Tori McCormick

When Congress last month passed an extension to the federal farm bill for 2025 and avoided a government shutdown, the bill, unlike other extensions, did not include funding for a popular bipartisan federal walk-in access program important to hunters.
The Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) funds state walk-in access programs – private land that’s open to hunters, anglers, and other outdoor recreationists. The vast majority of funding for the Minnesota DNR’s Walk-in Access program comes from VPA-HIP grants.

Dave Trauba was reminiscing the other day about growing up in rural southeastern Wisconsin, where his love of the outdoors – including hunting and fishing – was nurtured by his immediate family.
“I grew up in a family with a strong hunting tradition,” said Trauba, adding that he lived near two storied marshes – Horicon and Theresa – where ducks and geese were abundant. “My fondest memories are with my grandpa, dad, and brothers hunting waterfowl. Those were magical times that left an impression on me. Truth is, I was lucky because I knew what I wanted to be when I was a sophomore in high school.”