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Fish and Wildlife Commission

Adding to our Public Lands Heritage

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lost-river-addition

Attacks on public land are so common these days that it seems hunters, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts are constantly on the defensive.

But in fact, Montana hunters keep picking up wins on the public lands front. In fact, we’re adding public lands. And that’s a good thing for wildlife, for hunting opportunity and for wildlife watchers and other recreationists.

This week that can continue. The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider the addition of 640 acres to the Lost River Wildlife Management Area in Hill County, located in the north-central part of the state.

The addition will help with habitat for deer, antelope and numerous other non-game wildlife species. It will add to the area’s hunting opportunity for upland game birds and big game. And it will also have the benefit of increasing access to adjoining public lands.

It’s a win, win, win. Wildlife gains habitat on lands that are specifically for that purpose. Hunters have more state land to pursue game. And hunters gain even more hunting opportunity by gaining access to other public lands.

It’s exactly how the Habitat Montana program is supposed to work. It’s also why it’s so vital that this program that protects habitat and increases access continues.

Nick Gevock is the conservation director for the Montana Wildlife Federation.

Bighorn Sheep, Boating Issues Top Fish and Wildlife Commission Agenda

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Bighorn sheep conservation issues will be front and center this week when the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission holds its monthly meeting in Helena.

The Commission will hear a presentation on management issues surrounding bighorns, which are struggling in the state with disease and other issues. It will also consider a bighorn sheep transplant from the Missouri River Breaks, bighorn Hunting District 482, to the south end of the Beartooth Wildlife Management Area to boost the herd there.

Commissioners will also consider additions to the Lost River and Fleecer Mountain wildlife management areas. In addition, commissioners will discuss prohibiting marmosets and tamarins as exotic species in Montana through rulemaking.

In other issues, commissioners will consider several boating issues that affect waters throughout the state. Among them are petitions for no-wake zones for Wood’s Bay and Cromwell Channel on Flathead Lake, a no-wake zone on the Madison River between Ennis Lake and the Madison Dam, and no-wake zones on Fort Peck Reservoir in the Duck Creek Bay and Bay of Park Grove areas.

The meeting will be held 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 17 at the Montana WILD Center, 2668 Broadwater Ave. in Helena.

October Fish and Wildlife Commission Meeting Preview: Habitat Projects, Brucellosis, Fishing Rules

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Elk in water - David Stalling

Conservation easements and habitat acquisitions that will open up thousands of acres of public and private land to hunters will be considered this week when the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission meets in Forsyth on Thursday, October 13.

The Commission will hear several major projects to protect private lands and add to a state Wildlife Management Area through a donation of land in the Canyon Creek area northwest of Helena. They will also consider the annual plan to manage brucellosis in the special management area adjacent to Yellowstone National Park. They will also give final approval to the 2017 fishing regulations, as well as consider several fishing access site projects, including two land donations to enhance river access. And they will get an update on the large fish kill on the Yellowstone River.

Habitat Montana, the popular program funded by hunter license dollars, is proposed to be used for several of the conservation easements that will help working farms and ranches.

The projects include the proposed Coal Creek conservation easement covering 10,080 acres of private land in Custer and Prairie counties, as well as 5,440 acres of public lands. Another project – the Millage conservation easement – would protect from development 400 acres north of Bozeman along the base of the Bridger Mountains that is important mule deer winter habitat.

The Commission will consider accepting 729 acres along state Highway 279 in the Canyon Creek area. The land adjoins the north end of the Canyon Creek WMA and would provide more public access to thousands of acres of Helena National Forest land. The area is popular with hunters with opportunity for deer, elk, black bear and mountain grouse hunting. It also provides important habitat for moose and native westslope cutthroat trout. The donation is proposed by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation with support from the Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust and Lewis and Clark County Open Lands program.

The Commission meeting includes a social event with commissioners 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12 at the Forsyth Golf and Country Club, 47 Smith Creek Road. The regular commission meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 13 and will be held at the Haugo Center, 483 East Rosebud St. You can listen to the meeting online at the FWP web page.

Montana Wildlife Federation staff will be in attendance to support the habitat projects and offer comments on the elk brucellosis plan, as well as other issues.

To weigh in on a specific issue, contact MWF Conservation Director Nick Gevock at ngevock@mtwf.org.

Jeff Lukas – MWF Elk Campaign Manager

Jeff Lukas

Elk Campaign Manager

Jeff Lukas is a passionate conservationist who has been fishing and hunting his entire life. Whether it’s floating a small stream chasing trout, pursuing elk in the high country, or waiting in a blind for ducks to set their wings, Jeff is always trying to bring more people afield to show them what we are trying to protect. He loves being in the arena, and he will never shy away from conversations about the beautiful and unique corners of Big Sky country.