Senate committee hears bill to let Fish, Wildlife & Parks enforce private land access rules; measure later tabled

Senator Danley Logie, sponsor of Senate Bill 83, opened a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee seeking authority for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) to enforce the ranch rules that private landowners set when they enroll property in public-access agreements.

Logie said the bill “establish[es] the rules of [the] department governing the public use of private property managed by the department under active public access agreements,” and framed the proposal as a response to landowner frustration with repeat violations of their posted rules. “This is a bill for the ranchers,” he said in closing.

Christie Clark, director of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, testified in support and asked the committee for a due pass. “FWP offers several programs…to help private landowners,” Clark said, and warned that “rules without enforcement are just simply suggestions.” She described how,…