Randy Arnold, Regional Supervisor
Montana Dept Fish Wildlife and Parks
Spurgin Road, Missoula, MT

Re: Securing Public Hunting Access in Perpetuity on the Graveley Ranch Conservation Easements

The Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers welcomes the opportunity to comment on this proposal. For a variety of reasons, our nearly 3,000 Montana Chapter members often find shrinking opportunities to hunt on private lands. In response, much of our Chapter efforts are spent on assuring optimum wildlife habitat and hunting opportunities to hunt public lands.

It is with great enthusiasm that we endorse the proposal to provide hunting opportunities for the public on more than 8,000 acres of private lands covered under the two conservation easements. We note that a minimum of 400 hunter days will be assured annually. We do, of course, encourage agreements which assure that a fair process of selecting or allowing hunters will provide equal hunting opportunity for any hunter to participate.

And of course, we wish to convey to the Graveley family the appreciation to participate in the conservation easements and hunting access related to this proposal.

Sincerely,

Greg Munther, Volunteer Conservation Director
The Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers