The Fish and Wildlife Commission has approved the purchase of a conservation easement in central Montana that will protect bighorn sheep, mule deer and sage grouse habitat south of the Missouri River near Winifred. The 4,600 acres is known as the Whiskey Ridge Conservation Easement. As part of the deal, the landowner has agreed to never graze domestic sheep on the land. Sheep carry bacteria that can cause pneumonia in bighorns. The agreement also includes hunter access to a portion of the ranch through the Block Management Program. To learn more about this and other conservation success stories, see my story at https://billingsgazette.com/lifestyles/recreation/conservation-easement-protects-missouri-breaks-bighorn-habitat/article_8b176e5b-d63f-54f9-b2fc-2edc4e464f3b.html
Written by Brett French – Outdoors Editor for the Billings Gazette/Montana Untamed
