Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP)

Contact FWP Wildlife Division or regional FWP office (2024 Landowner Guide).

Deadline text on the page: No application window; projects proposed internally/with landowners, ranked, and approved by the Fish and Wildlife Commission.

General office

Habitat Montana is FWP's hunting-license-funded program to conserve important wildlife habitat, with the legislature directing FWP to try conservation easements or leases before buying land outright. 'FWP offers incentives to landowners to conserve habitat on private land, including, in some cases, the purchase of a conservation easement.' Projects go through ranking, public review and Fish and Wildlife Commission approval.



- Montana private landowners with important, threatened wildlife habitat (2024 guide: 'Landowners interested in preserving traditional farm and ranch land and conserving natural resources, such as wildlife habitat, may partner with FWP.').

Payment per unit of land to do or avoid certain practices related to land management.

Easement

Purchased or donated conservation easements, long-term habitat conservation leases, or fee purchase; FWP easements require public access (per MBWP guide). Process includes proposal ranking, Commission endorsement, public scoping (640+ acres), MEPA environmental assessment, county notification and public hearing.

Published amounts: 'HB 526 became reality and is currently generating about $5-6 million per year for conserving important habitat that is seriously threatened.' No per-project amounts.

Respond to FWP's April solicitation by the June deadline; reference the Montana Forest Legacy Assessment of Need when assembling an application.

Deadline text on the page: 'FWP conducts annual solicitations for forest conservation proposals in April with a June submission deadline.' 'Successful projects are awarded funding approximately 2 years after the original proposal solicitation.'

Rick Northrup

Wildlife Habitat Bureau Chief

Montana's Forest Legacy Program funds permanent conservation of high-value working forests, mainly through conservation easements, via nationally competitive USDA Forest Service grants managed by FWP. FWP solicits forest conservation proposals each April with a June deadline; proposals go through state and national ranking. Priorities (2020 Assessment of Need) are wildlife habitat, drinking water and forest productivity.



- Working forest landowners in Montana (2024 Landowner Guide: 'FWP offers conservation easements to retain forest habitats in parts of western and west-central Montana.').
- 'These perpetual agreements are only eligible on lands that are at least 75 percent forestland, operate in a sustainable forest management system, and provide a negotiated level of public recreation access.' (2024 guide)

Perpetual conservation easements (some fee-title acquisitions become FWP WMAs); funded from offshore oil and gas lease earnings via the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Published amounts: Nationally competitive grants; no per-project amounts published.

Talk to your area fisheries biologist first, then submit the application and budget sheet to the Future Fisheries Coordinator (FWPFFIP@mt.gov or Fisheries Division, 1420 E. Sixth Ave., P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701) on or before May 15 or November 15; pre-project photos required.

Deadline text on the page: 'The Future Fisheries Improvement Program grant applications are due May 15 (summer cycle) and November 15 (winter cycle) of each year.' Next deadline = winter cycle, November 15, 2026.

Future Fisheries Coordinator

The Future Fisheries Improvement Program funds on-the-ground projects that restore wild fish habitat in Montana lakes, rivers and streams, including fish passage, stream channel and riparian restoration, preventing fish loss into irrigation diversions, and stream-flow enhancement (water leasing/salvage). Landowners, anglers, conservation districts and other entities can apply twice a year. A citizen review panel recommends projects and the Fish & Wildlife Commission approves them.



- Any entity (including landowners, anglers, civic groups, conservation districts, governmental agencies) with a Montana project benefiting wild fish.
- 'Project applicants must also affirm that work would be conducted with the approval of the landowner on whose property the project is being completed'.
- Funds cover design/build, construction and maintenance; not administration, monitoring, assessments, design alone, travel, contingency, or land acquisition.

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

Twice-yearly cycles; review panel meets mid-June and mid-December; Commission acts in August/February. Riparian fencing must follow FFIP Fencing Guidelines; water leasing projects need the supplemental questionnaire.

