A great program that allows access for Montana hunters
Here is an example of what you'll look for when signing in at a BMA box.
Region | 1 |
|---|---|
Total # of BMAs | 16 |
Total # of acres | 710,000 |
Region | 2 |
Total # of BMAs | 70 |
Total # of acres | 540,000 |
Region | 3 |
Total # of BMAs | 87 |
Total # of acres | 529,000 |
Region | 4 |
Total # of BMAs | 130 |
Total # of acres | 1,290,000 |
Region | 5 |
Total # of BMAs | 110 |
Total # of acres | 554,000 |
Region | 6 |
Total # of BMAs | 198 |
Total # of acres | 1,260,000 |
Region | 7 |
Total # of BMAs | 259 |
Total # of acres | 2,138,356 |
Region | Statewide |
Total # of BMAs | 870 |
Total # of acres | 7,021,356 |
Region | Total # of BMAs | Total # of acres |
|---|---|---|
1 | 16 | 710,000 |
2 | 70 | 540,000 |
3 | 87 | 529,000 |
4 | 130 | 1,290,000 |
5 | 110 | 554,000 |
6 | 198 | 1,260,000 |
7 | 259 | 2,138,356 |
Statewide | 870 | 7,021,356 |
While Montana has a ton to offer to any western hunter, perhaps the most important factor is the access. In fact, Montana has just over 33 million acres of publicly accessible land, giving hunters a plethora of options when it comes to their outdoor adventures. Along with all of the state’s public land, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) also offers free public hunting opportunities on privately-owned land through its Block Management Program. The online version of the Block Management Hunting Access Guides can be viewed here.
Originally formed in 1985, the Block Management Program was implemented in an effort to provide free hunting opportunities on private land. Within the program, qualifying landowners can voluntarily offer access to their private land to the state’s hunting populations under a myriad of rules and regulations as agreed upon by the landowner and state officials.
For the 2025 hunting season, approximately 1,200 landowners participated in the program and enrolled approximately 6.8 million acres in the Block Management Program for Montana hunters to enjoy. The areas enrolled in the BMA program range in size from 50 acres to over 100,000 acres.
As stated earlier, hunting and access to any of the state’s qualifying Block Management Areas (BMA) are completely free to hunters. Every year, a small portion of proceeds from license sales is devoted to funding the Block Management Area program. These funds not only compensate the landowners for providing the access, but also for any accidental damages that may occur to their property.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will provide hunter management assistance dependent upon need, property rules, and program availability. FWP will also provide and post signs and develop property maps with associated rules for each property enrolled in collaboration with the landowner.
Landowners are eligible for an enrollment payment of $1,000 and up to $17 per hunter day, with an agreement maximum of $50,000 to offset impacts from allowing hunting access.
In addition, landowners are eligible for up to 5% of their contract total in a weed management bonus if they agree to use the funds for weed management activities on lands under their control.
Resident landowners are also offered a complimentary sportsman's license without a bear or nonresident landowners are offered a deer/elk big game combination license, which they may designate to a family member or employee.
Landowners enrolled in Block Management are provided liability protection under state law through 70-16-302, Montana Code Annotated (MCA), as long as no fees for access/trespass are charged. Landowners are also possibly eligible for reimbursement through FWP's Livestock Loss Reimbursement Program.
Each year, FWP accepts applications from landowners who are interested in participating in the Block Management Program. With a typical application deadline of June 1. Landowners can access the 2026 Block Management Application form here.
Before choosing a Block Management Area in your preferred hunting area, it is important to first understand the differences between the two types of Block Management Areas available, as well as be aware of specific duties expected from hunters.
A Type 1 Block Management Area is classified as an area where hunters can administer their own permission and regulate their own access.
Typically, hunters will find the sign-in boxes at designated access points, though this is not always the case; make sure to refer to your area’s specific access guide for more information. Type 1 Block Management Areas do not limit the number of hunters or require reservations for the number of hunters per day, though some parking areas may have a predetermined vehicle capacity.
A Type 2 Block Management Area is an area where permission is granted from someone other than the hunter, generally the landowner or Montana FWP issues permission. These permissions are usually granted on a first-come, first-served basis or, in some cases, a random drawing.
Depending on the area, some permissions will be given for a week at a time, while others may only allow use for one day at a time. In 2017, a new law was adopted that would allow BMA cooperators to provide preference to veterans on Veterans’ Day when accepting reservations.
