Back Forty Bridges: How One Hunter Helped Reopen a Closed County Walk-In

Back Forty Bridges: How One Hunter Helped Reopen a Closed County Walk-In

It started with a locked gate and an overgrown trail. For years, my favorite upland spot in northern Missouri had been marked “Walk-In Access – Department of Conservation.” But in 2022, the sign disappeared. In 2023, a new landowner padlocked the entry gate. And by the fall of that year, the native grass was thigh-high, the trail was gone, and no hunter had touched it since.

This is the story of how I got it back.

🧭 The Spot That Was Worth Fighting For

This wasn’t just any spot. It was a quail and woodcock magnet—a mix of fescue conversion, burned CRP, and a hedgerow that always seemed to hold birds after a front. The habitat hadn’t changed. But the access had vanished when the land parcel was sold. Most folks shrugged. I made a call.

📞 Step 1: Contact the Local Land Manager

I started by looking up the county conservation field office and asked who handled that specific parcel. Turns out the land was still enrolled in Missouri’s WIA program (Walk-In Access), but the new owner had opted not to renew the signage or allow foot traffic.

Pro Tip: Most states maintain a public record of landowner program participation. Start there.

📋 Step 2: Understand the Landowner’s Concerns

A local biologist helped arrange a phone call with the landowner. His concerns?

🧹 Step 3: Volunteer for Cleanup and Habitat Monitoring

That spring, I returned with a weed trimmer, trash bags, and a cooler of drinks. I trimmed the trail, packed out old garbage, and flagged a corner post with blaze tape. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was proof of commitment.

Field Tip: Treat public-private walk-ins like your own land—and it might become your access again.

📝 Step 4: Renew the Access Agreement

By July, the landowner re-enrolled the parcel under a limited-use permit, open for bird hunting only—no deer, no vehicles, no scouting before season. He asked me to keep an eye on activity and notify the conservation officer if anything got sketchy. That fall, I hunted it three times. And I never saw another boot track.

🐦 2024 Results from the Reclaimed Walk-In

🔁 Why This Model Works

Access isn’t a fixed asset—it’s a living relationship. And sometimes, all it takes is one person to bridge the gap between bureaucracy and boots. These small-scale efforts don’t just benefit one hunter—they preserve corridors for bird movement, reinforce good stewardship, and show other landowners that respect still exists.

“You don’t need 10,000 acres. Sometimes, you just need one gate reopened.”