Published amounts: 'Approximately $1 million are available each year for projects that revitalize wild fish populations.' 'There is no maximum grant amount per application.' Matching contributions encouraged (agency staff in-kind not counted).

2024 Landowner Guide: 'Upon discovery of dead or injured livestock, a landowner must contact the local Department of Livestock inspector who will then investigate the incident and submit a completed livestock loss reimbursement claim form to the FWP Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division office for consideration of potential reimbursement.'

Deadline text on the page: Claims filed after a loss; no window.

Jason Kool

Landowner/Sportsman Relations Bureau Chief

FWP may reimburse Montana landowners for livestock killed or injured because they allowed public hunting on their property during legal seasons. The goal is to keep private land open to public hunting. Landowners in Block Management and other FWP access programs are pointed to it.



- Landowners who allow public hunting on private property during legal hunting seasons and suffer livestock loss or injury as a result.

Reimbursement 'depending upon the circumstances'; instrument mapped to Grant by the FSA-disaster/compensation convention.

Published amounts: 'A landowner may be reimbursed for livestock killed or injured as a result of allowing public hunting on lands under the landowners control.' No amounts published.

Report game damage to the local game warden, FWP biologist or FWP regional office.

Deadline text on the page: Report damage any time: 'Landowners may report game damage to the local game warden, FWP biologist or FWP regional office.'

FWP helps Montana farmers and ranchers whose crops or property are damaged by concentrations of elk, deer and antelope. Help can include hazing, repellents, temporary or permanent stackyard fencing, and damage or management hunts. Landowners must allow public hunting during established seasons to qualify.



- Private farms and ranches experiencing crop or property damage from game (elk, deer, antelope).
- 'Landowners may be eligible for game damage assistance if they allow public hunting during established hunting seasons.'

A reduction or waiving of fees for meeting a certain criteria.

Discount

Assistance type decided by FWP; up to 25% of damage-hunt hunters may come from a landowner's list.

Published amounts: 'Assistance may include hazing, repellants, temporary or permanent stackyard fencing, damage hunts, kill permits, or supplemental game damage licenses.'

Standard application posted on the program page during open periods; apply in the next (2027) period; contact your regional FWP office for help.

Deadline text on the page: 'The 2026 application period is closed. Please check back in 2027.' FAQ: 'FWP will be accepting lease applications annually from landowners'.

Montana's Habitat Conservation Lease pays private landowners a one-time per-acre fee to keep priority prairie habitat (sage-grouse core areas, prairie pothole wetlands, mixed-grass prairie) intact for 30 or 40 years. Grazing continues, and haying/farming is allowed on existing cropland up to 25% of lease acres. Landowners must allow a set number of wildlife-related public access days.



- Private landowners holding fee title with priority prairie habitat; FAQ: applications accepted for 'prairie habitat' in FWP Regions 4-7 and portions of Region 3.
- FAQ: 'privately owned land within a Tribal reservation is not eligible for an HCL'.
- Must allow a specified number of public access days based on acres enrolled, one third during hunting season (Sept 1 - Dec 31).

30- or 40-year term lease (not perpetual; mapped to Easement as closest vocabulary). Payments calculated as a percentage of fee simple value, averaged separately for eastern and western Montana. Applications ranked (sage grouse core, adjacency to protected land, block size, access, 40-year over 30-year, unique features).

Published amounts: One-time per-acre payment (30-yr / 40-yr): Eastern Rangeland $85 / $119; Eastern Major River Riparian Floodplain $349 / $489; Western Rangeland $218 / $305; Western Major River Riparian Floodplain $729 / $1021. 'Where farmed fields are intermingled with priority native habitats, FWP would pay 50% and 70% of the above per acre value for cropland or hay land, respectively'.

'Landowners should contact their local Fish, Wildlife & Parks Hunting Access Coordinator, local FWP Biologist or FWP Warden to discuss options that will meet landowner needs and desires.'

