EDGEFIELD, S.C. — Members of the Montana NWTF State Chapter Board gathered near Great Falls for their annual meeting, reflecting on a year of conservation wins and planning for the road ahead. In addition to setting new goals and celebrating recent successes in fundraising and forest stewardship, the board welcomed Bridger Line, NWTF’s new cooperative biologist for western Montana, and got their hands dirty for conservation.
Following the meeting, state board members and volunteers from the NWTF Great Falls Chapter rolled up their sleeves for a conservation workday in partnership with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The group worked on a private property enrolled in Montana’s Block Management Program, which provides public hunting access on private lands — an essential tool for preserving Montana’s outdoor heritage.
The workday took place on the property of Rod Duty, a retired game warden and conservation-minded landowner who is passionate about supporting wildlife and welcoming hunters onto his land. The parcel, which features a mile-long stretch of the Missouri River, offers excellent habitat for deer, upland birds and more, and provides access for anglers as well. Since inheriting the property, Duty has taken a hands-on approach to habitat restoration, making him an ideal partner for NWTF-led conservation efforts.
“The Great Falls Chapter had been looking for opportunities to get involved in hands-on conservation,” said Trenton Farmer, local game warden with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. “Through programs like Block Management, we can form relationships with private landowners, and it is a win for everybody.”
Volunteers removed over three-quarters of a mile of old perimeter fencing and removed four internal haystack yard fences. These degraded, sagging fences posed a threat to wildlife — particularly pronghorn antelope and deer — and presented hazards for hunters and bird dogs that frequent the property. Their removal enhances habitat connectivity and improves the overall huntability of the property.
