Access Illinois OutdoorsAccess Illinois Outdoors

A Two Rivers Resource Conservation A Two Rivers Resource Conservation and Development Projectand Development Project

In Cooperation with the Department of In Cooperation with the Department of Commerce and Economic Commerce and Economic

Opportunity/Bureau of TourismOpportunity/Bureau of Tourism

A program to match outdoor enthusiasts with A program to match outdoor enthusiasts with private landowners for outdoor recreational private landowners for outdoor recreational experiencesexperiences

Started in 1994.Started in 1994. In Two Rivers RC&D In Two Rivers RC&D

area of: area of: Adams, Brown, Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Pike, and Schuyler Calhoun, Pike, and Schuyler counties.counties.

52 counties have 52 counties have participating landowners.participating landowners.

Now available to all Now available to all landowners in Illinois landowners in Illinois

Opportunities offered Opportunities offered include:include:– huntinghunting

– campingcamping

– fishingfishing

– hikinghiking

– nature studynature study

– outdoor photographyoutdoor photography

– trail riding trail riding

The PurposeThe Purpose

Develop a public access network Develop a public access network for landowners and public land for landowners and public land users, opening up private land users, opening up private land for public usefor public use

Strengthen relations and build Strengthen relations and build bridges of cooperation between bridges of cooperation between private landowners and the private landowners and the public.public.

Increase and enhance outdoor Increase and enhance outdoor opportunities on private lands opportunities on private lands for the consumptive and non-for the consumptive and non-consumptive users.consumptive users.

Stimulate local economies Stimulate local economies Improve the natural resources.Improve the natural resources.

How does Access Illinois How does Access Illinois Outdoors HelpOutdoors Help

Landowners make Landowners make application to AIOapplication to AIO– no sign up feeno sign up fee– AIO takes no control of AIO takes no control of

your propertyyour property– landowner & guest landowner & guest

negotiate fees + datesnegotiate fees + dates– Landowners are given Landowners are given

contact info on guestcontact info on guest– Offered sample lease Offered sample lease

agreementsagreements

FEE HUNTINGFEE HUNTING

Whitetail deerWhitetail deer TurkeyTurkey Upland GameUpland Game

Dove, quail, pheasants, rabbit, squirrel, etc.Dove, quail, pheasants, rabbit, squirrel, etc. WaterfowlWaterfowl

DucksDucks

GeeseGeese

Types of LeasingTypes of Leasing

Daily or Weekly LeasesDaily or Weekly Leases Seasonal LeasesSeasonal Leases Annual LeasesAnnual Leases

Success of Access Illinois OutdoorsSuccess of Access Illinois Outdoors

AIO presently has 560 landowners AIO presently has 560 landowners registered with the programregistered with the program

Representing 250,000+ acresRepresenting 250,000+ acres Over 3000 members registered since 1994Over 3000 members registered since 1994 Memberships are from 39 different statesMemberships are from 39 different states

AIO Landowner FactsAIO Landowner Facts

Enrolled for extra Enrolled for extra incomeincome

75% have less than 75% have less than 500 acres enrolled500 acres enrolled

60% also hunt the 60% also hunt the propertyproperty

53% preferred Access 53% preferred Access VisitorsVisitors

88% of the land is 88% of the land is farmedfarmed

AIO Visitor FactsAIO Visitor Facts

Visitors pay a $25 Visitors pay a $25 annual membership fee annual membership fee to AIOto AIO

The majority enroll to The majority enroll to hunt private propertyhunt private property

33% from Illinois, 17% 33% from Illinois, 17% Pennsylvania, remaining Pennsylvania, remaining 50% from 37 other states50% from 37 other states

Average visitor stayed Average visitor stayed 1-7 days1-7 days

Pays landowner $700 to Pays landowner $700 to $1500 per stay$1500 per stay

30% visit more than 30% visit more than onceonce

Many return to the same Many return to the same landowner year after landowner year after yearyear

Average age 43 Average age 43 Median income $45,000Median income $45,000

Access FoodAccess Food

Two fold purpose: 1. Help control the deer population2. Supply much needed meat to food pantries.

Handicapped HuntsHandicapped Hunts

Another program Another program we’ve been able we’ve been able to expand on is to expand on is handicapped handicapped huntshunts

Why Not Now at Why Not Now at Camp Big Sky Camp Big Sky http://www.camphttp://www.campbigsky.org/bigsky.org/

Youth HuntsYouth Hunts

AIO landowners AIO landowners provide hunting provide hunting opportunities at no opportunities at no cost during the IDNR cost during the IDNR scheduled Youth Hunt scheduled Youth Hunt weekends.weekends.

Young Gun – Outdoor Young Gun – Outdoor Mentoring ProgramMentoring Program

Promotional ToursPromotional Tours

Christmas Lodge TourChristmas Lodge Tour

Promotional ToursPromotional Tours

Winery TourWinery Tour

Promotional ToursPromotional Tours

History TourHistory Tour New Philadelphia SiteNew Philadelphia Site Lincoln HomesLincoln Homes Civil War Re-Civil War Re-

enactmentenactment

National MediaNational Media

Peterson’s Hunting Annual IssuePeterson’s Hunting Annual Issue Whitetail Unlimited National MagazineWhitetail Unlimited National Magazine North American WhitetailNorth American Whitetail American HunterAmerican Hunter Realtree websiteRealtree website New York TimesNew York Times American HunterAmerican Hunter Outdoors South – Fox TV NetworkOutdoors South – Fox TV Network Men’s Outdoor Recreation TV ChannelMen’s Outdoor Recreation TV Channel

Funding SourcesFunding Sources

IDNRIDNR USDA Rural DevelopmentUSDA Rural Development U. S. Forest ServiceU. S. Forest Service IDOA AgriFIRSTIDOA AgriFIRST IL DCEO, Bureau of TourismIL DCEO, Bureau of Tourism Corporate SponsorsCorporate Sponsors

For More Information:For More Information:

Contact: Contact:

Access Illinois Outdoors 1-888-285-2464Access Illinois Outdoors 1-888-285-2464

email: email: accessil@2riversrcd.orgaccessil@2riversrcd.org

Website: Website: www.accessil.orgwww.accessil.org IDNR at IDNR at http://dnr.state.il.ushttp://dnr.state.il.us QDMA website:QDMA website:www.qdma.comwww.qdma.com IL Bureau of Tourism:IL Bureau of Tourism: www.enjoyillinois.comwww.enjoyillinois.com

Time for QuestionsTime for QuestionsTHANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTIONTHANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION