FWP launches landowner stewardship program

HELENA – In Montana, maintaining positive relationships between hunters and landowners is a critical part of our culture and our heritage. In many towns around the state, these relationships extend well beyond hunting season as landowners and hunters share a commitment to their communities and ways of life.  

Over the years, however, things have changed and it’s more common now for hunters to use access programs to hunt private land, rather than gaining access through a direct contact with a landowner.  

To help promote hunter ethics and build awareness and knowledge about the importance of investing in hunter/landowner relationships, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is relaunching an education program targeting hunters.  

The new Hunter Landowners Stewardship Program is an online program that takes participants through a series of videos and test questions. Once completed, the participant can print a certificate of completion and have the completed program attached to their FWP licensing account.  

Additionally, people who take the program before Feb. 15, 2025, will be entered to win a pair of Leupold binoculars, valued at $250, donated by Capital Sports in Helena and Leupold. One entry per person.  

“The relationship between hunters and landowners is critical in Montana,” said Greg Lemon, Communication and Education Division Administrator for FWP. “We know most hunters understand and value these relationships, but some do not. We believe that through some additional education, we can generate a broader understanding of the issues important to landowners that hunters can be conscious of while in the field.” 

More than 20 years ago, FWP saw a growing disconnect between hunters and landowners and created an education program targeted at hunters to help educate them about hunting private land and various considerations they should make. The original Hunter Landowner Stewardship Project was a great success and over the years hundreds of hunters have taken advantage of the program.  

The new education program has the same objective – teach skills to help hunters behave appropriately when hunting private land and build an understanding about why their actions and ethics are important.  

The program discusses general safety, access programs, minimizing impacts to private land and landowners, and basic guidelines for things like noxious weeds, gates, and trash.  

“Some of this stuff may seem pretty basic to a lot of hunters,” said Francis Reishus, FWP Outdoor Skills Manager. “But it’s a good reminder and refresher for all hunters. It also touches on ethics and the importance of developing a personal ethic as a hunter, which I think is a critical foundation to making good and safe decisions in the field.”  

It’s Up To Us 

The new Hunter Landowner Stewardship Program is the latest addition to FWP’s It’s Up to Us campaign, which is an education and outreach effort to highlight the importance of good hunter behavior and the value of cultivating good relationships between hunters and landowners.  

FWP and 12 partnering organizations promote five key components for hunters to consider while in the field. 

* Plan ahead for access 

* Respect private property 

* Practice safe hunting 

* Turn in poachers 

*Gratitude goes a long way.  

Additionally, FWP is hosting the “Thank a Landowner” web portal again this season. This is an easy way for hunters to pass on a note of thanks to landowners who have allowed them access. Hunters can also share a photo. FWP collects these submissions and mails letters and photos to all landowners who were identified. Last year nearly 600 hunters submitted a thank you note to private landowners through the portal.