Located at the southern end of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, the Blackfoot- Clearwater Wildlife Management Area (WMA) serves as the largest WMA in Montana, providing year-round habitat and sanctuary for migratory herds of elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer. Approximately 1,000 elk migrate out of the Bob Marshall Wilderness each year onto the Blackfoot-Clearwater game range, along with 800 to 1,000 mule deer and 600 to 1,000 white-tailed deer. The WMA also is home to grizzly bears, black bears, wolves and moose.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has identified 7,800 acres of Plum Creek Timber Company in holdings within the Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA that not only provide critical winter range for elk and deer, but also fall under constant evaluation for their residential and recreational development values. Any land use changes will reduce this landscape's ability to support wildlife populations, making it imperative to safeguard the Plum Creek in holdings to protect the animals that dwell there.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Fish, Wildlife & Parks, along with many other cooperators, now have the opportunity to bring these 7,800 acres into state ownership through land trades and public acquisition.

Schedule & Strategy

• Announce the negotiated exchange package on or before the 50th year celebration on June 12, 1999 at the Blackfoot- Clearwater WMA. Lands, funding sources and amounts will be obligated at that time, although details of the legal transactions may remain to be finalized.
• Raise $1,000,000 in matching funds from private sources by May 1, 1999 to activate FWP's funding commitment and enable the land acquisition facets of the project.
• Consider all appropriate and mutually beneficial avenues for transferring Plum Creek properties into state ownership (i.e., land exchanges involving FWP, DNRC, Bureau of Land Management, Lolo National Forest and/or others; fee-title acquisition by FWP, either directly or indirectly; conservation easements granted and/or sold by Plum Creek; others?).
• Exercise a pledge of support from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to assist with bridge loans (if needed), appraisal and related expenses, fund raising and general expertise.
• Keep in touch with the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, Montana Board of Land Commissioners, Blackfoot-Clearwater Citizens Advisory Council and other involved public/private liaisons.
• Identify all opportunities, pursue all options.

Return to Projects

Upcoming Events

• 9/6/2008: Gold Country BGB in Deadwood , SD
• 9/6/2008: Powder River BGB in Gillette, WY
• 9/27/2008: Platte Creek BGB in Platte Creek, SD

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

• Prairie City Aspen Enhancement Project in Prairie City Ranger District, Malheur NF, Prairie City, OR, OR
• Crooked River National Grassland Westside Stewardship Project in Crooked River National Grassland, Madras, OR
• Winom-Frazier / Mt. Emily Road Rehabilitation in Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, LaGrande RD, OR

Recent Projects

• Prairie City Aspen Enhancement Project in Prairie City Ranger District, Malheur NF, Prairie City, OR, OR
• Crooked River National Grassland Westside Stewardship Project in Crooked River National Grassland, Madras, OR
• Winom-Frazier / Mt. Emily Road Rehabilitation in Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, LaGrande RD, OR