Helena National Forest

Elkhorns Wildlife Management Unit

Lands

Elkhorns: Lands

Over 3,500 acres were approved as homestead patents in the Elkhorns between 1915 and 1926. In addition to the numerous patented mining claims, this left a legacy of private lands that occur within the Forest and BLM boundaries. Over the past several years critical portions of the private lands have been subdivided with subsequent adverse effects to winter range. We can expect loss of winter range to subdivisions to continue. The agencies are embarking on an aggressive five-year program to identify key properties for acquisition, exchange or conservation easement with willing sellers and to secure funding from federal, state and private sources to acquire land or interests in those lands for the public.

ELKHORN CONSERVATION INITIATIVE The Elkhorns are an isolated mountain range consisting of mostly public lands. However, there are several thousand acres of patented mining claims (20 acre parcels) within the public ownership boundaries. As these private in-holdings become developed for cabin or homes with their commensurate access roads, they pose a long term threat to the habitat, security and viability of elk, deer and other wildlife resources of the Elkhorns. These ownerships are on both summer and winter ranges and migration corridors. .  LAND WATER CONSERVATION FUND REQUEST 2004 This package is proposed as a 3-year program requiring about 9 million dollars to purchase all available lands adjacent to and within the Elkhorn Wildlife Management Unit.

USDA Forest Service - Helena National Forest
Last Modified: Monday, 25 June 2007 at 13:02:43 EDT