resources.
If we want to stay competitive and keep landowners engaged, we need to modernize how we support these programs. Public lands in many regions are limited, and as more hunters head afield, the pressure on those parcels continues to mount. Increasing the amount of high-quality access points through walk-in programs is one of the clearest ways to distribute that pressure and provide a better experience for all.
But money alone won’t solve it. Community-based access programs are proving to be powerful tools. Brown County, South Dakota, bet big on access and won even bigger. After raising $100,000 to incentivize sign-ups, they opened 4,000 acres and became the #1 county in South Dakota in dollars received from pheasant hunters. That’s a success story we can replicate.
For these programs to succeed, it requires buy-in from all sides. Agencies, nonprofits, landowners, communities— but most importantly, from hunters. That means following the rules, closing gates, picking up hulls, and packing out trash. It means appreciating these opportunities as the rare gifts they are.
It also means supporting the organizations and companies making it happen. I’m proud to work for onX Hunt, which continues to invest in programs like P.A.T.H. and NCAP because we believe in the future of hunting. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have championed public access and quality habitat for decades, and this new chapter is just the beginning.
The future of hunting access will depend on innovative programs like P.A.T.H. (Photo courtesy of Matt Addington) Investing in the Hunters of Tomorrow The next generation of bird hunters won’t judge us by how many birds we put in our bags. They’ll look at the legacy we left—whether they have wild places to roam, wild birds to pursue, and stories of their own to tell.
If we get this right, those stories will begin the same way mine did: with a road trip, a map, a bird dog, and a field all to yourself.
If we continue to invest in habitat, open more gates, and protect the traditions we hold dear, those stories will keep getting written. Not just by us, but by the generations to come—with a good bird dog at their side, and the freedom to follow wherever they lead.
