05-02-2008, 05:10 AM
Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), Region One, is seeking public comment for a fee-title acquisition of approximately 52-acres of the Hodges property located in Sanders County. This property is locally known as the "Bighorn Sheep Viewing Area" just east of Thompson Falls below Koo-Koo-Sint Ridge along Highway 200.
<br>This proposal represents an exciting collaborative bighorn sheep conservation project between the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Habitat Montana Fund, Flathead Wildlife, Inc., Montana Chapter of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, the Five Valleys Chapter of Safari Club International, and a private individual. The Hodges project will conserve winter range and lambing habitat for the migratory Thompson Falls bighorn sheep herd in FWP Bighorn Hunting District 121. In addition to bighorn sheep, this property would be managed as a Wildlife Management Area (WMA) to conserve and enhance habitat for a diversity of wildlife species in the lower Clark Fork region east of Thompson Falls, Montana.<br>
<br>A public hearing will be held Monday, May 12, 2008, 7:00 p.m., at the Thompson Falls Court House, 1111 Main Street, Thompson Falls. The draft environmental assessment is out for public review through 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 28, 2008. Copies of the draft are available at Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 490 N. Meridian Rd., Kalispell; Montana State Library, 1515 E 6 th Ave., Helena; Thompson Falls Library, 911 Main Street, Thompson Falls; and the FWP web site at fwp.mt.gov under Public Notices. Please contact FWP Wildlife Biologist Bruce Sterling (406-827-4389 or e-mail to bsterling@mt.gov <mailto:bsterling@mt.gov> ) or Regional Wildlife Program Manager Jim Williams (406-751-4585 or e-mail to jiwilliams@mt.gov <mailto:jiwilliams@mt.gov> ) with questions or comments.
<br>This proposal represents an exciting collaborative bighorn sheep conservation project between the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Habitat Montana Fund, Flathead Wildlife, Inc., Montana Chapter of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, the Five Valleys Chapter of Safari Club International, and a private individual. The Hodges project will conserve winter range and lambing habitat for the migratory Thompson Falls bighorn sheep herd in FWP Bighorn Hunting District 121. In addition to bighorn sheep, this property would be managed as a Wildlife Management Area (WMA) to conserve and enhance habitat for a diversity of wildlife species in the lower Clark Fork region east of Thompson Falls, Montana.<br>
<br>A public hearing will be held Monday, May 12, 2008, 7:00 p.m., at the Thompson Falls Court House, 1111 Main Street, Thompson Falls. The draft environmental assessment is out for public review through 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 28, 2008. Copies of the draft are available at Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 490 N. Meridian Rd., Kalispell; Montana State Library, 1515 E 6 th Ave., Helena; Thompson Falls Library, 911 Main Street, Thompson Falls; and the FWP web site at fwp.mt.gov under Public Notices. Please contact FWP Wildlife Biologist Bruce Sterling (406-827-4389 or e-mail to bsterling@mt.gov <mailto:bsterling@mt.gov> ) or Regional Wildlife Program Manager Jim Williams (406-751-4585 or e-mail to jiwilliams@mt.gov <mailto:jiwilliams@mt.gov> ) with questions or comments.