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FWP works agreement with Blue Ridge Ranch to allow limited public elk hunting

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, in a written agreement approved by the Fish and Wildlife Commission, worked with the Blue Ridge Ranch owner, Will Carlson, to allow limited public elk hunting on approximately 9,665 private land acres in hunting district (HD) 622 in southern Phillips Co. for the 2018 general elk season. This agreement was made possible under the 2016 House Bill 454 Hunting Access Agreement.

Under the provisions of HB 454, FWP received the authority to issue either-sex or antlerless elk permits to approved landowners in exchange for public hunting opportunity that could help reach specific elk management objectives.

Further under the provisions, the landowner must offer an agreed upon level of free public elk hunting, meet the various conditions of the statute, and enter a contractual public elk hunting access agreement with FWP. The contract would define the areas open to public elk hunting, the number of elk hunting days and/or hunters that will be allowed on the property, and other factors that FWP and the landowner consider necessary for the proper management of elk on the landowner’s property.

There are currently two HB 454 agreements in Region 5, but this is the first time this has been done in Region 6.

Per this 2018-only agreement, the landowner received an either-sex archery-only elk permit valid only on the Blue Ridge Ranch private land. In exchange, the landowner must allow the following with written permission:

Four either-sex elk permits were issued to hunters randomly selected from the list of unsuccessful applicants for 620-20 and 622-20 either-sex elk permits. These permits are only valid on enrolled land and only during through the general season (Oct. 20-Nov. 25, 2018).

Twenty-five general hunters already possessing a 620-20 or 622-20 either sex permit, a 698-00 or 622-00 antlerless, or 621-00 youth-antlerless may hunt for antlerless elk on all enrolled land and will be disbursed through the general season (Oct. 20-Nov. 25, 2018).

Ten youth/mentor or youth pairs (20 hunters) already possessing a 620-20 or 622-20 either sex permit, a 698-00 or 622-00 antlerless, or 621-00 youth-antlerless may hunt for antlerless elk on all enrolled land and will be disbursed through the general season (Oct. 20-Nov. 25, 2018).

Prospective hunters will need to first contact the landowner to be allowed access. Hunters will be required to walk in from designated roads and parking areas, and game retrieval may be allowed with landowner permission on designated roads.

For information on how to contact the landowner for this opportunity, please contact the Region 6 Headquarters in Glasgow at 406-228-3700.

 
 
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