Private land may be changing in ownership, but not necessarily growing or shrinking in size.

In Mineral County, 8% is privately owned, and 18% in Sanders County. 26% of Sanders is owned by the Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribe, with 56% being public.

Both counties have ownership of land trusts, private timber companies, utilities, etc. but more than half of these immense counties is public land. For hunters and fishermen, that sounds like a dream come true, and it is, to a point.

Some of the public land is inaccessible because it is surrounded by private property and permission is needed to cross their land to get to the public land. Unfortunately, many private landowners deny those requests for reasons of their own, but bad experiences may have assisted in the decision. Gates left open or closed, fencing cut, trash left, etc. can sour anyone especially when it was a granted favor to begin with. So more and more private land has been closed off.

The FWP Block Management is coming up on its 26th year which has been well received by participants, and a new plan is being launched. Unlocking Public Lands (UPL) Program or the Public Access Land Agreement (PALA) Program. These programs are designed to provide recreational public access to state (Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation) or federal (Bureau of Land Management or United States Forest Service) land where no or limited legal public access currently exists.

Landowners will receive a tax credit in the amount of $750 per agreement and up to a maximum of $3,000 in tax credits in exchange for allowing access across the private lands, roads or trails to reach inaccessible public land. Landowners must hold the public land lease and decide how the public may cross their private property for all recreations.

Once enrolled in PALA, landowners will receive monetary compensation, including possible infrastructure reimbursements (e.g., gravel, culverts, cattle guards, etc.) to facilitate public access to inaccessible public lands. Compensation amounts will vary based on a variety of factors, with one landowner possibly holding multiple agreements. The governor-appointed Private Land/Public Wildlife (PL/PW) Advisory Committee will review complete applications and make a recommendation to the FWP director on whether to extend an agreement.

“Offering a tax credit or payment in exchange for public access to inaccessible public land is a unique and innovative way to respect private property rights and increase public access,” said Jason Kool, FWP hunting access program manager. “We hope these opportunities and incentives appeal to many landowners throughout the state.” Landowners have until March 15 to submit applications at fwp.mt.gov/landowner

On a related subject, The Private Land/Public Wildlife Advisory Committee will meet Thursday, February 16, via Zoom from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The 13-member advisory committee, appointed by the governor, is charged with reviewing FWP’s access programs and offering recommendations to help achieve program goals and maintaining good relations between hunters and landowners.

Agenda items include: 2023 PLPW priorities. FWP updates to include a Staff presentation on the Matador Ranch. Landowner relations opportunities with landowner appreciation dinners and Legislative Updates.

The meeting will be streamed live on the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov/plpw. Public comment will be taken via Zoom. To make a comment via Zoom, you must register on the FWP website by noon on Feb. 15. For more information on PLPW and a full agenda, visit the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov/plpw.