Deadline text on the page: No application window; landowner-initiated discussion with FWP.

Long-Term Hunting Access buys perpetual public hunting access easements on private land in Montana, typically with a one-time up-front payment sized to the access provided. Access must cover at least September 1 to January 1; projects that open access to public lands get priority. FWP may also manage the access component of a conservation easement held by another party.



- 'private landowners, or representative, must be willing to provide public hunting access, in accordance with program guidelines on private lands under their control from September 1-January 1 in perpetuity through an access easement.'
- 'Year-round access is preferred, but not required and a priority will be placed on projects providing access to public lands.'

Perpetual; 'Agreement duration will be in perpetuity and be conveyed with the title of the property.'

Published amounts: 'Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks or another entity may provide a one-time up-front payment based on the amount of access provided perpetually.'

Contact the FWP Grassland/Wetland Coordinator.

Deadline text on the page: No application window published.

Heather Harris

FWP Grassland/Wetland Coordinator

FWP's Migratory Bird Wetland Program works with Montana landowners to restore, enhance or create wetlands and protect associated uplands and riparian areas for migratory birds. Per FWP's landowner guide, landowners may receive direct funding or cost-share for project materials or construction, and projects often include negotiated public access. The program's 2015 guide also lists term leases, conservation easements, upland seedings and grazing-system changes.



- Montana landowners with wetland, wetland-associated upland or riparian habitat (2024 guide).
- 2015 guide: 'Public access is strongly preferred for agreements with landowners on restoration, enhancement or creation projects.' and 'MBWP funds will not be spent on private lands leased for hunting or outfitting.'

A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

Negotiated; cost-share and partnerships (NAWCA, Joint Ventures, Habitat Montana, UGBEP) encouraged.

Published amounts: 2024 Landowner Guide: 'Landowners may receive direct funding or cost-share for the project, materials, or construction work.'

Contact the UGBEP Coordinator or your regional FWP habitat specialist ('With just a phone call or e-mail, you can discover how this program can help improve habitat for game birds while also benefitting your agricultural operations.'). Application form referenced at fwp.mt.gov/ugbep.

Deadline text on the page: No deadline published for habitat projects; brochure: 'Visit the UGBEP website to learn more about the program and to download the application form: fwp.mt.gov/ugbep'. Contact regional habitat specialist to start a project.

Debbie Hohler

UGBEP Coordinator

Matt Strauch

Habitat Specialist

Mitch Carpenter

Justin Hughes

UGBEP gives Montana landowners and public-land lessees technical and financial help to establish or enhance upland game bird habitat. Project types include habitat management leases, food and cover plots, nesting cover, shrub/shelterbelt plantings, CRP seed cost-share, cover crops, grazing infrastructure and range management. Enrolled projects must allow a negotiated level of free public upland game bird hunting.



- Private landowners and public land lessees in Montana (brochure: 'FWP partners with landowners and public land lessees in essentially two ways - project cost-shares and habitat leases').
- 'Enrolled lands should comprise at least 100 contiguous acres.'
- 'Landowners enrolled in FWP's Block Management Program are eligible to apply.'
- Access: 'FWP staff negotiate a reasonable level of free public upland game bird hunting to be allowed for the life of the contract.'

Cost-share up to 100% of material costs (varies by project type; 2024 guide says up to 75% of improvement costs); annual lease payments vary by habitat cover type; project locations are published in the annual UGBEP Projects Access Guide; program signs identify projects.

Published amounts: Brochure (2025): 'UGBEP reimburses private landowners and public land lessees up to 100 percent of the cost of material for habitat enhancements, depending on project type.' and 'Up to 100% of material costs is reimbursed when labor is provided for completing a project (cost-shares vary by type of project).' 2024 Landowner Guide: 'UGBEP pays up to 75 percent of improvement costs.' Habitat leases: 'Annual lease payments vary, depending on habitat cover type.'

