HELENA?– Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on the following proposals and environmental assessments (EA). For more information, including how to submit comments, click on the link provided or visit?fwp.mt.gov/public-notices.
FWP is seeking public comment on proposed 2025 Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) grant proposals.?The OHV program received 12 grant requests and proposes to award $500,000. The program receives funding through OHV/motorbike registrations, gas tax and the Summer Motorized Trail Pass revenues.?Montana’s OHV Program supports projects such as trail maintenance, signs, trail stewards, ethics education, noxious weed control, safety and mapping efforts.?Grant awards are allocated by FWP with recommendations from the citizen-based Off-Highway Vehicle Advisory Committee (OHVAC).
?Comment deadline: June 10
?Community Shooting Range grant proposals
FWP is seeking public comment on proposed FY2026 Community Shooting Range grant proposals.?The Shooting Range program received 16 grant requests and proposes to award $400,000. The program receives funding through state license dollar revenues.?Montana’s Community Shooting Range Development Program supports projects such as range development, ADA enhancements, new equipment, signs and noxious weed control efforts.
Comment deadline: June 10
Lepley Creek Livestock Private Pond License Review
A private landowner is applying for a Private Fish Pond License and proposes to stock rainbow trout, brown trout, westslope cutthroat trout and brook trout in an unnamed private pond on North Branch Knapp Creek. The pond is 0.31 surface acre and is located near Cascade.
Comment Deadline: June 10
Hodge Private Pond License Review
A private landowner is applying for a Private Fish Pond License and proposes to stock brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout. The pond is on an intermittent spring drainage approximately 200-feet from the spring source. The pond was previously permitted for fish stocking, but the license has expired.
Comment Deadline: June 10
A private landowner is applying for a Private Pond License and proposes to stock trout in a private pond. The pond is roughly 0.45 surface acre and is located near Helena.?
Comment Deadline: June 10
Pospisil Private Pond License Review
A private landowner is applying for a Private Fish Pond License and proposes to include brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout as permitted species on the license. The pond is on an intermittent drainage. The pond was previously permitted for fish stocking, but the license has expired.
Comment Deadline: June 10
Miller Colony Pond License Review
A private landowner is applying for a Private Fish Pond License and proposes to stock rainbow trout, brown trout and westslope cutthroat trout in a private pond. The pond is roughly 4 surface acres and is located near Choteau.?
Comment Deadline: June 10
Region 3 Habitat Conservation Leases
FWP proposes to purchase long-term habitat conservation lease on approximately 2,922 acres of privately owned property in Region 3. The intent of the Conservation Lease is to retain blocks of high-priority wildlife habitats while keeping land in working agricultural production.?
Comment Deadline: June 19
Region 4 Habitat Conservation Leases
FWP proposes to purchase three long-term habitat conservation leases on approximately 9,884 acres of privately owned property in Region 4. The intent of the conservation lease is to retain blocks of high-priority wildlife habitats while keeping land in working agricultural production.?
Comment Deadline: June 19
Region 5 Habitat Conservation Leases
FWP proposes to purchase a long-term habitat conservation lease on approximately 1,621 acres of privately owned property in Region 5. The intent of the conservation lease is to retain blocks of high-priority wildlife habitats while keeping land in working agricultural production.?
Comment Deadline: June 19
Region 6 Habitat Conservation Leases
FWP proposes to purchase nine long-term habitat conservation leases on approximately 22,703 acres of privately owned property in Region 6. The intent of the conservation lease is to retain blocks of high-priority wildlife habitats while keeping land in working agricultural production.
Comment Deadline: June 19
Region 7 Habitat Conservation Leases
FWP proposes to purchase 12 long-term habitat conservation leases on approximately 57,964 acres of privately owned property in Region 7. The intent of the conservation lease is to retain blocks of high priority wildlife habitats while keeping land in working agricultural production.?
Comment Deadline: June 19
Westslope Cutthroat Trout Restoration in Trapper and Rock Creeks, Big Hole River Drainage
FWP proposes to restore native westslope cutthroat trout (WCT) in Trapper and Rock (near Wisdom) creeks in the Big Hole River drainage.?Competition and predation by brook trout have significantly reduced WCT distribution in both streams.? Fish barriers (small wooden waterfalls) have been or will be constructed in both Trapper and Rock creeks.?
Comment Deadline: June 23
Draft Montana Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP)
FWP has prepared this draft 2026–2030 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) for public review and comment. The SCORP identifies outdoor recreation priorities and strategies for the next five years, providing a framework to guide decision-making and investments across Montana.?
Comment Deadline: June 26
Within-Range Translocation of Bighorn Sheep in Madison Mountain Range, Southwest Montana, Phase 2
The proposed project would be to translocate, over the course of 10 years, 50 to 100 bighorn sheep from existing herds within the Madison Mountain Range to a historic but unoccupied winter range in the center of the Madison Mountain Range at Bear Creek WMA.? The timeline of the proposed project would extend from 2025-2035 due to the need to draw bighorn sheep from the source herd, monitor its numeric recovery and repeat as necessary until the new herd is established. ?
Comment Deadline: June 26
Smith Creek Private Pond License Review
A private landowner is applying for a Private Fish Pond License and proposes to stock rainbow trout in an unnamed private pond. The pond is 0.6 surface acre and is east of Belgrade, about 5 miles north of the East Gallatin River. The East Gallatin River contains rainbow trout and brown trout. The pond is fed from a developed spring located at the site. The outlet consists of a screened vertical pipe control structure. The intermittent discharge of the pond is directed toward a spring which eventually reaches Bill Smith Creek. Rainbow trout are not native the East Gallatin River but were legally stocked. Rainbow trout could be removed from the pond via chemical treatments or through senescence.
Comment Deadline: June 21
Papoose Meadows Private Pond License Review
A private landowner is applying for a Private Fish Pond License and proposes to stock rainbow trout in an unnamed private pond. The pond is 0.45 surface acre and is south of Cameron about, 135 yards east of the Madison?River. The Madison River contains brown trout and rainbow trout. The pond is fed from groundwater recharge. The outlet consists of a screened Agri-Drain control structure. The intermittent discharge of the pond is directed toward a vegetated swale on the property. Rainbow trout are not native to the Madison River but were legally stocked. Rainbow trout could be removed from the pond via chemical treatments or through senescence.
Comment Deadline: June 21