Conservation > Habitat
Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program
Open Fields Enrollment
Open Fields is a collaborative conservation effort involving FWP’s Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program, Private Landowners, and the USDA Farm Service Agency to manage CRP and other high value cover in a wildlife-friendly way while providing walk-in game bird hunting.
Open Fields enrollments are funded through a USDA Farm Bill grant called “Voluntary Public Access – Habitat Incentive Program.” FWP received additional funding in 2025 to expand upland game bird hunting access on private lands that allow walk-in game bird hunting.
Highlights of Open Fields include:
Enrollment of up to 640 CRP acres per contiguous parcel of private landownership. More than one application may be submitted and considered if land parcels are at least ¼-mile apart.
Landowners receive an annual lease payment of $10 per CRP acre, up to $6,400 for each year the land is enrolled in CRP.
Enrolled acres are open to free public walk-in game bird hunting with no further permission.
To learn more about Open Fields enrollment eligibility, download the fact sheet here. At this time, CRP Grasslands is not eligible for Open Fields enrollment.
To apply, download the application here. You may submit your application along with your maps to:
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks - UGBEP
PO Box 200701
Helena, MT 59620
Applications must be received no later than Friday, April 25, 2025. FWP encourages you to get your application in early as funding is limited.
If you are a landowner with CRP and enrolled in Block Management or active UGBEP projects, please check out UGBEP’s CRP Add-on Lease option, which may be a better fit. State Land lessees with CRP are also encouraged to apply for the CRP Add-on Lease Option.
CRP Add-on Lease Option
FWP is pleased to announce an enrollment opportunity for lands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)! You can find a Fact Sheet on this Web page to learn more about UGBEP’s CRP Add-on Lease option, which may be a good fit if you currently have CRP land.
Agricultural producers with CRP located on private lands, including lands enrolled in FWP's Block Management Program, or State Trust Lands are eligible to apply. Producers actively enrolled in UGBEP's CRP agreements, including Open Fields, may apply to enroll additional CRP acres if enrollment acres are under the maximum 640 acres.
Highlights of the CRP Add-on Lease option include:
Enrollment of up to 640 CRP acres per contiguous parcel of private landownership or State Trust lease. More than one application may be submitted if land parcels or State Trust leases are at least ¼-mile apart.
Landowners receive an annual lease payment of $10 per CRP acre, up to $6,400 each year.
Enrolled acres are open to free public walk-in game bird hunting with no further permission.
The deadline to submit your application(s) is Friday, April 25, 2025.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
ATTN Debbie Hohler
PO Box 200701
Helena, MT 59620
Or by email to Debbie Hohler, UGBEP Coordinator: dhohler@mt.gov
About the Program
The goal of the Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program (UGBEP) is to efficiently and responsibly conserve and enhance upland game bird habitats and populations, providing quality public hunting opportunities for present and future generations.
About Habitat Enhancement
Landowners can reap the rewards of a lease or cost-sharing program when they improve their land and make it more inviting for Montana's upland game birds.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks can work directly with landowners-and other individuals, groups and organizations-to improve private and public lands for Montana's native sharp-tailed grouse, sage grouse, and mountain grouse, as well as the state's adopted game birds-ring-necked pheasants, gray partridge, and wild turkeys.
UGBEP offers habitat leases and project cost-shares to enhance upland game bird habitat. Examples include:
With just a phone call or e-mail, you can discover how this program can help improve habitat for game birds while also benefitting your agricultural operations.
For more information, contact any of the following program staff:
Debbie Hohler, UGBEP Coordinator, FWP Headquarters (Helena), at 406-444-5674 or by email at dhohler@mt.gov
Matt Strauch, Habitat Specialist, FWP Region 4 (Great Falls), at 406-454-5870 or by email at mstrauch@mt.gov
Habitat Specialist, FWP Region 6, is currently vacant. Please contact Debbie Hohler (info above).
Justin Hughes, Habitat Specialist, FWP Region 7 (Miles City), at 406-234-0922 or by email at justin.hughes@mt.gov
Advisory Council
FWP appointed a 12-member advisory council to lead an effort to advise FWP on a long-term strategic plan for the Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program (UGBEP); monitor program activities annually; and recommend appropriate rules for FWP to consider. Council membership includes upland game bird hunters, a chamber of commerce representative, conservationists, an upland game bird biologist, landowners, one of whom is enrolled in the Block Management program, and 2 state legislators.
In July 2011, the first version of the Strategic plan was prepared with the guidance of the Upland Game Bird Advisory Council. It became a “living document,” referenced by the department and the Council to guide and monitor program delivery. Nearly a decade later, the program is in a new era, one shaped by increased opportunities to collaborate with the agricultural community; redefined, and larger regional focus areas; elimination of the statute requiring UGBEP-funded pen-raised pheasant releases; and functionally operating within a balanced budget. The Council, working closely with program staff, provided recommendations to this revised version of the strategic plan and are incorporated herein (MCA, 87-1-251).
Details about the revisions are found in the Response to Public Comments.
Hunters! FWP would like to hear about your experiences hunting on lands enrolled in the Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program. This survey takes about 5 minutes and your feedback will help with future program implementation.
Did you know that Open Fields for Game Bird Hunters is also administered by the Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program? Since 2012, hunters have been providing their feedback and input on this popular project type. Please consider taking this 5-minute survey so we can get your valuable feedback.
FWP is looking for upland game bird hunting photos to update our web page and future access guides.
If you have a photo of a memorable bird hunting trip, please consider sharing it with us!
Disclaimer:
All photo(s) shared with FWP may be used on our website, presentations, educational documents, and on social media to celebrate and promote the Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program.
