Report Summary 



the department ensure the directions on the Block Management Area 

 maps can be followed and the areas are properly signed prior to the 

 hunting season. 



Landowner and Hunter 

 Knowledge of the 

 Program 



We sent questionnaires to hunters and to landowners who have not 

 expressed an interest in the program. We found some hunters and 

 landowners did not know about the program. Hunters also had 

 problems with the availability of tabloids and maps. The department 

 does not have a process to easily inform the public, hunters or 

 landowners about the program. There is no general information 

 about the program at license dealers or other public places that deal 

 with hunters and landowners. We recommend the department help 

 promote landowner v 'sporstmen partnerships by developing a process 

 to easily and broadly explain the Block Management Program and 

 how it works in each region. 



Role of Staff in the 

 Program 



We reviewed the roles of field staff, particularly coordinators, 

 wardens and biologists in the Block Management Program. The role 

 of biologists and wardens varies by region. In some regions 

 biologists and wardens negotiate block management contracts with 

 landowners in their area of responsibility. In other regions 

 biologists and wardens have virtually no block management 

 responsibilities. Based on comments and observations made during 

 the audit we are not sure biologists and wardens are aware of all the 

 nuances of the Block Management Program. Having biologists and 

 wardens negotiate contracts leads to inconsistencies in information 

 given the landowners. These biologists and wardens are then 

 responsible for the administration of the contract process. We 

 recommend the Block Management Coordinators in each region be 

 responsible for contract administration and sign installation for the 

 Block Management Program. 



Improvements in 

 Operating Efficiency 



When discussing the Block Management Program with regional 

 staff, and reviewing documentation from Block Management 

 Coordinators and annual reports, we noted a number of activities 

 occurring in some regions that would be helpful in other regions. 

 Many of the activities are included in annual reports each 

 coordinator writes and sends to Helena. Reports also contain forms 

 used for hunter day tabulation and post-season surveys, letters sent 



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