For the first time the Montana legislature has appropriated money from the general fund to help implement Montana's Wildlife Action Plan.

Montana's governor was successful in persuading the Montana legislature to appropriate $1 million of a projected $1 billion surplus in the general fund for a one-time match of federal State Wildlife Grants funds. The State Wildlife Grants Program requires a one-to-one match for states to receive funding.

These funds will be used by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to help implement the department's 5-year priorities in the Montana Wildlife Action Plan over the next two years. The funds will be evenly split between wildlife and fisheries projects. Read more.

This is probably the first time that money from Montana's general fund has been requested and approved by the legislature for fish and wildlife management.; hunting and fishing license dollars have been used exclusively until now.

To learn more read the FWP news release.