The Montana Land Board approved the purchase of 328 acres along the Lower Yellowstone River on Monday. The decision boosts public access and protects important riparian habitat.
The North Wildcat Coulee project was brought to the Land Board by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and was a high priority for the citizen led Lower Yellowstone River Corridor Advisory Committee (LYRC).
The project is located east of Forsyth and will create the North Wildcat Coulee Wildlife Management Area. The land is home to deer, turkey, waterfowl, and upland birds. The site is primitive in nature and will continue to be managed for walk-in and floating access.
“It’s exciting to see this project move forward,” said Angie Grove, who chaired the LYRC. “When you look at the funding partners here, including the Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Meat Eater, Pheasants Forever, and others, it shows just how widely this project is supported by Montanans.”
North Wildcat Coulee is the first project to utilize the $4 million set aside by the 2021 Montana Legislature to secure access and habitat on the Lower Yellowstone River Corridor. Partners have committed $500,000 to help fund the nearly $1.2 million project.
“For too long, public access to the Lower Yellowstone River has been a challenge for anglers, floaters, hunters, and hikers alike. That’s why we’ve made boosting public access along the Lower Yellowstone a top priority,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Our new North Wildcat Coulee Wildlife Management Area will unlock Montanans’ access to a coveted stretch of the Lower Yellowstone and conserve critical wildlife habitat.”
He continued. “A product of the bottom-up, grassroots approach of our Lower Yellowstone River Corridor Advisory Committee, this project is another example of what we can get done when we work together.”
The purchase is expected to close before the end of the year and FWP staff will work to develop public access to the land to be ready later in the spring of 2024.
“The Lower Yellowstone is a treasure for Montanans everywhere,” said FWP Director Dustin Temple. “North Wildcat Coulee is a critical piece of wildlife habitat and will provide amazing access to this area for generations to come.”
