MT Landowners Invited To Comment/Join Habitat Conservation Effort

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has proposed to purchase nine long-term habitat conservation leases on approximately 22,703 acres of privately owned property in Region 6, and is seeking further comment about the purchases.

Region 6 comprises all of northeastern Montana and stretches as far east as Hill County.

The main goal of the Conservation Lease Program is to maintain working agricultural lands as working lands while preserving sizable blocks of high priority native or restored wildlife habitats. Five priority focal habitats are eligible to be enrolled: mixed grasslands, sagebrush grasslands,

Wetland-grassland complexes, riparian/floodplain areas, and intermountain grasslands. Enrolling 500,000 acres over a five-year period is the program's main objective.

For a one-time fee per acre, private landowners can sign up their property for a conservation lease that will last for 30 or 40 years. The program is primarily funded by federal Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration monies and state hunting license fees.

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The areas that the department intends to purchase include land near Culbertson, Richey, Saco, and Westby, among others, which can be seen HERE.