HELENA — Landowners interested in allowing public hunting access on their property or providing access through private land to public land, may now apply for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks 2026 hunting access programs.
Applications and program information are available for several landowner options, including Block Management, Block Management Access Corridors, Elk Hunting Access Agreements, Public Access Land Agreements and Unlocking Public Lands. For more information, contact a local FWP regional office or visit fwp.mt.gov/hunt/landownerprograms.
Landowners proposing access routes through private land to landlocked or difficult-to-access public lands must apply by March 15. Application deadlines for landowners allowing public hunting access on private lands are May 1 for Elk Hunting Access Agreements and June 1 for Block Management.
FWP offers multiple tools to assist landowners with managing public access on or through their property. In all FWP access programs, landowners retain control by setting the rules and conditions for when, where and how the public may use enrolled lands.
All landowners participating in FWP access programs receive liability protection in accordance with 70-16-302, MCA. Depending on the program, additional landowner benefits may include hunter management assistance, monetary compensation for hunter impacts, infrastructure reimbursements to support public access to public lands and complimentary licenses or permits in exchange for allowing public hunting access.