FWP seeking early input on Gallatin WMA management plan
This 8,611-acre WMA spread out in several units south of Big Sky provides secure winter habitat for elk and moose, and habitat for many species of wildlife year-round.
Plan to address habitat, infrastructure and human use
BIG SKY – Wildlife staff with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks are seeking early input on the development of a management plan for Gallatin Wildlife Management Area.
The WMA includes 8,611 acres in several distinct units near Big Sky in the Gallatin and Madison ranges, established to conserve year-round habitat for a variety of wildlife, especially winter range for elk. Public input will help inform the development of a plan that will guide FWP’s management of the site as an area of critical importance to wildlife.
The WMA management plan will identify three major management priorities: habitat, infrastructure and human use. Habitat management goals include maintaining seasonal closures for wildlife protection and completing wildlife habitat improvement projects. Infrastructure management goals include maintaining roads, parking areas, creek crossings, signage and the existing work station. Human-use management goals include rehabilitating unauthorized routes that have negatively impacted wildlife habitat on portions of the WMA and managing human uses of the WMA to ensure wildlife security and habitat conservation.
The human-use management portion of the plan will also be analyzed in an environmental assessment, which will become available for public review in the coming weeks. To subscribe to public notices of environmental assessments published by FWP, click here.
Members of the public are invited to send feedback and ideas they’d like FWP staff to consider related to the three management priorities mentioned above as the plan is developed. These comments are due by 5 p.m. on Nov. 6.
Feedback and suggestions can be sent by email to Julie Cunningham at juliecunningham@mt.gov or by mail to:
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
C/O Julie Cunningham
1400 S. 19th Ave.
Bozeman, MT 59718
For more information on the development of a management plan for Gallatin WMA, click the link below.
