Can I camp on BMA in Montana? Please help!

[dietter700]

Hey Ya'll, I can not find a definitive answer to this questions. I am heading out to Montana in a couple weeks to chase mule deer and made a couple reservations to hunt some BMA. I would like to set up camp and hike to where I want to glass and hunt. There is a lot of BLM and State land that are land locked on the BMA that I choose to hunt.

The question is .... if I have permission/ reservations to hunt that particular BMA can I then camp on the BLM or State land with in the BMA ???

I'm sure someone knows the answer to this out there...

Thanks in advanced!

 

[Joelweb]

Interesting question. I'd call the local FWP person and ask them. While you can technically camp on BLM land, that's not the only consideration. There are a couple different agencies and a private landowner at play.

 

[Dos Perros]

Depends on the BMA. Each BMA could have different rules. Often times the rules for the BLM or state ground could be tightened to align with what's allowed on the private. For example some BMA's preclude the harvest of sage grouse, and that goes for the state and BLM ground as well as the private within the BMA. You should be able to download an individual BMA's "sheet" from the FWP and review the rules. As long as there isn't a specific rule preventing camping then you should be good to go on the BLM and state.

 

[dietter700]

So this is the answer I got from them first:

"You can camp on any BLM that is legally accessible at any time. "

So then I wrote back about the same time I made this post:

"Sorry to make this complicated . When you say “You can camp on any BLM that is legally accessible at any time.” I still don’t know if that means I am allowed to camp on BLM with in the BMA or not ."

Then they said this:

"You can camp on the BLM that is accessible off the county road within the BMA boundary. "



So thank you all for your time and help, and now we know the answer.

Side not, some BMA are restricted by the landowner themselves not the state program and rules may vary per land owner ect.

 

[cornfedkiller]

For example some BMA's preclude the harvest of sage grouse, and that goes for the state and BLM ground as well as the private within the BMA.

Are you positive about that? Not arguing, just want to be sure I know what the rules are.

To add to the OP's question - has anyone tried to camp on BMA land - not BLM or state land within it, but the actual BMA itself - with the owners permission of course, but just curious if anyone has any experience with landowners and camping.

 

[dietter700]

Are you positive about that? Not arguing, just want to be sure I know what the rules are.

To add to the OP's question - has anyone tried to camp on BMA land - not BLM or state land within it, but the actual BMA itself - with the owners permission of course, but just curious if anyone has any experience with landowners and camping.

I have an other BMA reserved as well which is type 2 (meaning you communicate and check in with land owner) and the wildlife division guy told me to check with the land owner. So to my knowledge they may let you camp, it's worth an ask.

 

[Dos Perros]

Are you positive about that? Not arguing, just want to be sure I know what the rules are.

To add to the OP's question - has anyone tried to camp on BMA land - not BLM or state land within it, but the actual BMA itself - with the owners permission of course, but just curious if anyone has any experience with landowners and camping.

I just went to look up the one that used to preclude harvest of sage grouse...this was some years ago and I don't see it on there anymore.

Region 4: Murphy Coulee #152
http://fwp.mt.gov/export/blockManagementMaps/r4/152_murphyCoulee_2019.pdf

Anyway, it does say:

"6. Camping is prohibited on private lands within BMA."

That seems to indicate camping is not dis-allowed on the state or BLM. Additionally, it says:

"7. Open fires or ignition sources outside of motorized vehicle are prohibited."

Notice it doesn't say within private or whatever, so one could conclude no smoking is allowed even on the BLM or state within.

To the OP: read the rules for the BMA you have in mind, and if the rules aren't clear or they are confusing, then call and ask. Just be prepared for the most conservative interpretation of the rules in that scenario.

 

[hobbes]

Read the particulars in each BMAs map and BMA rules sheet. Not going to be many if any that allow camping on private land. I hunt one BMA in particular that does not allow camping on the private land without written permission from the landowner but you can camp on the landlocked state land within it. It's spelled out clearly in the BMAs rules.

 

[dietter700]

Read the particulars in each BMAs map and BMA rules sheet. Not going to be many if any that allow camping on private land. I hunt one BMA in particular that does not allow camping on the private land without written permission from the landowner but you can camp on the landlocked state land within it. It's spelled out clearly in the BMAs rules.

Oh okay, so it sounds like some places you can. Good to know. the rules about camping for my BMA we’re not spelled out clearly.


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[hobbes]

If not clear, I'd call and talk to the region's BMA coordinator. If it's not addressed, I'd lean toward no without permission.

 

[Dos Perros]

If it's not addressed:

-if the piece of BLM/state can be accessed via public road I'd definitely camp there
-if you have to access via the private ground I'd lean toward no without permission

 

[hobbes]

If it's not addressed:

-if the piece of BLM/state can be accessed via public road I'd definitely camp there
-if you have to access via the private ground I'd lean toward no without permission

Yes....that's a better way of saying it.

I do know of a BMA that has a piece of state land included that is clearly bordered by a state road, so legally accessible from all laws that I'm aware of. But ......the BMA rules sheet clearly states in bold letters this state land cannot be accessed from highway, so the state has chosen to make it only accessible through signing into the BMA.

 

[204guy]

^^^ off on a bit of a tangent but that can be true of state land. If its BLM you can laugh at them as you access your public land.

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[Dos Perros]

Yes....that's a better way of saying it.

I do know of a BMA that has a piece of state land included that is clearly bordered by a state road, so legally accessible from all laws that I'm aware of. But ......the BMA rules sheet clearly states in bold letters this state land cannot be accessed from highway, so the state has chosen to make it only accessible through signing into the BMA.

Yeah, Montana kinda does some weird things I think. I have to believe there is some sort of negotiation that goes on when ranchers are considering setting up a BMA, and some of these terms make it in there, even if they aren't legally enforceable, or at least onerous to enforce. It's a great state though.