Private Land/Public Wildlife Advisory Council Seeks More Funding For Access

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The Private Land/Public Wildlife Advisory Council, a citizen’s panel appointed by Governor Racicot to develop recommendations related to public hunting access, is soliciting public comment on a proposal to increase resident and nonresident hunting-related Conservation License fees to expand FWP’s hunter access programs. Under the council’s draft proposal, resident hunters would pay an additional $4 for a Conservation License, while nonresident hunters would pay an additional $15, generating approximately $1.5 million in new revenue for Block Management and other hunter access programs. The Conservation License - a prerequisite license for all hunting and fishing license purchases - currently costs $4 for residents and $5 for nonresidents. While FWP’s popular Block Management Program has primarily focused on hunter access to private lands, the council has suggested that the scope of the program could be enlarged to address access issues related to public lands, said Alan Charles, FWP’s landowner/sportsman relations coordinator. In developing its draft proposal, the council considered FWP’s future budget, the use of general hunting and fishing license revenue and various other funding mechanisms, including a special Block Management Area access stamp. In the end, however, those ideas were rejected, Charles said, because the council felt all hunters should contribute to access funding, whether or not they use a particular program. "The members reasoned that all hunters would benefit from improved access because hunting activities on Block Management lands would reduce pressure for access elsewhere," Charles said. "The council is particularly interested in hearing from resident hunters to assess their support for paying more for expanded hunter-access programs." Charles said nonresident hunters who buy upland gamebird or outfitter-sponsored deer and/or elk hunting licenses currently fund the Block Management Program. FWP’s Block Management Program has enrolled nearly 8 million acres for public hunting access to private lands and isolated public lands. Comments should be addressed to PL/PW Council, FWP, Field Services Division, PO Box 200701, Helena MT 59602-0701. Members of the public are asked to submit comments by August 30. For more information, contact Alan Charles, FWP Landowner/Sportsman Relations, (406) 444-3798, or via e-mail at acharles@state.mt.us .