Archery hunting opened Sept. 2. Hunters have to find other areas as the majority of the state and federal lands in the area are temporarily closed due to the Rice Ridge Fire.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) issued a temporary closure Aug. 31 for most of the Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area (WMA), due to extreme fire conditions and the surrounding pre-evacuation notices related to the Rice Ridge Fire.
The closure applies to all public entry on the Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA in Missoula and Powell Counties, south and west of Woodworth Road and the portion west of Highway 83, as posted. Ovando Mountain is the only portion of the WMA that remains open.
Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation also issued a temporary emergency site-specific closure of State trust lands to general recreation use due to extreme fire conditions and the direct proximity to the Rice Ridge Fire. The closure also applies to the State Trust Lands parcels within the Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area and other State trust lands parcels east of Highway 83 and north of Highway 200.
Officials say the closure will help reduce fire risks and minimize hunter and other recreationist travel in an area that is under pre-evacuation notice.
The closure will be in place until conditions improve. For up-to-date information on this closure and restrictions related to drought and fire, visit fwp.mt.gov/news/restrictions/ or call the FWP office in Missoula at 406-542-5500.
Reader Comments(0)