Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is asking local hunters and landowners to help identify regional hunting access priorities as part of the planning process for allocating new hunting access program funds.  Approximately $1.5 million may be available in 2002 for expanding FWP hunter access programs statewide.

The 2001 legislature created a new fee, called the Hunting Access Enhancement Fee, to help fund programs like Block Management and Access Montana that provide hunting access to private and public lands.  The one-time annual fee --$2 for residents and $10 for nonresidents -- will be charged at the time the hunter purchases his or her first hunting license of the season.

The legislation was developed by the Private Land/Public Wildlife Council, a group of citizens appointed by the Governor to address hunting access issues. The Hunting Access Enhancement Fee will generate new funding to increase the size of the current Block Management Program; improve management and services related to the program; and improve the access to public lands and upland bird hunting through other efforts.

In the coming weeks, regional FWP offices will identify access priorities for each region and invite the public to comment on those priorities and to identify other steps that would improve local hunting access. 

Comments and questions should be directed to the nearest FWP regional office.