Improving Upland Game Bird Habitat and Access

Improving Upland Game Bird Habitat and Access
By angelamontana

Posted: September 12, 2019

To improve habitat for upland game birds, landowners can apply to enroll in a variety of cost-share programs under the Upland Game Bird Habitat Enhancement Program (UGBHEP) to develop, enhance, and conserve Montana’s upland game bird habitats. Part of the agreements for these programs is that the land in the project area remains open to reasonable public hunting. Generally, up to 75% of the cost of the landowner’s UGBHEP project can be reimbursed.

One of the UGBHEP options to secure habitat and provide hunting opportunity is the Open Fields program. Open Fields started in 2012 and is a grant program that combines Farm Bill funds with state hunting license dollars. The program works with landowners to manage CRP in a wildlife-friendly way that provides important cover for Montana’s game birds. Conservation-incentive programs like Open Fields are geared to help landowners keep some land enrolled in CRP and to provide public game bird hunting opportunities.

Interested hunters can find the locations of Open Fields and other UGBHEP projects in the annual Montana Upland Game Bird Guide Enhancement Program Access or through the “hunt planner” on the FWP website.

In addition, the Block Management Access guides are another great resource to find places to hunt for upland birds.

Improving Upland Game Bird Habitat and AccessBy angelamontana

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Improving Upland Game Bird Habitat and Access
By angelamontana