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Draft Environmental Assessment Flathead Lake State Park Big Arm Archery Range Development

Nov 9, 2021 3:46 PM

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) proposes to develop a public archery range at the Big Arm Unit of Flathead Lake State Park. The archery range would be located on a parcel of Big Arm that is located on the west side of US Highway 93 directly across from the Park’s main entrance. This parcel is currently utilized for dispersed hiking. This proposal would take advantage of a Pittman Robertson Act grant, administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, that is aimed at increasing public shooting sport opportunities. 

The archery range would include a gravel parking lot, an entry kiosk with informational and regulatory signage, a precast vault latrine, a 30’ x 15’ covered firing line, and lockable storage for archer lessons and practice. An archery range trail with up to twelve shooting stations would also be developed within the project area. One shooting station would include an elevated shooting platform. Shooting stations would be located to ensure safe backdrops and distances from park boundaries.

This public archery range would be a valuable amenity in Lake County and the Polson area, as there are currently no public archery ranges in that area. The nearest public range is located 41 miles north at Lone Pine State Park.

FWP has park staff who are certified National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) instructors. Thus, the archery range would provide an excellent opportunity for archery programs for children and adults.

Montana has a growing number of schools participating in the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP). More than 70 schools are enrolled in the program, and northwest Montana is rapidly growing its enrollment with 18 schools/programs enrolled. Since 2019, 5 new schools in northwest Montana have enrolled in the program due to resources and opportunities provided by FWP and its sites, such as the archery range at Lone Pine State Park. The NASP program can be taught indoors using the school’s gymnasium or outdoors. Ranges such as the one in this proposal provide opportunities for NASP programs, trainings, and public education events that promote NASP and bowhunter education.

 

Related Documents


Public Comments 

Public meeting: A public meeting will be held virtually at 6:00 pm on November 30 via Zoom. The meeting link will be posted at  https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/regions/region1

Deadline: Written comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m., December 10, 2021.

FWP asks that comments on this proposal be submitted to either of the following addresses:

                        Big Arm Archery Range EA                                       or         Stevie.Burton@mt.gov   

                        Fish, Wildlife & Parks

                        490 N. Meridian Rd

                        Kalispell, MT 59901

 

If you have any questions regarding this project or the initial proposal, please contact Amy Grout at agrout@mt.gov or via phone: (406) 837-3041 ext 3.