1. INTRODUCTION 



House Bill 526, passed by the 1987 Legislature (MCA 87-1-241 and MCA 87-1-242), authorizes 

 Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) to acquire an interest in land for the purpose of 

 protecting and improving wildlife habitat These acquisitions can be through fee title, 

 conservation easements, or leasing. In 1 989, the Montana legislature passed House Bill 720 

 requiring that a socioeconomic assessment be completed when wildlife habitat is acquired using 

 Habitat Montana monies These assessments evaluate the significant social and economic impacts 

 of the purchase on local governments, employment, schools, and impacts on local businesses 



This socioeconomic evaluation addresses the fee title purchase of land presently owned by 

 Hughes Livestock Company The report addresses the physical and institutional setting as well as 

 the social and economic impacts associated with the proposed fee title purchase. 



n. PHYSICAL AND INSTITUTIONAL SETTING 



A Property Description 



The property is located about 60 air miles southeast of Great Falls, Mt and 10 miles southwest of 

 Utica, Mt. adjacent to the Judith River Wildlife Management Area (JRWMA). This fee title 

 purchase encompasses approximately 2143 acres in Judith Basin County A detailed description 

 of the property is included on page two of the environmental assessment (EA) 



B. Habitat and Wildlife Populations 



This mountain foothill property is mainly open grasslands habitat with spring fed 

 riparian/grassland drainages There are no permanent streams on the property. The JRWMA and 

 adjacent lands support a herd of 800 - 1 100 elk, 150 - 250 mule deer along with pronghom, 

 white-tailed deer, black bear and mountain lions A complete list of species that utilize these 

 habitats is included in the Environmental Assessment, Appendix IL 



C. Current Use 



This property is currently utilized by the Hughes Livestock Company as pasture They run 175 

 cow/calf pairs and a few bulls during a four month long summer/fall grazing program each year. 



