- Heritage Act protects Montana’s big game factory by safeguarding key wilderness habitat for Big Horn Sheep and Mountain Goats while securing transitional habitat for Elk and Mule Deer through the tailor-made Conservation Management Area.

- Bolsters ability of Forest Service and locals to combat noxious weeds species that reduce carrying capacity for big game animals.

- Protects spawning tributaries of the Sun, Dearborn and Teton rivers as well as Deep Creek, Depuyer Creek and other sensitive fisheries for Westslope Cutthroat, Rainbow and Brown Trout.

- Hunting access is preserved in the form of horse and foot as well as mechanized and motorized travel. Not one mile of motorized use is removed under the proposal.

Why is Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front important for sportsmen?

The Rocky Mountain Front is Montana’s big game factory. From the second largest migratory herd of elk in the United States, to the largest herd of Bighorns in Montana, to monster mule deer, the Front contains it all. It’s all there due to the connectivity between summer and winter habitats, as well as the intact ecosystems throughout the Rocky Mountain Front. Lewis and Clark would easily recognize the Front as the same place they hunted along during the summer of 1805.

Why the Heritage Act now?

The Heritage Act continues a century long tradition of conserving big game habitat and migration corridors.  While drafting the Rocky Mountain Heritage Act, wildlife was at the fore-front of our concerns. We wanted to create a proposal that not only helped wildlife continue their eons long treks through this fantastic country, but assured hunters and anglers that they would always be able to access it as they have in the past.

How do wilderness designations help Front?

The Wilderness inclusions help protect intact, yearlong security habitat for Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep and Elk in the wildest, toughest to reach portions of the Front that have been managed as recommended wilderness for over 30 years. In particular, two areas are prime Mule Deer habitat: The Deep Creek inclusion and the Patrick’s Basin Inclusion both support tremendous trophy Mule Deer populations due to the rugged country that they live in.

How does the Conservation Management Area help sportsmen?

The Conservation Management Area gives flexibility to the Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to effectively manage all wildlife habitat. It continues the Forest Service’s roadless policies and does not lift any current restrictions related to elk security, grizzly bear habitat, or the need to properly analyze any project proposed for its impacts to wildlife.

How does bolstering the fight against noxious weeds help sportsmen?

Healthy range land is a crucial requirement for robust populations of big game but areas dominated by noxious weeds like leafy spurge receive three times less use by deer compared with similar uninfested areas. On native bunchgrass sites in Montana, dense spotted knapweed populations reduce available winter forage for elk by 50 to 90 percent. Studies have shown that elk use increases almost four fold when noxious weeds are eradicated. 

What does the proposal do for hunter access?

It keeps it the same level as it is today. Early on, the Coalition made a conscience effort to keep motorized routes to an acceptable level given the roadless characteristics and wilderness qualities contained in this rough country. It was clear the Forest Service’s most recent travel plan has already applied a balanced approach to motorized use and Heritage act would lock that decision in. Meanwhile trails in the wilderness inclusions retain the exact same level of access as they have had for the last 30 years.

What about game carts?

Game carts can still be used in the Conservation Management Area, on the same trails that they are utilized now. It is important to retain these tools to help hunters bring out their harvest in a timely manner, so the fruits of their labors can be enjoyed and processed quickly.