If you’re interested in hunting a Type 2 Block Management Area, keep in mind that August 22 is the first day that permissions can be given. Also, an important note: some Block Management Areas will not accept applications until a later date. For more information, check out the access guides when they are made available, typically after August 15 here.
To learn more about Block Management Areas in your chosen area, Montana FWP also provides regional access guides that list specific Block Management Areas in a given area. Maps and access guides can be ordered anytime between June 1 and December 31 and will usually begin shipping around August 15. Starting August 15 of each year, hunters can pick up access guides and maps at any regional office, and maps are also available in the field at sign-in boxes. To view the maps online, view the maps main page here and then click on the Region's Interactive Mapping System links.
Before embarking on a hunting adventure in a Block Management Area, check for specific rules as set by the landowner and the state game agency. Any current regulations set by Montana FWP will apply when hunting Block Management Areas, but certain exclusions, like area restrictions, travel restrictions, or harvest guidelines, may also be applied to a specific area.
Again, hunting opportunities in Block Management Areas vary greatly in terms of methods of gaining access, opening and closing dates, vehicle travel, game retrieval, camping, presence of public lands, size, limits on hunter numbers, etc. It is very important to obtain the current year's Block Management Area map and regulations for the BMA that you intend to hunt.
Beyond basic game laws, it is also smart to remain as ethical, responsible, and respectful as possible. Private landowners are opening their gates to the general public to increase hunting opportunities, but a few bad apples can sour the situation and potentially rob those following the rules of the opportunity.
Many of these areas may contain livestock, and hunters will need to exercise extreme caution. Generally, Block Management Areas containing livestock will have areas either well-signed or completely off-limits to access.
The Block Management program has been excellent in granting access to prime habitat and providing an opportunity for Montana hunters. While the program has definitely helped some, it should also be noted that these private areas will be seen as sanctuaries by many and can sometimes illicit far more attention than you may be looking for.
To put it bluntly, don’t expect to be alone when hunting most of the BMAs in the state, primarily Type I areas. Now, does that mean anyone searching for solitude and unpressured animals should look elsewhere? Absolutely not!
A great statistic that can be used in our Filtering tool, details the percentage of public lands found in a Hunt District. Generally speaking, when I see areas under 60%, I keep on scrolling and looking for the next prospective area. However, consider the use of BMAs to distance yourself from others. If you find a prospective unit that has high success rates, big bucks (or bulls), but a higher percentage of private land all hope is not lost. Instead, study the BMA maps for the area and note areas where public ground butts up against these areas. This might save you miles of walking around a ranch to find forgotten spots of public land or may grant access to areas previously shut off to access due to Montana’s corner crossing laws. The bottom line? Think beyond the immediate area.
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Maps can be ordered from the Region 1 FWP office at (406) 752-5501 or picked up directly from the office at 490 North Meridian Road, Kalispell, Montana 59901.
The main link for the Region 1 page can be found here.
Maps can be ordered from the Region 2 FWP office at (406) 542-5530 or picked up directly from the office at 3201 Spurgin Rd, Missoula, MT 59804.
The main link for the Region 2 page can be found here.
Maps can be ordered from the Bozeman Regional Headquarters office at (406) 577-7900 or picked up directly from the office at 1400 South 19th, Bozeman, MT 59718. Or at the Butte area office at 1820 Meadowlark Lane, Butte, MT 59701 or (406) 494-1953.
The main link for the Region 3 page can be found here.
Maps can be ordered from the Region 4 FWP office at (406) 454-5862 or picked up directly from the office at 4600 Giant Springs Road, Great Falls, MT 59405.
The main link for the Region 4 page can be found here.
Maps can be ordered from the Region 5 FWP office at (406) 247-2940 or picked up directly from the office at 2300 Lake Elmo Drive, Billings, MT 59105.
The main link for the Region 5 page can be found here.
Maps can be ordered from the Region 6 FWP office at (406) 228-3700 or picked up directly from the office at 1 Airport Road, Glasgow, MT 59230. Or the Havre area office at 2165 Hwy 2 East, Havre, MT 59501 or (406) 265-6177.
The main link for the Region 6 page can be found here.
Maps can be ordered from the Region 7 FWP office at (406) 234-0930 or picked up directly from the office at 352 I-94 Business Loop, Miles City, MT 59301.
The main link for the Region 7 page can be found here.
If you’d like to challenge yourself while using the Montana Block Management Program, consider non-traditional routes of use for the lands. If you’re simply looking to fill your tag and fill the freezer, well, that’s just fine, too!
Note: The article was originally published in early 2018 and has been updated with more information.
