Service, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Fergus County 

 Conservation District, Fergus County Extension Service, and the Fergus County 

 Commissioners will be consulted and met with as requested and needed. 



An annual "in lieu of taxes" payment will be made by MFWP to Fergus County equal to 

 rates established for other landowners in the County. 



Management Objectives 



Manipulating vegetative plant communities on the Beckman WMA is expected to increase 

 yearlong usage by mule and white-tailed deer, sharp-tailed grouse, and pheasants. The 

 population objective is to have 120 mule deer and 60 white-tailed deer on the WMA 

 during early fall. The population objective for ring-necked pheasants is to increase the 

 number of males in spring to 5X the current number. The population objective for sharp- 

 tailed grouse is to increase total number by 2X. 



MFWP will continue its aggressive approach to weed management on the Beckman 

 WMA. Noxious weeds will be identified, mapped, and controlled in a manner consistent 

 with MFWP's Region 4 Weed Management Plan. There are 2 objectives for weed 

 management on the Beckman WMA. (1 ) Will be to stop the spread of noxious weeds, and 

 (2) reduce the occurrence of noxious weeds on the Beckman WMA. MFWP will use its 

 own personnel and/or private contractors, and coordinate with adjacent landowners and 

 county weed boards for weed control. 



Impacts 



Proposed changes in management direction for the Beckman WMA - adjustments to 

 some land use practices ~ will benefit the wildlife currently using the area. Improving 

 habitat quality and quantity will assist in alleviating potential deer problems on adjacent 

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

 be implemented: scareguns; temporary panels for haystacks; materials for permanent 

 haystack yards; kill permits; and special hunting seasons. A combination of the above 

 methods would be used as necessary to resolve problems which might occur. 



Public use of the property will be guaranteed from April 1 through December 15. Use 

 duhng this period will be consistent with the established management/travel plan. 



Management Activities 



Aerial and ground surveys and inventories of wildlife use of the area will be conducted. 

 The area will be used on occasion for capturing and individually marking deer and other 

 wildlife as research needs arise. Changes in numbers and patterns of use by deer and 

 other big game and wildlife species will be documented. Vegetation sampling and 



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