MFWP will coordinate with adjacent landowners, both private and public, in developing 

 land management plans. These may include, but are not limited to: a cooperative 

 grazing system, developing land trades, conservation easements, and/or additional 

 land purchases. MFWP will continue to concentrate on our block management and 

 hunting access program with landowners adjacent to, or affected by, the acquisition 

 and the JRWMA. Public entities such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land 

 Management, Montana Department Natural Resources and Conservation, and the 

 Natural Resource Conservation Service will be consulted. MFWP will meet mth the 

 Judith Basin County Commission and adjacent private land owners as requested and 

 needed. 



MFWP will continue its aggressive approach to weed management on the JRWMA. 

 Noxious weeds will be controlled as identified and in a manner consistent v^th MFWP's 

 Region 4 Noxious Weed Management Plan. The Department will continue to 

 coordinate with adjacent landowners and county weed boards for weed control. 



An annual "in lieu of taxes" payment will be made by MFWP to Judith Basin County, in 

 accordance with rates established for other landowners in the County. 



Public use and access to the property vy/ill be managed consistent with MFWP's state 

 and regional management objectives for WMA's. Recreation on the Hughes property 

 and adjacent National Forest land is expected to increase. Elk harvest in the area is 

 expected to increase. Deer, pronghom, and game bird harvest will likely remain stable. 

 Access objectives include public use of the area consistent with resource protection 

 goals (i.e., vegetation patterns and soil stability). A winter use closure to all 

 unauthorized activities will be implemented. This seasonal closure is designed to 

 address wildlife cover, security, and forage needs; and to prevent human disturbance. 

 This is consistent v\/ith a seasonal closure policy in effect on all wildlife management 

 areas within MFWP's Region 4. Other regulations as they specifically relate to this and 

 other WMA's will also apply. These Include a closure to all mountain lion hunting and 

 restrictions on fur trapping activities. 



Impacts 



The stated changes in management direction for the Hughes property and adjustments 

 to some land use practices will benefit much of the wildlife species currently using the 

 area. Improving habitat quality will reduce the potential for future elk use problems on 

 adjacent private lands. Should game depredation occur, one or more of the following 

 methods vAW be implemented: fencing, scareguns, panels for haystacks, materials to 



build permanent stackyards, kill permits, and special hunting seasons. A combination 

 of the above methods would be used as necessary to resolve problems v\4iich might 

 occur. 



