Grant applications open for Community Hunting Access Program due March 31

Communities interested in applying for funding through DNR’s Community Hunting Access Program (CHAP) can apply through March 31.

CHAP is designed to increase hunting opportunities for white-tailed deer in communities and to help alleviate human/deer conflicts. The program provides participating organizations with financial and technical assistance to administer hunting programs in their communities. In a broader sense, CHAP provides a practical and economical method for reducing deer numbers and balancing ecological and societal needs through regulated deer hunting.

Parks, homeowners associations, and other land-managing entities are eligible to apply for CHAP. Successful applicants will be awarded financial assistance to help them manage a deer hunt during the regulated 2021-2022 deer hunting season.

New this year, CHAP recipients will be required to provide a 25 percent acreage match for the total acres they offer for deer hunting opportunities, that is, CHAP will provide a dollar amount per acre for up to 75 percent of the acres identified on an application. Total financial assistance per participating partner is capped at a maximum of $25,000.

CHAP allows for community partner oversight and the flexibility to determine when and where managed hunts occur.

For more information and to submit an application, visit on.IN.gov/dnrchap.