FWP developing new habitat leasing program
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is developing a new private land habitat leasing program that the department plans to add to conservation easements and land purchases funded by hunting license sales.
FWP will continue to pursue purchases and easements using funding from the Habitat Montana account, Director Hank Worsech and spokesman Greg Lemon said in an interview. But interest from landowners and some county commissioners, as well as controversy over some past projects, contributed to the decision to develop and fund a leasing program.
The goal for the program is leasing 500,000 acres in five years, with a focus on prairie grasslands, and specifically, sage grouse habitat, they said.