HELENA – Hunters on some block management areas will see changes this year as some landowners have enrolled in a new program to reinforce the importance of landowner rules.  

As a result of Senate Bill 441, introduced by Senator Denley Loge, landowners now have the option to opt-in to the block management enforcement network. The network is intended to assist with hunter compliance of rules on block management areas (BMAs). 

“The hope is that this reminds hunters that using BMAs is a privilege and will keep a hunter who’s convicted from breaking rules on one property of going to a neighboring property and breaking rules there, too,” said Peter Glowacki, chief of FWP enforcement. 

When a hunter commits a violation on a BMA in the enforcement network that results in a conviction, that offender is subsequently restricted from accessing all BMAs in the network for a period of time.  

According to Glowacki, violations in varying degrees occur everywhere people are hunting and recreating. Violations on BMAs are not necessarily more common than other areas. However, they sometimes have more visibility and effect because of the impact on the landowners allowing the access.  

“It is important for wardens to be responsive and attentive to hunting on BMAs and address violations to ensure landowners continue in the program,” Glowacki said. 

In addition to following rules on all public and private lands, hunters accessing lands enrolled in the enforcement network must follow all rules governing access to block management property. Any conviction based on a violation of those rules will result in the following:   

1. For a first conviction, the individual must be prohibited from accessing all lands participating in the Montana block management enforcement network for the remainder of the current license year;   
2. For a second conviction, the individual must be prohibited from accessing all lands participating in the Montana block management enforcement network for up to three consecutive license years; and   
3. For a third conviction, the individual must be prohibited from accessing all lands participating in the Montana block management enforcement network for life.  

For 2026 season, there are more than 830 landowners across 550 BMAs participating in the network. A list of those can be found in the Block Management access guide as well as on FWP’s website.  

“Landowners offering access via the block management program are an important part of Montana hunting culture,” Glowacki said. “Those same landowners expect hunters to respect their property and follow the rules. Participation in this network simply emphasizes that expectation while providing some additional leverage for enforcement.” 

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