Leasing Private Lands for Public Use with Federal Dollars

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will use $2.26 million from the USDA to lease private land for public hunting

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By Ed Godfrey

The Oklahoman

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will receive $2.26 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that the state agency plans to use to lease private land for public hunting.

Oklahoma is one of 15 states that will receive grant money from the USDA, a total of $20 million, to encourage private landowners to open their ranches, farms or other property to hunting, fishing or other wildlife recreation.

Micah Holmes, spokesman for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, said the agency would use its share of the grant funds to lease private land to provide walk-in access for Oklahoma sportsmen, primarily hunters.

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