Cooperative program benefits hunters and landowners

Block Management is a cooperative program between private landowners and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks that helps landowners manage hunting activities and provides the public with free hunting access to private land. Every year, FWP hosts banquets around the state to recognize the contributions that landowners in the Block Management Program make for the hunting community. This year in south-central Montana, banquets were held in Harlowton, Absarokee, Roundup and Billings.

For their voluntary participation, landowners receive impact payments from FWP based on the number of hunters that visit their property in a season. FWP collaborates with each participating landowner to create unique and specific rules and maps for properties in the program. Landowners also receive a free hunting license combination and property signs and patrol by FWP staff. For many landowners, however, the true benefit of the Block Management Program is knowing their participation perpetuates Montana’s hunting heritage.

During the 2024 hunting season, there were 106 Block Management Areas in FWP’s Region 5 for a total of 501,093 enrolled acres. On those properties, there were 40,178 hunter days over the 2024 season.

Interested in enrolling your property in Block Management? Applications are open until June 1 for the 2025 season. For more information on applying, visit: fwp.mt.gov/hunt/landownerprograms/block-management or, if located in south-central Montana, contact Ian Davidson at 406-247-2959.

Landowners who enroll property in Block Management are recognized for their years of participation. The following landowners and ranches were recognized this year for their Block Management enrollment milestones:

25 Year Award

Bermes Ranch – Broadview

K Garfield – Lavina

Diamond X Farms – Huntly

Fifty 10 Ranch – Melstone

Mountain View Colony – Broadview

Smith Ranch – Ryegate

20 Year Award

Hurless Family (Gage Dome) – Roundup

Diamond Quarter Circle Ranch – Roundup

Johnke Ranch – Roundup

Carter Ranch – Nye

L Diamond V Ranch – Harlowton

Guthrie Ranch – Absarokee

15 Year Award

Rosh Farms – Custer

Hiner Ranch – Judith Gap

10 Year

Ed Lode Ranch – Judith Gap

Raths Ranch Roundup & Lavina – Roundup