Montana Block Management Thoughts

Joined
May 18, 2013
Messages
30
Location
Marquette, MI
Hey All,

Over the past 5 years or so, I've taken advantage of the Block Management Program in Montana. Big success no problems. I recently contacted a few of the ranches that I normally hunt to see how the deer/elk population looks and just find out if there have been any changes. According to the Block Management Regs, you can't make reservations until August 22nd. That's usual. Anyway, so as I'm talking to these ranchers, it becomes clear that they are already full booked for this year! What? It's their land and I didn't challenge them at all, but if your in block management and the book says you take reservations, but I can't make reservations until August 22nd....and now your saying your completely booked for this year...ya see what I'm saying. As it turns out, it appears to be the case with every ranch that I contacted in that area. Just doesn't seem right, since the ranches get reimbursed by the State to let hunters on their land.

Am I off on this? Thanks boys.
 
If the state is reimbursing the guys and it is their rule that you can't make reservations until August 22 then the State should take care of all the reservations. That is the only way a system like that is going to work.

You got further than we did with the block management stuff. A few years ago we called a few of the landowners multiple times and they never answered the phone and never called back. Spent a month trying to get a hold of them. I'm guessing the landowners want the elk/deer reduced but have zero interest in performing the administrative duties for the entire program. Nor can I blame them.
 
Agree with you jmez. I think the initial idea of Block Management was a good one, but I can see it dwindling down to nothing over time. You can talk to the Dept. about it, but they don't seem to much less care. The State already has our money.
 
The same as a lot of government agencies, they are understaffed, we think they don't seem to care.

I do see BM decreasing in the future. I drew an antelope tag in 590 in MT a few years ago and had put in because there were a number of places in BM in previous years. After I drew I went to get the maps of....2 places that were in BM. One of the places that had been is now owned by the Morman church so no longer BM or hunting allowed, the Hutterites were charging for access, and everywhere else was no hunting. I hear the Galt ranch is now in BM and I shot one of my first speed goats there when I was in middle school but that was way before block manangement.
 
When i have done BM where you had to do reservations i had to call the state to make those reservations. Granted i know its mixed, some say call the rancher, and others are managed by the state. I think what you are experiencing is a case of the rancher double dipping. Taking reservations from previous hunters for a cost. That's my guess, could be totally wrong. I honestly can say i had more luck with walk up properties then reservation properties. Last year i made a reservation on one, and sure enough the rancher was hunting it and had friends out there hunting driving around on quads, even though it said no quads. I was supposed to have 3 days to myself, far from it but the second day i moved on. The state doesn't have the staff to manage it at all. So your going to run into people abusing it. I contacted the state about my issues, not sure what came of it. I think its a great program but your gonna run into these problems.
 
Turn them in. I ran into this problem last year, I called about 10 minutes after it opened up for reservations and they were all good and had plenty of time available until they found out I was not going to be renting one of the cabins they had on the property, they then suddenly became booked in the time that I was on the phone with the ranch owner.
 
bullshooter block management is much less meaningfull now that the ranchers have shoulder seasons to knock the population down without forcing them to allow access during the season so they can get more money from people who want to have a chance at the bigger bulls. This is exactly what the farmers and ranchers wanted with the shoulder seasons and FWP pushed it through with 85% public disproval. This is FWP's issue to resolve. Call them and let them know how unhappy you are with their system and the ranchers that are out of line. Do it today though before the BMA booklets are released Monday the 15th or FWP will not do a thing if they do anyway.
 
Thanks for all the input men. It seems we mostly have the same issues with this Block Management deal. It's certainly being abused and I would guess ultimately will be changed, and probably not for the better. I work with State government everyday in my own business and understand how clumsy they can be. Here in Michigan, State government couldn't organize a two car parade. And that's across the board in every department.

Anyway, I've contacted the Block Management folks in Montana, via phone and email and let them know. I hope more of us do the same. Not everything in life is fair, I certainly know that. But since they happily accept my $600 for a deer tag every year...some of which supposedly goes toward the Block Management Program, I think I have some right to holler a bit. Thanks again.
 
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