Fish and Wildlife Commission Unanimously Approves Big Snowy Mountains Acquisition

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On August 25th the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission’s unanimously approved the purchase of the 5,677-acre property at the base of the Big Snowy Mountains to create the state’s newest wildlife management area. The project now heads to the Montana Land Board who must give final authorization to approve the project.

"Thanks to the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission for their leadership and for dedicating Habitat Montana dollars to such a worthy project,” said Montana Wildlife Federation Board Member Glenn Elison of Lewistown. “We hope Governor Greg Gianforte and the Montana Land Board will follow suit and get Montana's newest Wildlife Management Area across the finish line for the benefit of future generations."

"We'd like to thank the entire commission, but especially Region 4 and 5 Commissioners Walsh and Cebull, for approving this once-in-a-generation opportunity in the heart of elk country,” said Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Central MT Board Member, Doug Krings. “We can't thank Shodair, FWP, RMEF and the Commission enough for their roles in ushering this through, and we hope the Land Board takes note of the nearly universal support this project has received."

The state’s purchase of the land at the base of the Big Snowy Mountains will directly unlock public access to 10,000 acres of scenic wild lands for hunting and recreation, while also benefiting Shodair Children’s Hospital.  

Shodair became the owner of the land when Forrest Allen of Cody, Wyoming donated his family’s homestead to the children’s hospital upon his death in 2019. The proceeds from the sale of the property will go toward a new children’s hospital being built by Shodair.

The property is about 20 miles south of Lewistown and is adjacent to the BLM Twin Coulee Wilderness Study Area, which is adjacent to the Big Snowy Mountains Wilderness Study Area that the Forest Service owns. 

Dick Raths, a longtime Central Montana veterinarian and cattle rancher who has ranched on the south side of the Snowies since 1960, said access to public lands in the area has become increasingly problematic. 

“With the ultra rich coming in and making Montana into their private playground, things changed,” Raths said. “The proposed Big Snowies WMA is an opportunity to provide hunting and recreational access to a special area. Without hunting access there will be a decline in hunters, which makes wildlife management problematic. I urge the Montana Land Board to embrace the broad public support for this WMA and approve this deal."

According to Montana Fish Wildlife and Park’s environmental analysis, the lack of public access to elk is the largest contributing factor to the local elk population being roughly 900% over objective. 

The sale of the property to the State of Montana to create the Big Snowy Mountain Wildlife Management Area would be paid for with money from the federal Pittman Robertson Wildlife Restoration funds and the state’s Habitat Montana fund.

The Habitat Montana program raises money through hunting license sales and taxes on recreational marijuana, and helps landowners create new public access and protect habitat-rich lands from development. 

The project must still receive final authorization through a vote of the five members who make up the Montana Land Board. Earlier this month, the Land Board narrowly voted to approve a minor expansion of the Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area. 

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