Proposed Big Snowy conservation easement provides elk access

BRETT FRENCH | bfrench@billingsgazette.com

In a hunting district with the second-largest elk population in the state, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is proposing a conservation easement that would include a minimum of 400 hunter days a year.

The 3,652-acre easement to a portion of the Hannah Ranch, located on the northwest corner of the Big Snowy Mountains in Fergus County, is proposed for 99 years, the first time FWP has offered such an easement. 

Jamie and Lisa Gilbert own the ranch. The Gilberts already provide some public access to adjoining national forest land about six miles south of Moore, in central Montana.

The cost of the easement was appraised at $3.56 million. Public comment on the proposal is being taken through July 28. A public meeting will be held in Lewistown on July 21 at 6 p.m. at the Bureau of Land Management Field office, 920 NE Main St.

Second-largest elk herd

As of 2025, FWP estimated the elk population in the Big Snowy Mountains and surrounding Hunting Districts 411 and 535 at more than 7,400 animals. Only three hunting districts in the Gravelly Mountains contain more elk, estimated at around 10,800.

“Because elk are currently abundant on this and neighboring properties, increased hunting pressure from additional free public access as a result of this term conservation easement may improve elk management across this localized area, resulting in long-term, beneficial impacts,” FWP suggested in its draft environmental assessment.

However, one hunter familiar with the area told FWP the “elk are hit or miss on this ranch,” according to excerpts from scoping comments. “You have to be at the right place at the right time. The only downside to this will be the additional hunting pressure on the elk by the public. This will keep them pushed over on 3 bar and on Janelle Bergums where access is limited to the public.”

Owners of the neighboring and expansive Three Bar Ranch, which offers “significant” public cow elk hunting via a drawing and charges for bull elk hunts, requested free bull tags from FWP to offset what they say will be increased problems as more people access the Hannah Ranch.

FWP declined, saying it didn’t have such authority and noting there are already opportunities for landowners to receive free bull tags through other agency programs.

Two other neighboring landowners also expressed concern that an influx of hunters will increase trespassing, prompting a request for the installation of a fence and a claim that a road that provides access to one easement parcel —Logan Ridge Road — is not a public road and no easement would be granted. FWP said the agency would place signs along the easement’s boundaries and a title search found the road is a county route, although unmaintained.

Out of 23 comments FWP received on its proposal, 15 “expressed general support” based on the habitat protection and public recreational access.

Parking areas proposed

To help offset some of the neighbors’ concerns, FWP said two gravel parking areas would be installed on the separate easement parcels. From there, access would be walk-in only. Should the Logan Ridge Road be muddy or snowed in, the landowners can close off the route to public use, FWP noted.

Shortly past the Forest Service boundary that could be accessible is the 98,000-acre Big Snowy Wilderness Study Area, where motorized access is not allowed.

Under the conservation easement, the Gilberts would allow “year-round, unfettered walk-in access to adjacent (Forest Service) lands,” the draft EA said.

“At present, limited access points exist to USFS lands of the Big and Little Snowy Mountains, particularly on the northern side having only two access points across the nearly 20-mile span,” the draft EA said.

“There is no public access on the far western end of the Big Snowies,” the document noted. “Crystal Lake Road is (about) 4 miles away from the Hannah Ranch boundary, and the topography in between the proposed Hannah Ranch and Crystal Lake Road is rugged. A term conservation easement on the Hannah Ranch would provide the only reasonable public access point to the far west end of the Big Snowy Mountains.”

Two parcels

The easement is composed of two separate parcels, the larger O’Brien Place and smaller Logan Place, adjacent to Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest lands. They are separated by about a mile.

“The Hannah Ranch provides important year-round and winter range habitat for a variety of big game species — elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, moose, mountain lion, and black bear,” according to the draft EA. “Sharp-tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge, ruffed grouse, and Merriam’s wild turkey also inhabit the property along with numerous nongame species, including potentially 50 Species of Concern.

“Notably, (about) 1,000 elk that inhabit the western end of the Big Snowy Mountains use the property as part of their calving, summer, and wintering habitat.”

Creeks crisscross the properties, watering land that’s mainly native mixed-grass prairie dotted with groves of aspen, cottonwood and pine trees.

FWP’s draft EA touted the easement as providing “significant agricultural values, wildlife habitat, native plant communities, natural and scenic open space, and public recreational opportunities” while maintaining traditional agricultural use.

“Two, five acre building envelopes, one on the Logan Place and one on the O’Brien Place, are written into the Deed of conservation easement to allow for two housing sites should the current or future landowners want to add limited housing on the property,” the draft EA said.

To comment on the proposal or to read the complete draft EA, log on to FWP’s website. Comments must be received by July 28 and can be emailed to Sonja Andersen at sandersen@mt.gov with subject “Hannah Ranch CE” or mailed to: Hannah Ranch Conservation Easement, c/o Sonja Andersen, PO Box 938, Lewistown, MT 59457.

^{Feature photo: Elk inhabit the Hannah Ranch, including using the property as a calving ground on the northwest corner of the Big Snowy Mountains. FWP photo}