Landowners Guide to Stream Access

What the limited Archery Elk Permits mean for you (Click here)

Working Ranches- Toby Dahl 2008 Article

Madison County- Seyler Bridge Access Court Order

Gallery

Our Founding

On December 20, 2007, the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, at the recommendation of the Department, passed a tentative proposal to limit archery elk permits in the Missouri River Breaks Elk Management Unit and 24 other hunting districts in Montana—anywhere there was a limited rifle elk permit in place. They also limited archery antelope permits statewide.  FWP staff expressed an “anxiety” created by the loss of public access to private land and stressed a need to take away the certainty of a guaranteed license to alleviate the leasing and purchase of land due to the liberal licensing system.  In spite of overwhelming public opposition to the tentative proposal from landowners, businesses, and industry leaders, the Commission voted unanimously to adopt it.

When the FWP Commission voted to adopt the limited permits in 2008 and ignore the opposition of the public, the seeds for the formation of a united group of property owners were planted. Toby Dahl of Roundup and Mark and Deanna Robbins of Roy--landowners, ranchers, and outfitters--had worked together during the process to offer alternative solutions to the perceived problems the FWP was attempting to address. No longer willing to sit back and allow a state agency to ride roughshod over private property rights, Toby Dahl, Mark and Deanna Robbins, and Don Proue of Roundup, began a grassroots effort to unite property owners to stand up for their constitutional rights. Thus, United Property Owners of Montana, Inc. was born.