How Ohio’s new capital improvements bill benefits hunters, trappers
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed his final capital improvements bill, and it contains a major allocation of funds that will benefit Ohio’s hunters and trappers. Senate Bill 450, which provides bond funding for various state priorities, includes $25 million to acquire state wildlife and forestry lands for sportsmen.
How will the land acquisition funding be allocated and matched?
The funding priority was made possible because it enjoyed key support from more than the governor, and included Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy and his running mate, President of the Senate Rob McColley, who joined House Speaker Matt Huffman in supporting the acquisition.
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The funds will double their $25 million line item in the budget because they enable the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Divisions of Wildlife and Forestry to leverage those funds to gain additional matching federal dollars, such as funds from the Wildlife Restoration Fund and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The total amount of funds available will greatly increase the size of land purchases available to sportsmen. The anticipated land holdings are in southern and southeastern Ohio and border existing wildlife and forestry lands.
What does this funding victory mean for Ohio sportsmen?
“The most urgent need for sportsmen in Ohio is to gain additional lands for hunting, trapping, fishing, and recreational shooting,” said Sportsmen’s Alliance President and CEO Evan Heusinkveld. “Beginning in 2018, we asked incoming Gov. DeWine to work with us to prioritize land acquisition.
These funds in the 2026 capital bill cap an eight-year run of tremendous gains for sportsmen. We appreciate the support of the governor and the legislature in making these gains possible.”
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