Chapter IV - Block Management Effectiveness 



they enroll in the aggregate BMA. So someone with ten percent of 

 the land would get ten percent of the total payment, while someone 

 with 50 percent of the land receives 50 percent of the total payment. 

 In 1998 there were about 270 landowners in 64 aggregate BMAs in 

 five regions. Two regions do not have any aggregate BMAs. 



Aggregate BMAs help the department manage hunters, wildlife and 

 habitat. Because more land is involved, game numbers can be better 

 controlled using a defined management goal. Hunters have a 

 uniform set of rules for all the land in the aggregate BMA instead of 

 different rules for each landowner. Aggregate areas also cause 

 hunters to disperse more than separate areas. 



Our sample of landowners in the program and landowners who want 

 to enroll were asked what would encourage them to join an 

 aggregate BMA. Results of both surveys showed the majority of 

 respondents wanted a compensation system that encourages blocking 

 of lands. 



Regional staff are aware of the problem and one addressed it by 

 giving landowners in aggregate BMAs a 20 percent bonus to each 

 landowner. Other possible options could include providing 

 landowners in aggregate BMAs additional benefits not provided to 

 other landowners. These benefits could include weed control, gates, 

 additional patrolling, more licenses, etc., as discussed previously. 

 Landowners not in aggregates could receive the additional benefits 

 also, but it would reduce the contract amount by the cost of the 

 benefit. 



When the compensation system was established in 1996, inequities in 

 compensation for landowners in aggregate BMAs was not 

 considered. Department staff indicated several regions are 

 experimenting with various types of incentives designed to 

 encourage landowners to enroll in aggregate BMAs. The department 

 needs to develop a system that is acceptable to all regions so there is 

 consistency across the state for compensating landowners in 

 aggregate BMAs. 



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