New Agreements Open More Than a Million Acres to the Public for Elk Hunting



The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) announced today that it has reached new agreements with private landowners that will open more than a million acres of land to the public for elk hunting. The agreements, which were finalized over the past year, will provide hunters with new opportunities to pursue elk in some of the most productive elk hunting areas in the state.

"These agreements are a major win for hunters and for the state of Montana," said FWP Director Hank Worsech. "They will open up millions of acres of prime elk habitat to public hunting, and they will help to ensure that Montana remains a world-class elk hunting destination."

The new agreements include a variety of different arrangements, including leases, conservation easements, and outright purchases of land. In some cases, FWP has agreed to pay landowners to allow public access to their land for hunting. In other cases, landowners have agreed to donate their land to FWP or to a conservation organization.

The new agreements will open up elk hunting opportunities in a variety of different areas across the state, including the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, and the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. The agreements will also open up new hunting opportunities in areas that are currently closed to public hunting, such as private land that is adjacent to national forests and BLM lands.

"These agreements are a testament to the hard work of our staff and to the willingness of private landowners to work with us to conserve elk habitat and to provide hunters with new opportunities," said Worsech. "We are grateful for their cooperation, and we look forward to working with them in the future to ensure that Montana remains a world-class elk hunting destination."

The new agreements are part of FWP's ongoing effort to conserve elk habitat and to provide hunters with new opportunities. In recent years, FWP has made significant progress in conserving elk habitat, including the purchase of more than 100,000 acres of land for elk habitat conservation. FWP has also worked to improve elk management practices on public lands, and to increase public access to elk hunting.

The new agreements are a major step forward in FWP's efforts to conserve elk habitat and to provide hunters with new opportunities. The agreements will open up millions of acres of prime elk habitat to public hunting, and they will help to ensure that Montana remains a world-class elk hunting destination.

©️ Rocky Mountain Dispatch 2023

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