Block Management Offers Expanded Opportunities For 2000

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FWP’s Block Management Program offers hunting access to nearly 8 million acres of private and isolated public land enrolled by almost 1,000 landowners for the 2000 hunting season. To help hunters identify how a Block Management Area (BMA) is administered, regional tabloids will depict BMAs as either Type I or Type II. Montana’s general big game hunting season opens Oct. 22. Type I BMAs are areas which require no formal permission or where hunters sign in at sign-in boxes. Hunter numbers are typically not limited on these BMAs. Type II BMAs are areas where someone other than the hunter administers permission, usually with either landowners or FWP staff issuing permission slips. Type II BMAs may have hunter restrictions such as limits on hunter numbers, pasture assignments, and reservation systems. New funding from nonresident upland game bird license fee increases allowed for some moderate program growth and improved hunter-management services this year. Hunters can expect to find more BMAs with formal hunter-management systems in place to help disperse hunting pressure. It’s most important for hunters to realize that BMAs are only one of many hunting access options, says Alan Charles, FWP’s coordinator for landowner and sportsman relations. Many other private landowners not associated with the program also offer access to hunters who ask courteously, obey ranch rules, and say thanks. Montana also contains nearly 35 million acres of public land, much of it available to hunters who do their homework. To obtain a regional list of BMA cooperators or learn more about individual BMAs, hunters should contact the local FWP office (see accompanying list) in the region where they plan to hunt. Also available is a brochure, "Block Management Basics," which explains the program and identifies regional differences. "Landowners in Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ block management program have the option of keeping their lands closed if they feel a fire danger still exists, " says Charles. Private landowners may close their land without prior notice, so hunters planning to hunt block management lands are urged to check with the nearest regional FWP office when planning their hunt and again just before setting out to hunt. Hunters are reminded to ASK FIRST before hunting on private lands--it’s the law--and to be very conscious of potential fire danger in an area they are hunting. Hunters should contact regional FWP offices or BMA landowners prior to making final hunting trip plans, to identify any possible land closures, restrictions, or other actions that could affect hunting activities. Here are phone numbers for FWP’s regional offices: FWP REGIONAL INFORMATION Northwest--Kalispell Region 1 406-752-5501 West-central--Missoula Region 2 406-542-5500 South-central--Bozeman Region 3 406-994-4042 Central--Great Falls Region 4 406-454-5840 East-central--Billings Region 5 406-247-2940 Northeast--Glasgow Region 6 406-228-3700 Southeast--Miles City Region 7 406-232-0900