Use the 2026 Block Management Access Corridor Landowner Application (PDF); deadline March 15, 2026.

Deadline text on the page: 'Deadline: March 15, 2026' (landowner programs index labels it 'New Program Applications for the new Block Management Access Corridor Program are due March 15').

The Access Corridor program pays Montana landowners to let hunters cross their private land to reach adjacent public land from September 1 to January 1. Payment is a $1,000 enrollment payment plus a flat-rate impact payment (max $25,000 per agreement), with a weed bonus and a complimentary license. Agreements are approved through the Fish and Wildlife Commission.



- 'landowners must be willing to allow public access through their private lands to adjacent public lands for hunting purposes from September 1-January 1.'
- Agreements that only provide access to adjacent public lands must notify the adjacent public land leaseholder, who may support or object.

Minimum one-year agreement, up to five years after the first five years of annual agreements; approved via Fish and Wildlife Commission process.

Published amounts: 'Landowners are eligible for an enrollment payment of $1,000 and an impact payment that is set at a flat rate with an agreement maximum of $25,000.' Plus weed management bonus up to 5% of contract total.

Submit the 2026 Block Management Application (PDF) by June 1; questions to your local FWP office or the FWP Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division in Helena.

Deadline text on the page: 'FWP is currently accepting applications from landowners who are interested in participating in the 2026 Block Management Program. Deadline: Applications are due June 1'

Block Management pays Montana landowners (or their tenants) an enrollment payment plus a per-hunter-day impact payment for allowing free public hunting on their land from September 1 to January 1. FWP also provides hunter management help, signs and maps, a weed-management bonus and a complimentary sportsman's license. Applications for 2026 were due June 1.



- 'private landowners, or their tenant, must be willing to provide public hunting access on private lands under their control or provide access to public lands through an access corridor to public lands from September 1-January 1.'
- No access/trespass fees may be charged (liability protection under 70-16-302 MCA).

Agreements start at a minimum of one year, 'with possibility of up to five years after the first five years of annual agreements.' $1,000 enrollment + up to $17/hunter day, max $50,000/agreement; weed bonus up to 5% of contract.

Published amounts: '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.' Plus 'up to 5% of their contract total in a weed management bonus if they agree to use the funds for weed management activities'.

Submit the Application Packet (PDF) by March 15; agreements reviewed by the Private Land/Public Wildlife Advisory Committee.

Deadline text on the page: 'How to apply Deadline: March 15, 2026'

PALA pays Montana landowners annually for opening or improving free public hunting/fishing access across their land to isolated (inaccessible or under-accessible) state or federal land. Payment is up to $15,000 per agreement per year, plus negotiated access improvements. Agreements run one to ten years.



- 'private landowners, must be willing to provide public access to either inaccessible public lands or improve access to under-accessible public lands, or both.'
- 'Landowners who wish to enter agreements must also hold the lease for grazing/farming on the public land - if a lease exists.'
- Under-accessible = no legal access point within one mile.

'The agreement will be between private landowners and Fish, Wildlife & Parks for a minimum of one year up to ten-years with payments made annually.'

Published amounts: 'Landowners who enroll parcels, roads or trails in the Public Access Land Agreement program are eligible for an annual payment of up to $15,000 per agreement.' Improvements needed to facilitate access may also be negotiated.

Mail application and maps to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, ATTN Debbie Hohler, PO Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620, or email dhohler@mt.gov.

Deadline text on the page: Header reads 'CRP Add-on Lease Option - Currently Accepting Applications' but 'Deadline: submit your application(s) by Friday, April 1, 2026.' (passed). Fact sheet: 'Enrollment will be based on eligibility, priority, and available funding.'

FWP's CRP Add-on Lease pays agricultural producers an extra $10 per CRP acre per year for managing CRP for wildlife and opening it to free walk-in game bird hunting. Producers with CRP on private land, Block Management or UGBEP land, or DNRC State Trust leases can apply. The 2026 deadline (April 1) has passed.



