VPA-HIP opportunity is the largest round of funding in program history
April 24, 2026 – Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) today announced the availability of $52 million to increase hunting and fishing access through the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP), the only federal program dedicated to enhancing recreational opportunities on private lands. This represents the largest single investment in VPA-HIP since its creation in 2008, and the first opportunity for new funding since 2019.
With funding secured through last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, this announcement underscores the Trump Administration’s commitment to voluntary, incentive-based conservation and aligns with the goals of the Make America Beautiful Again Commission and the recently announced MABA 250 initiative.
“Expanding voluntary public access on private lands is one of the most effective ways to strengthen our nation’s upland hunting tradition while supporting private landowners,” said Andrew Schmidt, Director of Government Affairs for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. “Increasing access for hunting and incentivizing voluntary conservation on private lands are both key priorities for the MABA 250 initiative, and PF & QF thank NRCS and the Trump Administration for ensuring VPA-HIP will continue to deliver meaningful benefits to rural communities.”
With more than 70 percent of the lower 48 states in private ownership, sportsmen and women are reliant on private lands for hunting and outdoor recreation opportunities. VPA-HIP helps address this by opening a significant number of access opportunities on private farm, ranch, and forest land, while also contributing to habitat conservation efforts.
VPA-HIP provides competitive grants to state and tribal governments to incentivize landowners to voluntarily open private lands for public hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-dependent recreation, while upholding private property rights. The application period will be open through June 8, with an estimated grant start date of September 30.
About Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever make up the nation’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. This community of more than 500,000 members, supporters and partners is dedicated to the protection of our uplands through habitat improvement, public access, education and advocacy. A network of 754 local chapters spread across North America determine how 100 percent of their locally raised funds are spent — the only national conservation organization that operates through this grassroots structure. Since its creation in 1982, the organization has dedicated more than $1 billion to 580,000 habitat projects benefiting 31 million acres.
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