Cattle grazing is part of the overall management plan for the JRWMA and will be considered in 

 the fiature. The Hughes Livestock Company does not anticipate an overall reduction in cow/calf 

 pairs due to this transaction. Personal property taxes associated with cattle should not change 

 due to the fee title acquisition of this land by MFWP There will be no significant changes in tax 

 revenues to local governments including schools due to the purchase of this land by MFWP. 



B. Economic Impacts 



The economic impacts associated with this purchase on local businesses are related to the Hughes 

 Livestock Company's cattle operations and the hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities this 

 property provides. 



Since there is no anticipated change in the Hughes overall cattle operation the economic impacts 

 to local businesses will be neutral. 



According to the environmental assessment the addition of this land to the JRWMA will provide 

 for 150 additional hunter days and 400 recreation days (bird watching, horseback riding, etc.) of 

 use. It will also guarantee continued present use levels, as provided by an annual cooperative 

 block management agreement between MFWP and the landowners The expenditures associated 

 with the hunting and recreational use will have a positive impact on local businesses Resident 

 hunters spend approximately $50.00 per day on such things as gas, food, lodging and 

 miscellaneous items and nonresident hunters spend about four to five times that amount. Wildlife 

 viewers spend about $70 00 per day on the same trip-related items. 



FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS 



As noted at the beginning of this document, the Hughes Livestock property is located in Judith 

 Basin County about 10 miles southwest of Utica, Mt. 



This fee title purchase will provide protection to the overall integrity of the Judith River Wildlife 

 Management Area The purchase will eliminate the concern about subdivision thereby preserving 

 the open space characteristics of the JRWMA and maintain public access opportunities. 



The fee title purchase by MFWP of the subject property will not have a significant affect on tax 

 revenues collected by Judith Basin County from their current levels. 



The economic impact to local businesses will be positive related to the recreational use estimated 

 for this property. Expenditures by the Hughes Livestock Company are not expected to change 

 so businesses in the retail sectors providing goods and services to the cattle operation will not be 

 impacted Those businesses providing goods and services to hunters and other recreational users 

 using the Hughes property will see an increase in retail sales based on the increase in use projected 

 by the environmental assessment. 



