Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is charged with managing the state’s fish and wildlife resources and its wildlife management areas, state parks, and fishing access sites. In addition, FWP serves as consultant to other local, state, and federal agencies regarding outdoor recreation issues. FWP produces a number of important statewide reports and plans, including the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) and the Montana State Trails Plan.
Management of people and natural resources on public and private lands helps promote safe enjoyment of the great outdoors while protecting the state's special places. Management activities include establishing seasons for hunting and fishing, regulating the means by which people can take fish and wildlife legally, implementing rules on how certain lands can be utilized, deciding how and where motorized travel should occur, and conducting field research to determine the status of wildlife and fish populations. A major part of any management plan process includes public comment.
Management plans can be important planning tools for managers of a forest, park or recreation program. A typical recreation management plan assesses recreational resources within a site, identifies opportunities for recreational use, and considers the ability of the natural resources and the land to accommodate the public use.
By including the public in all management decisions, state and federal agencies ensure that recreation management includes public comments and opinions.
- Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP)—The purpose of the 2008-2012 SCORP is to outline Montana's five-year plan for outdoor recreation management, conservation, and development. It provides the strategic framework to guide recreation facility managers in planning and prioritizing resources for staff and funding. It includes a timeline for implementation.
- Montana State Trails Plan—This plan provides trail managers with information about the trail system and the people who use it. The plan also makes strategic recommendations on trail issues and needs. The plan aims to enhance Montana’s trail network by improving cooperation among agencies, organizations, and individuals; increasing availability of funds; and providing a foundation for better meeting the needs of trail users. April 2001.
- Smith River State Park and River Corridor Management Plan—The existing Smith River plan was adopted in 1996. To ensure that quality of the recreational experience remains high and to protect the outstanding river resources, FWP is updating the plan. Numerous opportunities exist for the public to participate in that process.
