Video: Private Property and Access Programs

Transcript for HLSP Video 3

Lauren Karnopp, Montana FWP: Preparing for your hunt is nearly as important as your behavior out in the field. What lands are you accessing? Are they federal, state, or privately owned? If they’re private, how do you plan to get permission? Did you know you needed permission?

Jon Obst, Game Warden Sergeant: 64% of Montana is private property. Those private property owners have rights and expectations when you’re out there, whether they own a house in town or large farming/ranching operation. Like you, rural landowners have a right to say who can and cannot access their property. If you’re hunting on private property without permission, you are trespassing. You can be cited under Montana law.

Francis Reishus, Montana FWP: Since 1985, FWP has facilitated public hunting access on private land through the Block Management Program.

Sam Lawry, Landowner: Landowners voluntarily enroll and receive benefits for providing public access on their lands that Fish, Wildlife & Parks will help manage. There are different types of block management areas, so be sure you know before you go which type of hunting and how to seek permission. It’s helpful, too, to have an access backup plan in case of last-minute changes.

On screen: HAVE A BACK-UP PLAN

Speaker: There are a few options and tips for accessing private land. First, do your research and learn who the private landowners are. One option is to go to fwp.mt.gov, and visit our BMA page to see a list of landowners enrolled in our Block Management Program.

Once on the BMA website page, click on the Access Guide and maps for the region you’d like to access. These documents contain essential information, including the property rules and permission requirements. Since each property has unique rules, you must familiarize yourself with them.

Taking the time to understand the lands where you are hunting can enhance your experience and protect the livelihoods of the landowners on working lands. It’s essential to be aware of the schedules of ranchers and agricultural producers, as this can be beneficial when planning your hunts.

In early fall, you can expect grazing management and agricultural harvest to occur on these private lands. During your spring hunts, activities such as weaning calves, moving cattle, branding, and planting crops are common on working lands. During your early winter hunts, ranchers move livestock to winter pastures and prepare for winter feeding. Each landowner is different, so it’s important to clarify with the landowner what you need to be aware of when accessing these lands.

Sam Lawry: Fish, Wildlife & Parks also facilitates private land access and access to isolated public lands through other programs, like Public Access Land Agreements and the Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program, among others.

On screen: PUBLIC ACCESS LAND AGREEMENTS (PALA); UPLAND GAMEBIRD ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

You can find out more information about Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ landowner programs on their website.

Lauren Karnopp: Tools like FWP’s Hunt Planner can get you started, while mobile apps like OnX and Avenza can provide more information while afield. Make sure to check the hunting regulations for the area where you plan to hunt, and know the landowner’s specific rules. In addition to specifying who is allowed access, landowners can establish rules on the number of people allowed, the game hunters can harvest, how hunters can retrieve game, and more.

Hunters are expected to know and follow all conditions for access on private lands. So, you’ve got a plan, you have permission, and you signed into a block management area, and you head into the field. The day is crisp and clear. An hour later, you’re tracking your quarry along the fence line, you spot a buck and take a safe, legal shot.

Though you’ve hit it, it doesn’t drop. Instead, the animal scrambles and bounds over the fence. You know from your map that the deer has just crossed onto a neighboring property where the landowner doesn’t allow hunting. What do you do? Should you have taken the shot? Scenarios like this are common and underscore the importance of preparation and taking full responsibility of your actions.