It’s time for landowners enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to sign up for the state-sponsored Open Fields for Game Bird Hunters. Open Fields is a voluntary extra incentive offering aimed at further conserving productive game bird habitat enrolled in CRP and expanding access to hunters.

Open Fields is offered through Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program and is available to private landowners with existing and newly enrolled CRP that have a minimum of two years left on their federal contract. Landowners who participate in Open Fields receive a one-time payment based on $5 per CRP-acre each year the CRP is enrolled in the federal program.

The Region 6 counties that will receive priority for Open Fields enrollment include: Daniels, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan, and Valley counties.

Other counties in the state that will receive priority include: Cascade, Chouteau, Dawson, Fallon, Fergus, Glacier, McCone, Pondera, Prairie, Teton, Toole, and Wibaux. Landowners in counties not listed are welcome to apply as well.

“Open Fields currently has nearly 67,000 acres of private lands open to game bird hunting,” said Martha Williams, FWP director in Helena. “FWP is excited to advance conservation with our private landowner partners.”

All enrollments must be on private land that is legally accessible for free walk-in game bird hunting without further permission. Open Fields leases allow for haying or grazing once in five years when pre-approved by the Farm Services Agency.

“Region 6 historically has had the most CRP enrollment in the state, and we would like to see that continue into the future,” says Ken Plourde, Region 6 Upland Game Bird Habitat Specialist. “Not only is this program great for bird hunters, the Open Fields incentive payments can help make CRP a bit more worthwhile for landowners too.”

Up to 320 CRP acres per landowner may be enrolled. These lands will be clearly signed to allow for walk-in game bird hunting. Because this program is intended to expand areas open to the public for game bird hunting, lands that are already enrolled in FWP’s Block Management Program or the Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program do not qualify.

Applications for enrollment in Open Fields for Game Bird Hunters may be submitted through May 6. For more information and an application, visit FWP online at fwp.mt.gov and then click Open Fields Application.

For details in Region 6, contact upland gamebird specialist Ken Plourde at 406-474-2244. For other inquiries, contact Helena at 406-444-5674, or by e-mail: fwpwld@mt.gov. Enrollment will be based on eligibility, priority and available funding.