Montana: BLM Management Plan Will Affect Motorized Big Game Retrieval

The Bureau of Land Management has released a plan for the management of 2.4 million surface acres of public land and 4.2 million acres of federal minerals in North Central Montana.  These lands and minerals are managed by three BLM Field Offices in Havre, Malta, and Glasgow, along with the Great Falls Oil and Gas Field Office.  The draft plan addresses planning issues concerning the BLM’s management of natural and cultural resources, many of which have been discussed in newsletters available on its website.

The Hiline District Draft RMP/EIS would close much of the planning area to hunters’ use of motorized vehicles to retrieve big game.  The BLM’s preferred management alternative would allow the use of hand held wheeled carts.  Other management alternatives in the Draft RMP/EIS would permit motorized retrieval between the hours of 10:00am and 2:00pm.  Target shooting will not be allowed in developed areas.

The plan can be found here.  Public comments on the plan will be received until June 20^th.  Comments can be submitted here or by fax at (406) 233-3650 or by mail to:  Havre Field Office, 3990 Highway 2 West Havre, MT 59501.

For further information, you may contact:  Brian Hockett, Project Manager at (406) 262-2837 or by email.

Below is a schedule of public meetings the BLM will be hosting in May.

Public Meeting Schedule
(Open House Format)

May 6, 6:00-8:00 pm
Cottonwood Inn
Highway 2 East
Glasgow, MT 59203

May 7, 6:00-8:00 pm
Great Northern Hotel
2 South 1st Street East
Malta, MT 59538

May 8, 6:00-8:00 pm
Triangle Telephone Hospitality Room
2121 Highway 2 NW
Havre, MT 59501

May 9, 6:00-8:00 pm
Liberty Community & Senior Center
618 Adams Ave E
Chester, MT 59522

May 13, 6:00-8:00 pm
BLM / Forest Service Office
1101 15 Street North
Great Falls, MT 59401

If you hunt or target shoot on any of the lands within the planning area, the NRA strongly encourages you to take the opportunity to attend one of the public meetings and to review the draft plan to see whether it will affect your continued enjoyment of these public lands.