Wildlife Migration Corridor Conserved, Public Access Expanded in Southwest Montana
Posted on: Dec 17, 2024
MISSOULA, Mont. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation collaborated with a landowner and the U.S. Forest Service to acquire and convey 396 acres of habitat within a southwest Montana wildlife migration route and convey it to the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. As a result, the habitat is now protected and public access is greatly improved to adjacent public land.
The property is on the northwest end of the Tobacco Root Mountains near the town of Whitehall.
We greatly appreciate Paul Hunt, who is also an RMEF member, for his desire to conserve vital landscape. His family watched over and cared for this land for six decades. Now, it is in the publics hands to hunt and otherwise use and enjoy, said RMEF President and CEO Kyle Weaver. We also salute our long-standing partners at the U.S. Forest Service who will oversee the wildlife and recreational values of the land going forward.
The Point of Rocks tract features a mixture of rangeland and mountainous terrain with several species of trees. As such, it provides year-round habitat and is part of a migration corridor for pronghorn antelope as well as winter range for elk, mule deer and moose. It is also home to mountain lions, bobcats and other wildlife.
Opening and securing quality public access is a core value of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Forest Service, which made this a natural partnership. The work they do to conserve and protect elk habitat and hunting opportunities is a benefit to all Americans, said Tim Laney Butte District ranger.
It was previously difficult to reach because of extremely rugged terrain but because the property connects to a county road, it now greatly improves public access to an additional 2,700 acres of public land as the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest lies immediately to the east and land managed by the Bureau of Land Management is to the south.
Funding for the project came from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Founded in 1984 and fueled by hunters, RMEF has conserved more than 8.9 million acres for elk and other wildlife. RMEF also works to open and improve public access, fund and advocate for science-based resource management, and ensure the future of Americas hunting heritage. Discover why Hunting Is Conservation at rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.