Take Care Of State Trust Lands, Eliminate Wildfire Starts During Hunting Season

With the start of hunting season, many people will turn to publicly accessible lands to pursue game animals. That access is accompanied with the responsibility to care for the land and understand the varied rules and restrictions across ownership types.

“State Trust Lands are a unique holding within state-managed lands in Montana,” said Jessica Hoag, recreation use and access coordinator. “These working lands help generate revenue for schools and other public institutions in our state.”

Managed by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, State Trust Lands are leased for a variety of uses to generate revenue. In 2022, 46.3 million dollars were distributed to the common school trust.

Damage caused by concentrated recreation and wildfire greatly reduces the revenue-generating capacity of the land, threatening the funding to Montana kids.

So far in 2023, 51 wildfires have started on State Trust Land. Roughly 50 percent of these wildfires were human caused with another 22 percent of an undetermined cause – but many are suspected to be human caused.

“Please help us manage these lands by doing your part in caring for the land and we ask that anyone recreating or hunting on legally accessible State Trust Land or other lands open to the public take a few simple steps to reduce your impact,” said Don Pyrah, Glasgow unit manager.

Hunters and recreationists should follow these few steps to care for State Trust Land:

– Check local rules, closures, and restrictions before recreating or hunting on State Trust Land.

– Park in areas free of tall grass to prevent sparking a wildfire with hot vehicle exhaust and do not block gates.

– Pack out all trash and debris.

– Know your surroundings and discharge firearms in a careful and prudent manner. Firearms may not be discharged within a quarter mile of an inhabited dwelling or outbuilding or on State Trust Land with a firearm restriction in place.

– Ensure you possess the proper licenses and permits, including a Conservation License.

– Only drive on dedicated federal, state, and county roads, or other roads regularly maintained by the county, or on other roads which have been designated as open.

– Check fire restrictions and limit campfire use only to designated campgrounds, ensuring fires are always attended and completely out.

– Use only certified weed free forage for horses and other pack animals.

For more information or specific questions on state land, please refer to https://dnrc.mt.gov/recreation or contact a local Department field office.