Protect the hunt. Respect access. Those are simple words to remember and put into practice. They are also the key concepts of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' free Hunter-Landowner Stewardship Program. The program offers tips and reminders for hunting safely, respecting working lands and understanding landowner perspectives.
"Protecting the hunt and respecting access go hand in hand," said FWP Director Christy Clark. "This program and raffle reward hunters who take the time to learn about working lands and do their part to keep private land access open."
To participate in the program, go to FWP's Protect the Hunt webpage. Participants watch short, videos that cover access etiquette, safe hunting and working-lands awareness, and then take a test.
Anyone can take the test, and participants aged 18 and over who pass can enter the Protect the Hunt Raffle for donated hunts and gear. The raffle is now open, and 11 winners will be selected at random in spring 2027.
One of the prizes is a chaperoned hunt on the MPG Ranch.
Here is a list of all FWP's Protect the Hunt Partners for this year and their generous contributions to help maintain private land access:
- Maven | C.1 10x42 binoculars and a CRF.1 rangefinder
- onX | Five individual one-year Elite memberships
- MPG Ranch | elk hunt
- The prize winner and a friend will get a chaperoned hunt on the MPG Ranch south of Missoula. The prize winner may harvest a management bull elk, and an antlerless elk or either-sex white-tailed deer on the ranch, located in hunting district 204. The friend can harvest an antlerless elk or an either-sex white-tailed deer.
- MOGA & Montana Outfitting Company | guided hunt
- An exclusive guided hunt – winner's choice: elk, deer, antelope, upland bird or varmint.
- Montana Knife Company | MKC culinary set - orange and black
- Weatherby | Vanguard Obsidian rifle
- Capital Sports | hunting package
- Christensen | Ridgeline FFT carbon barrel rifle in 300 Winchester Magnum
- GPO | Centuri 3-18x44 riflescope
- Eylar | Rifle hard case
- Vortex | 10x50 Viper binoculars and Diamondback 2000 laser rangefinder
- Stone Glacier | Avail 2200 pack
- Lone Mountain | 75-quart bear certified cooler
- Kenetrek | Mountain Extreme Boots (men's or women's)
- Sitka | $500 gift card
- Capital Sports | $500 gift card
Protect the Hunt connects ethics, education, and incentives in a way that benefits hunters, landowners and partners. As more hunters take the test and live out these values, Montana's hunting traditions and private-land access become more secure for the long term.
Why partners are supporting Protect the Hunt
"This is a great opportunity to highlight the importance of conservation and wildlife management on the MPG Ranch and give a couple of hunters a great opportunity for a special hunt," said.
-- Craig Jourdonnais, MPG Ranch hunt coordinator
"Montana Outfitters & Guides Association and Montana Outfitting Company know how important it is for hunters to respect access on Montana's private lands. By joining FWP's Protect the Hunt effort, we're happy to help strengthen hunter–landowner relations and keep that access open for the long term."
-- Will Israel, executive director of Montana Outfitters & Guides Association
"How we hunt has a lot to do with protecting our opportunities and privilege to hunt in Montana. Respecting it all, the wildlife, the lands, landowners and each other is really important. It's exciting to see the support for FWP's Protect the Hunt campaign. These prizes are amazing and every hunter should take a few minutes to view this message and take the test in this Protect the Hunt campaign. Good luck and happy hunting!"
-- Ed Beall, chair of the Private Land/Public Wildlife Advisory Committee and owner of Capital Sports in Helena