- 'Agricultural producers with CRP located on private lands, including lands enrolled in FWP's Block Management Program, Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program, or State Trust Lands are eligible to apply.'
- Fact sheet: 'A minimum of 2 years remaining on your USDA contracts'; 'Agree to manage the CRP for wildlife'; 'Agree to allow free walk-in game bird hunting access during the contract term'.
- Fact sheet: 'Due to different management jurisdictions, lands within Indian Reservations do not qualify.'
- Up to 640 CRP acres per contiguous parcel or State Trust lease.

$10/CRP acre/year up to $6,400/year for years remaining in the USDA contract; 'FWP contracts begin September 1 and end January 1 of the year the USDA contract expires.'

Published amounts: 'Landowners receive an annual lease payment of $10 per CRP acre, up to $6,400 each year.' Fact sheet: 'Additional incentives may be available for mid-contract management activities, such as light disking.' and 'Applicants seeding new CRP may qualify for additional bonus payments.'

Mail the Application Packet with a map (Section IV) to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks – Parks & Outdoor Recreation, Unlocking Public Lands Program, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701 by March 15.

Deadline text on the page: 'Deadline for applications from eligible landowners March 15, 2026'

Unlocking Public Lands gives Montana landowners a refundable state income tax credit of $750 per agreement (up to $3,000 per year) for letting the public cross their land to reach otherwise inaccessible state, BLM or Forest Service land. Access must be open at least six months and one day, through December 31. Up to four non-contiguous parcels can be enrolled.



- Public land parcel must be inaccessible by public road/right-of-way/easement, public waters, adjacent open public land, or adjacent private land without permission.
- Not eligible if already enrolled in an FWP access program (Block Management, Habitat Montana, Open Fields, UGBEP).
- 'If a state land parcel has a DNRC lease, only the lessee is eligible to enter into an Unlocking Public Lands Program contract to provide access to that state land parcel.'
- Hunting on the crossed private land cannot be managed through outfitting or commercial hunting.

Annual contracts; certification number issued on completion verifies tax-credit eligibility; 'The credit may be claimed even if the claimant has no taxable income.' Multiple owners split the $750 proportionally.

Published amounts: 'receive an annual tax credit in the amount of $750 per agreement (up to a maximum of $3,000 tax credit per year)'. 'If the amount of the credit exceeds the landowner's tax liability, the amount of the excess must be refunded to the landowner.'

Apply through Montana WebGrants (https://funding.mt.gov/index.do) during the annual window; reviewed and ranked by the WHIP Advisory Council.

Deadline text on the page: '2026 Funding Opportunity May 18 - June 19'

Andrew Amidon

WHIP Coordinator

Montana's Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP) is a state-funded competitive grant for projects that enhance, restore or rehabilitate degraded wildlife habitat, including range improvement and drought resilience, noxious weed work, water enhancement and reducing wildlife-livestock disease transmission. Ranchers take part through an eligible applicant, such as a conservation district, grazing association, irrigation district, weed district, nonprofit or agency, which applies on their behalf; projects that span several private and public ownerships and offer public access rank higher. The 2026 window ran May 18 to June 19.



- Entities with capacity to administer grants: 'state, federal, and tribal agencies', 'a municipal or county agency', 'conservation districts', '501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or other organizations', 'irrigation districts', 'grazing associations', 'noxious weed management districts', and 'other entities FWP considers appropriate'.
- Project must create habitat uplift/net conservation gain for species of conservation need, enhance ecologically important habitat, and report progress.

Reimbursement grants up to five years; ranking favors multiple funding partners, collaboration across ownerships and public access.

Published amounts: 'Up to $2M of Habitat Legacy funds are available annually for new WHIP projects. Grants, which are paid in the form of reimbursed expenses, may be up to five years in duration.' 'Grant funds may not be used to acquire perpetual easements or lands in fee title.'

List of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) Funding Opportunities