Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act
- Sponsor
- Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
- Committees
- Energy and Natural Resources Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Mar 4, 2026
Bottom line
The bill aims to remove wilderness study protections from specific Montana lands, enabling more flexible management for activities like recreation, wildlife habitat projects, and wildfire mitigation, as recommended by land management agencies.
What it actually does
This bill releases approximately 103,960 acres of land in Montana from Wilderness Study Area (WSA) designation. Specifically, it removes the Middle Fork Judith Wilderness Study Area (81,000 acres), the Hoodoo Mountain Wilderness Study Area (11,380 acres), and the Wales Creek Wilderness Study Area (11,580 acres) from their respective WSA protections. Upon release, these lands would be managed under existing Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land and resource management plans, which allow for multiple-use activities.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue that this bill implements long-standing recommendations from the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, which have repeatedly found these specific areas unsuitable for wilderness designation. They contend that removing the WSA designation will allow for improved public access, enhanced sportsmen opportunities, and more effective management for wildlife habitat and wildfire mitigation projects, all within the framework of existing, collaboratively developed land management plans.
Opponents contend
Opponents might argue that removing WSA designations, even for areas deemed unsuitable for wilderness, could open these lands to development or activities that degrade their wild character, potentially harming ecological values and future wilderness potential. They may contend that maintaining the WSA status provides a higher level of protection until Congress makes a definitive decision, and that the "multiple-use" management could prioritize resource extraction or motorized recreation over conservation.
The bill is short and clearly written, making it accessible for a quick read and understanding of its core purpose.
Section 3(a)
Release of Middle Fork Judith Wilderness Study Area
This provision removes the 81,000-acre Middle Fork Judith Wilderness Study Area from its current designation under the Montana Wilderness Study Act of 1977. Once released, the land will no longer be subject to the interim management requirements of a WSA and will instead be managed according to the Forest Service's most recently adopted land and resource management plan, which allows for a broader range of activities.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that this release aligns with repeated Forest Service findings that the area is unsuitable for wilderness, allowing for more active management to improve wildlife habitat, mitigate wildfire risks, and enhance recreational access for sportsmen, as outlined in collaboratively developed local plans.
Critics contend
Critics may contend that despite unsuitability recommendations, maintaining WSA status provides crucial interim protection against irreversible development, preserving the option for future wilderness consideration or other high-level conservation designations.
Tradeoffs
The provision balances the desire for active land management and expanded recreational access with the preservation of potential wilderness character and strict conservation.
Section 3(b)
Release of Hoodoo Mountain and Wales Creek Wilderness Study Areas
This section removes the 11,380-acre Hoodoo Mountain Wilderness Study Area and the 11,580-acre Wales Creek Wilderness Study Area from their current designations under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. Similar to the Middle Fork Judith area, these lands will no longer be managed under WSA restrictions but instead under the Bureau of Land Management's applicable land management plans, which typically allow for multiple-use management.