Montana Block Management Maps

[cougforester]

Headed to Region 6 for mulies this fall, first time in Montana. 2018 maps are out by the middle of August, according to their website: http://fwp.mt.gov/export/sites/FwpPublic/hunting/hunterAccess/blockman/region6/.

Is there a way to find 2017 maps, and if so, how much variability is there in landowner enrollment?

[Bill W]

Call Region 6 and ask for last years info.

[Wetwoodshunter]

I love Montana's block management. The one I hunted last year had maps at the unit as well as marked lakes and watering holes.

If you see the landowner take a few mins talk to them and be nice. I BS'd with the landowner when I got there and after I dropped my elk he sent his son out and loaded my elk whole in my truck whole.

[jstone]

Hunted antelope in Montana last year. Other than looking at my Block Management Maps and googl earth before we went that’s all the scouting we did. Put the onX maps in my phone and using the land owner maps they provide at the gates. It is easy. Got my first antelope on the second day. One of the funnest hunts I have ever done. A lot easier than I thought. Just prepare before you go. Good Luck

[Stein]

From my experience, they don't change a bunch, but obviously can.

On X has a BMA layer that works great.

[Bob33]

From my experience, they don't change a bunch, but obviously can.

On X has a BMA layer that works great.

Actually, they can't charge.

http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/hunterAccess/blockman/

How is Block Management funded?
 
There is no charge to hunt on block management lands (referred to as Block Management Areas or BMAs). Program funding comes from the sale of various licenses, including the resident and nonresident hunting access enhancement fee, nonresident upland gamebird licenses, nonresident combination deer/elk licenses, and chances sold in the Supertag license lottery.

[Yakirack]

From my experience, they don't change a bunch, but obviously can.

On X has a BMA layer that works great.

Actually, they can't charge.

http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/hunterAccess/blockman/

How is Block Management funded?
 
There is no charge to hunt on block management lands (referred to as Block Management Areas or BMAs). Program funding comes from the sale of various licenses, including the resident and nonresident hunting access enhancement fee, nonresident upland gamebird licenses, nonresident combination deer/elk licenses, and chances sold in the Supertag license lottery.

He meant the maps and locations to hunt do not change much from year to year.
And you can find last years map online if you google it.

[Bill W]

the game dept pays the landowners to enter into the block management program.  It's either the size of the property or a head count on the number of people that get to hunt the property.

[The scout]

The BMA that we have been hunting for several years will be shut down for the next couple years because of slob hunters that can’t seem to follow rules. I wish the maps came out earlier because they do change and the land owners have to decide weather or not to be in the program by February.

[Stein]

The other thing about BMA hunting is that if you haven't tried to get on one that takes reservations, don't bank on it.  I tried one for several years and called the number the minute it opened and called back every minute or two for four hours and then throughout the day and got nothing but a busy signal.  Then, one year, I got through on the first time at 7 am (reservations open at 7 am) and they only had one afternoon hunt in a poor portion near the end of the season left?).

The reservations are handled by the landowner under their rules and there is quite a bit of speculation on what happens in some of the properties.  Based on that, I usually only look at those that require you to sign in. 

If I was serious about hunting a particular property, I would call the regional game warden and ask if he knows anything.  Right now would be about the perfect time, before hunting and fishing seasons start.

[cougforester]

Great info everybody, thanks. I'll have private land to hunt on, but wanted to explore all my options for having ground to explore. Looks like I've got some research to do!

[gramps]

A landowner in eastern Montana told me in 2009 that the payment the landowner gets for each person that signs in went up from $10 per day to $12.
The BM program has opened up millions of acres of private land in the state.

[Calvin Rayborn]

Gotta git onx

[goosegetter79]

What part of region 6 you headed too? I live in the eastern part of region 6.

[Huntinandfishinfool]

I've been hunting eastern montana in region 6 for over 25 years and have found the ranchers to be extreamly friendly and helpful when you talk to them before going onto their land. Lots of good public land access as well.  Only complaint is to many people are finding out how good Montana is and getting harder to draw tags.

[cougforester]

Ended up finding a KML files that can be uploaded into Google Earth. Figured I'd share.

http://data-mtfwp.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/c27de035320b4921b0fd981f9f5d8561_0