
Share your property with others and earn money while you do it! The Missouri Outdoor Recreational Access Program (MRAP) provides annual incentive payments to private landowners who open their land for public access recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing. The Department created this program to increase recreational opportunities and improve the habitat on private land with monetary incentives.
You must offer at least 40 contiguous acres, and at least 20 percent of the tract must provide quality habitat. Land offered for fishing access is exempt from the 40-acre and habitat requirements. All offered tracts must have public road frontage to allow for legal access by the public to the property. Additional eligibility requirements apply to land offers for wildlife viewing access.
The standard landowner commitment period is three years. Public access on MRAP properties will be walk-in only and parking will generally occur along public roadsides. Participating landowners determine the type of public access/activities they want to allow on their property by selecting one of the six MRAP public access options described below.
All MRAP areas are open for public access from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset.
You will receive an annual incentive payment each year that you participate in the program. The amount of this payment will be determined by the following factors:
Payment rates are based on the criteria listed above, but most participants can expect to earn $15-$25 an acre, per year. Landowners can increase their annual payments by implementing habitat improvements on their land. Participants will also be eligible for enhanced cost-share incentives (up to 90 percent) to complete the planned habitat practices.
When you enroll in the program, you are offered liability protection from Missouri's Recreational Use Immunity Law (RSMo Sections 537.345, 537.346, 537.347, and 537.348).
All MRAP users are responsible to know the rules of the program. Respect for the landowner and the property is vital. Prohibited activities include driving motorized vehicles (walk-in access only), target shooting, trapping, and leaving equipment or gear overnight. All rules and regulations enforced by MDC apply while using MRAP lands.
These rules do not apply to the property owner. For example, the landowner could deer hunt on a property enrolled under the small game and turkey hunting option. If you see someone violating these rules on a MRAP property, please call your local conservation agent.
Contact your local MDC representative to learn more about this opportunity, or submit a completed MRAP Application Form. Applications will be ranked and chosen for enrollment throughout the year as funding is available.