What is PLOTS?

The goal of the Private Land Open To Sportsmen program is to provide walk-in public access for hunting on private land. PLOTS agreements do not allow activities such as horseback riding, camping, placing bait for any purpose, driving ATVs or snowmobiles, dog training and many others, without written permission from the landowner.

Game and Fish has specific regulations that apply to public use on PLOTS tracts. By establishing these regulations, the Department can better fulfill its responsibility to private landowners and help protect property enrolled in the program. In addition, the regulations provide clarity to hunters, and law enforcement officers are in a better position to enforce activities on PLOTS property.

Legal Definition

All PLOTS property is open only for public walk-in access for the purpose of hunting within legal hunting seasons, or as signed. All other activities require written permission from the property owner.

Walk-in access is defined as an individual traveling by foot with any legal firearm or bow, plus other equipment, accessories and provisions for the purposes of hunting.

Hunters may not leave equipment, accessories, or provisions unattended on a PLOTS tract without written permission of the property owner.

Regulations are enforced year-round, but do not restrict the landowner from participating in these activities on their own property enrolled in PLOTS. These regulations also do not restrict the landowner, tenant, family, hired hand, or other authorized operators from conducting normal farming or ranching activities as authorized in the PLOTS contract on their own property enrolled in PLOTS.