The Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program (UGBEP) Projects Access Guide is now available. The UGBEP administers more than 600 habitat projects on private and public lands, conserving and enhancing over 370,000 acres of game bird habitat while providing nearly 740,000 acres of hunting access for game bird hunters.
The UGBEP guide contains all active projects administered through the program including Open Fields, habitat management leases, food and cover plots, CRP enhancements, aspen regeneration, native rangeland restoration, shelterbelts and grazing systems. Habitat projects are located in all FWP regions and designed to enhance game bird habitats on lands open to free game bird hunting when permission to hunt is secured. The guide also includes tables listing all habitat projects and maps that depict locations of private and public land projects enrolled in the program. View or request your free 2026 UGBEP Projects Access Guide at fwp.mt.gov/ugbep.
The UGBEP guide provides an excellent resource to help hunters plan ahead for access. Planning ahead is a key component of FWP's Respect the Hunt program. Other components are to respect private property, practice safe hunting and turn in poachers. Remember: Protect the hunt. Respect Access.
For more information about UGBEP, contact UGBEP coordinator Debbie Hohler at 406-444-5674 or dhohler@mt.gov.