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FWP, Plum Creek, Stoltze Remind Hunters To Follow Lands Policy

By Beacon Staff

F. H. Stoltze Lands
Hunters have also enjoyed access to F.H. Stoltze lands in northwest Montana. Stoltze maintains a block management agreement on approximately 13,000 acres of their land with FWP that will help increase enforcement of rules and continued public access. Some of F.H. Stoltze’s key land policies are:

· Hunters must obtain permission from adjacent private landowners to access much of Stoltze land.
· Do not drive passenger vehicles on gated roads. Off road vehicle use only allowed on road systems, no cross country or “trail” use.
· Do not park in front of gates
· No firewood, bough or tree cutting allowed.

Click here to view F.H. Stoltze policies or contact Stoltze Land and Lumber if you have questions at 892-7005 during business hours. Copies are also available at FWP office in Kalispell or at F.H. Stoltze in Columbia Falls.

Plum Creek Lands:
Hunters in northwest Montana have benefited for years from access to 715,000 acres of Plum Creek timberlands. FWP and Plum Creek are party to a block management agreement that ensures public access.

The agreement has worked very well, according to FWP Warden Captain Lee Anderson. He noted that some hunting districts west of Kalispell are made up almost entirely of Plum Creek lands.

Under the agreement, FWP wardens patrol Plum Creek lands. Plum Creek officials say that the overall enforcement effort by FWP has helped address the serious problems of road closure violations, gate vandalism, and timber theft.

The agreement has worked well, but requires continued cooperation from hunters. Hunters are urged to be good neighbors and visitors on Plum Creek lands. In exchange for allowing public access for hunters and others, Plum Creek receives increased FWP warden patrols on their lands. These patrols guard against violations of hunting regulations, and violations of Plum Creek land use rules (see the attached Plum Creek open lands policy).

These rules include road restrictions, camping guidelines, and other activities such as woodcutting. In particular, a gate without a sign is a year-round closure to all motorized vehicles, whether the gate is open or closed. An open road behind a gate must specifically be marked as such by a sign. Camping is limited to 14 days per campsite. During this time, the campsite must not be left unattended for more than three consecutive days.

Click here to view the Plum Creek Open Lands Policy. Copies are also available at the FWP office on North Meridian Road and the Plum Creek Office on Highway 2 West.