Chapter III - Block Management Then and Now 



House Bill 195 Passed 



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

 through 269, MCA) which created two landowner incentive 

 programs. Both programs constitute the enhanced Block 

 Management Program. The programs center around improving 

 hunting access to private lands and providing tangible benefits to 

 landowners who allow access to their lands for hunting. 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; 



► Number, sex, and species of animals taken; and 



► Access provided to adjacent public lands. 



A maximum of $8,000 a year can be paid to a landowner. 



Incentives Committee 

 Recommended 

 Compensation Amounts 



The department director appointed an Incentives Committee 

 comprised of 1 1 sportspeople and landowners. The committee was 

 established to provide recommendations to the FWP Commission for 

 the department to administer the "tangible benefits" portion of the 

 Hunter Access Enhancement Program contained in HB 195. 



Based on the committee's recommendations the following 

 compensation amounts for landowners were established: 



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Basic enrollment payment - available to landowners who enroll 

 land in the program, paid annually for enrollment or renewal. 

 (In 1996 the enrollment payment was $500. The payment was 



