For the 2017 hunting season, more than 1,300 cooperators have enrolled about 7.3 million acres in Montana’s Block Management Program.

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks program provides hunters with public hunting access to private and isolated public land, free of charge, while assisting landowners in managing hunter impacts.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks publishes one statewide Block Management Hunting Access Guide that includes information for all Type 1 and Type 2 Block Management Areas (BMAs) in all seven Fish, Wildlife and Parks administrative regions. While many BMAs do not require reservations, some do. Hunters can use the Hunting Access Guide to determine how permission is obtained for specific BMAs.

Due to Montana’s extreme fire seasons and dry conditions, some BMAs are currently closed or restricted. With the dry conditions hunters should be prepared for BMA restrictions until the extreme conditions subside. Landowners participating in the Block Management Program can restrict access for fire danger concerns as they feel necessary. For restrictions and closures, go online to fwp.mt.gov.

Additionally, emergency grazing is being allowed in nearly all Montana counties. This allows landowners to graze CRP lands without penalty. This may impact traditional upland gamebird locations.

Additional tools to help hunters plan for hunts on Montana’s 93 million acres of private and public land can be found on line at fwp.mt.gov. Click “Hunting,” then view options under “Hunter Access.”