Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program (UGBEP) is seeking landowners interested in planting food plots for game birds in 2016. The primary focus in Region 6 will be in Daniels, Sheridan, Roosevelt, and Richland counties.

Landowners can apply to enroll in this cost-share program to develop, enhance, and conserve Montana’s upland game bird habitats if the land in the project area remains reasonably open to public hunting.

The UGBEP can cost-share up to 75% of the total cost of establishing a food plot with a diverse seed mix, or reimburse landowners $150 per acre on up to 10 acres for leaving standing grain over winter near good cover.

Food plots of standing grain, or a diverse seed mix, can help game birds like pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse and Hungarian partridge survive Montana’s tough winters. Diverse seed mixes can also function as winter cover and important summer habitat for game bird chicks, songbirds, and pollinators.

If you are interested in helping upland game birds by putting a food plot or other habitat improvement on your land, and would like more details about the program, please contact Region 6 Habitat Specialist Ken Plourde at 406-474-2244.