HAP hunting areas?

[870_hunter]

Has anyone in here taken advantage of the Hunting Access Program(HAP) through the DNR? I checked it out and I'm quite interested but im not all sure how it works and how effective these spots are, especially for waterfowl hunting i.e. Goose, ducks, etc. Any information would be great.

Andrew

[Alpha Male]

My experiences in visiting about half a dozen HAP enrolled properties has not been positive.

Generally, these properties are held by elderly folks, land trusts, developers, and junk farmers. Quality of habitat and quantity of game has consistently been sub par.

If the landowner lives on the property, a tendency to make rules up as you go along is common practice. I was once told that no hunting was allowed on Tuesday mornings, effective immediately that morning.

Most of them just enroll for the tax credits, without any interest in allowing public access for recreation.

The duck and goose (WW) properties usually get ALOT of nimrods on the openers.

Good luck.

[bucknduck]

I had just the opposite experience. I hunted on HAP property and the farmer was extremely friendly and even gave me some tips to where the deer were spotted and even where he saw or heard pheasants at one time or another. Bowhunting was difficult since there a lot of other stands crowding the corn field and bird hunters walking the edges. After a couple of bow hunting trips, I gave up. Instead, I made good use of the property by using it to train my dog on birds. This was before I had my property up north.
The key is to get to know the farmer and even lend a hand when you can and thank the farmer for opening up his property for hunting. I'm sure if this farmer ever left the HAP program, I could probably still gain permission to hunt the property.

[D_Hunter]

My experience(s) as well has been positive. I always made it an effort to speak with the landowner even if the sign in sheet was out front.

I small game and deer hunted on these land. Though I never took a deer, I certainly seen my share.

It may take you several farms before you locate a good waterfowl area.

Good luck.

[upnut]

Here's the DNR link:http://www.michigan.gov/documents/0506HAP_132133_7.pdf
Find your area and check it out, boots on the ground style....
Don't know about others but I did see a few pheasants and quite a bit of hunting pressure, but hey, it's a place to hunt...Scott

[870_hunter]

Thanks for all the info. Ill be sure to check out the HAP areas around Allegan county and maybe some others.

[Mickey Finn]

I use to go to a place near fowlerville. Owned by a nice older gentleman. He used to come out and say hello and help you check in. They had a token system. You took the token with you as you hunted. So, if there was no token then the limit of hunters had been reach. The areas you could hunt were fallow.
There were crops on the other fields and the habitat was fine. Great fence rows and tall grass, as well as, low areas and a large woodlot.
Always saw deer and cotton tails. Never got a shot at a deer though.

I would say that it was a positive experience. Sort of like you would hope it would be.:)