Conservation: Landowner Programs
Open Fields for Game Bird Hunters
Open Fields works with landowners to manage CRP in a wildlife-friendly way to provide important cover for Montana’s game birds.
Montana has lost a significant amount of CRP in recent years, and more is scheduled to expire in the near future. Conservation-incentive programs like Open Fields are geared to help landowners keep some land enrolled in CRP and to provide public game bird hunting opportunities
Program Details
Landowners may enroll up to 320 CRP acres per contiguous parcel of land. More than one application may be submitted if landownership parcels are at least ¼-mile apart.
Landowners receive a one-time lease payment of $5.00 per CRP acre (320-acre maximum per contract) for each year that remains in their CRP contract. For example, if 320 acres of CRP are enrolled for 10 years, the landowner receives a one-time payment of $16,000 in return for managing the CRP as outlined below:
CRP may be eligible for managed or emergency harvesting or routine grazing activities once in 5 years and must be pre-approved by FSA prior to harvesting or grazing.
All enrolled acres are open to free walk-in public access for game bird hunting with no further permission needed.
NEW OPTIONS: Depending on interest and funding availability, FWP will offer cost-share on ground disturbance (light disking) to help reinvigorate CRP stands.
Landowners reseeding their stand are eligible to receive an additional $5/acre for one year only (up to $1,600.00)
To be considered eligible, the following criteria must be met:
All enrollments must be on private land that is legally accessible for walk-in game bird hunting.
A minimum of 2 years remaining on USDA CRP contracts.
Lands not eligible for Open Fields enrollment include the following:
Lands enrolled in Block Management in 2022.
Lands immediately adjacent to a Block Management Area under the same ownership.
Lands part of an active Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program (UGBEP) contract.
Because of differing management jurisdictions, lands within Indian Reservations do not qualify.
NOTE: CRP currently located on active UGBEP projects, DNRC State Lands, or Block Management Areas may be eligible for other lease options. For more information, contact program staff listed in the Contact tab below.
