Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is trying something new. Instead of the usual forever-deals, they’re proposing a 99-year “conservation easement” on over 3,600 acres of prime land in Fergus County. Think of it as a century-long VIP pass for the public and a security guard for the local wildlife.
The Details
- The Spot: Hannah Ranch, sitting right in the foothills of the Big Snowy Mountains.
- The Perks: It opens up a brand new gateway to 120,000 acres of national forest, keeps local ranching alive, and protects top-tier habitats for deer and elk.
- The Twist: It’s a 99-year deal—the first of its kind for FWP. If this works, it could be the blueprint for a whole new way to score public land access without locking things down until the end of time.
Have Your Say The state is looking for feedback before making it official. The 30-day comment window runs from June 29 to July 28.
If you want to voice your opinion in person (or just hear the debate), there’s a public meeting happening in Lewistown on July 21 at 6 p.m. at the BLM Field Office.
Click here for more info on the Hannah Ranch term Conservation Easement EA
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FWP
