Hunters Reminded of Regulations on Plum Creek Land

Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Headlines - Region 2

This article was Archived on Saturday, November 22, 2008

When planning a hunting trip this fall, hunters need to be mindful of the regulations associated with using Plum Creek Timber Company Land in west-central Montana.

This year, for the first time, all of Plum Creek’s approximately 500,000 acres in west-central Montana is part of the Montana, Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) Block Management Program.

Private landowners voluntarily enroll in Block Management—a cooperative program between private landowners and FWP—and in turn hunters gain free hunting access to private land.   FWP helps patrol the areas, enforcing land use rules and hunting regulations.

Bart Morris, FWP’s Region 2 Block Management Coordinator, reminders hunters that although Plum Creek lands may look and feel like the public lands, they are private, and they may have different land use rules and regulations than public lands that often border them.

“It is important to remember that although public access is established in an agreement, these lands are private, and everyone who passes through them is a visitor,” Morris said.    “ In order to ensure continued access to this BMA and others, it is the hunter’s responsibility to know and follow the rules and respect the land and the landowner.”

A few of the Plum Creek Block BMA regulations to keep in mind are:

Watch where you drive :  Motorized vehicle travel is only allowed on designated roads.   Motorized travel is not allowed beyond gates (even if open) or past barriers unless otherwise signed. Off-road vehicle travel is prohibited.

·         Camping is limited to 14 days, and no campsite may be left unattended for more than three consecutive days.

·         Firewood cutting is only allowed with a permit.

·         Take measures to help prevent the spread of noxious weeds .

·         Garbage should be packed out.  

·         Campfires should be closely monitored.  

Morris encourages hunters to to patrol themselves while using BMAs and to report all suspected violations. Hunters should record as much information as possible about the incident and then call the state’s 1-800-TIP-MONT hotline or the local FWP office to report all violations.

“Respecting the land use rules and reporting all violations is important so that we can continue to keep BMA lands unharmed and open to the public,” Morris said.

For more information on the Plum Creek BMA lands, or a listing of all BMAs in west-central Montana, stop by the Block Management self-help station at the Missoula FWP office, 3201 Spurgin Road, or call 406-542-5530.  

-fwp-