The 73 Ranch along the Musselshell River, just south of the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, will be offering hunters access this fall. Through Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Block Management Program, the ranch will open up 9,300 acres of deeded land as well as provide access to about 18,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management property and almost 2,000 acres of state land. All told, that’s an additional 30,000 acres for hunters to spread out on, one of the larger BMAs in Region 7. The ranch was purchased by American Prairie in December after the BLM could not meet the landowner’s purchase price in a deal that fizzled. Part of the ranch along the river in irrigated hay fields will remain a safe zone for elk as ranch and FWP officials monitor the impact of hunting on the animals. To learn more, check out my story at https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/american-prairie-opens-9-300-acres-of-new-musselshell-ranch-to-hunters-this-fall/article_5c32ea18-02dc-11ed-b590-939fce72c0fa.html.

Written by Brett French | Outdoors Editor | Billings Gazette