If you’ve been sitting on a brilliant idea to fix up a slice of Montana’s great outdoors, it’s time to put down the fly rod (just for a second) and pay attention.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) just opened the vault. They are officially taking applications for the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP), and they have up to $1.8 million on the table.

Whether your dream project involves restoring a native grassland, healing a bruised watershed, or making a local ecosystem a whole lot cozier for Montana’s wildlife and aquatic critters, this is your green light.

Here is the fast and dirty breakdown of how to snag a piece of the pie:

• The Window: The clock is officially ticking. The application period opened on May 18 and slams shut on June 19. No extensions, no “the dog ate my proposal” excuses.
• Where to Go: Head over to funding.mt.gov and look for the catchy title: “FWP Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program Grant Cycle 2026”.
• The Rookie Rule: If you’re new to this specific rodeo, you have to register in the WebGrants system before you can actually apply. Don’t leave this to the last minute unless you enjoy administrative stress.

You don’t have to navigate the bureaucracy alone. FWP is hosting a helpful webinar in June to walk interested applicants through the weeds.

If you have burning questions right now, you can bypass the bots and talk to a real human. Reach out to the WHIP Coordinator himself:

• Contact: Andrew Amidon
• Email: andrew.amidon@mt.gov
• Phone: 406-444-7291

Tip: Want the direct link to all the nitty-gritty details sent straight to your screen? Drop a comment with the word “WHIP” below, and we’ll get you hooked up.

Let’s go make Montana a little wilder.

^{Feature photo: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks}