Report Summary 



Introduction 



The Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) formally started 

 the Block Management Program in 1985. Prior to 1985 a number of 

 landowners expressed concerns about the number of hunters on their 

 land, damage to the land, and the time it took the landowner to deal 

 with hunters. Landowners were threatening to close their land to all 

 public hunting. In response, the department created the Block 

 Management Program. The intent of the program was to help 

 landowners control hunters on their land. The program was 

 enhanced by the 1995 Legislature to provide tangible benefits to 

 landowners to encourage public access to their land. Funding is 

 provided from outfitter-sponsored non-resident deer or elk 

 combination big game licenses. 



Expenditures 



Block Management Program expenditures include department 

 operating expenses and payments to landowners enrolled in the 

 program. Payments to landowners in fiscal years 1996-97 through 

 1998-99 were: $2,757,103, $2,571,381, and $2,541,936. 

 Department operating expenditures averaged $532,000 for the three 

 years. 



Enhanced Program 

 Created 



In 1995 the legislature passed House Bill 195 (sections 87-1-265 

 through 269, MCA) which created two landowner incentive 

 programs. The Hunter Management Program (section 87-1-266, 

 MCA) allows the department to provide sportsman licenses to 

 resident landowners and combination licenses to non-resident 

 landowners. The Hunter Access Enhancement Program (section 

 87-1-267, MCA) compensates landowners for impacts to their land 

 by hunters or for providing access through their land to adjacent 

 public land. Land restricted by outfitting or commercial hunting is 

 not eligible for the program. Factors used in determining benefits to 

 landowners include but are not limited to: 



The number of days of public hunting provided by a 

 participating landowner; 



Wildlife habitat provided; 

 Resident wildlife game populations; 



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