The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the availability of the final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP), associated final environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact for the Charles M. Russell Wetland Management District. This action is not related to the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge nor its CCP.
The district is located within the Northern Great Plains in central and southcentral Montana and is bounded on the north by the Missouri River Breaks and on the south by the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.It encompasses four national wildlife refuges (Grass Lake, Hailstone, Lake Mason and Warhorse), six waterfowl production areas and five conservation easements in six Montana counties: Petroleum, Musselshell, Golden Valley, Yellowstone, Stillwater and Carbon.
The final CCP, developed under the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, describes the vision, goals, objectives and strategies that will guide the long-term management of the district. The CCP also identifies wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities available to the public, including opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, environmental education and interpretation.
Management objectives and strategies for the district include invasive species management, use of prescribed fire and livestock grazing to meet conservation goals and objectives. Additionally, the Service proposes to open additional acres to hunting and improve access and information for district visitors.
The CCP will propose to allow the use of lead ammunition for expanded big game hunting opportunities consistent with Montana hunting regulations. The use of lead shot for migratory and upland game bird hunting is currently prohibited under federal regulation on lands within the National Wildlife Refuge System. New area openings and opportunities would not take effect until completion of the federal rulemaking process for the Service’s 2026-2027 Station-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Final Rule.
A copy of the final CCP and supporting documents can be found on the Charles M. Russell Wetland Management District website: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/charles-m-russell-wetland-management-district.
Learn more about the district at: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/charles-m-russell-wetland-management-district.
Additional Resources
- Improvement Act: https://www.fws.gov/law/national-wildlife-refuge-system-improvement-act
- About NWRS: https://www.fws.gov/program/national-wildlife-refuge-system
- What Refuges Do: https://www.fws.gov/program/national-wildlife-refuge-system/what-we-do
- 11 Ways Refuges Make Life Better: https://www.fws.gov/story/11-ways-wildlife-refuges-make-life-better
- Hunting on Refuges: https://www.fws.gov/activity/hunting
Source: USFWS
