Public gains 200 acres for hunting

CHARLO - Upland bird and waterfowl hunters now have an additional 200 acres for hunting near Charlo. The Ringneck Ranch edition, formerly a privately-owned hunting club, was sold to the state for $450,000 and has become part of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks wildlife management areas in Ninepipe.

The acquisition, available for public use this fall, was a community effort of local groups, including the Pheasants Forever of Mission Valley, Polson Outdoors, Inc., and Big Sky Upland Birds Club in Missoula.

Jim Williams, regional wildlife program manager for the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region One out of Kalispell, brought the project to the Dale Becker and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes' Fish and Wildlife board, "and they gave the thumbs up," he said.

"But the catalyst, the high energy, was that Pheasants Forever club. They made it happen, and they continue to help after the acquisition, taking down fences and helping with habitat projects, both financially and with physical labor," Williams said. Members of Pheasants Forever also made trips to Helena to testify before the state conservation commission, asking them to match the federal money.

Last May, the state acquired 70 acres from Pheasants Forever that sits southeast of the Ringneck Ranch edition. That land was dedicated posthumously to Dwight "Stocky" Stockstad, a former wildlife biologist, philosopher and engineer. Stockstad understood the value of the wetlands and was instrumental in securing wetland habitat area for public hunters and bird-lovers alike to enjoy, according to Pheasants Forever members.

The Ringneck Ranch edition of quality upland bird and waterfowl habitat and restorable wetlands was purchased with a combination of migratory bird stamp dollars (formerly called duck stamps) and grant funding received from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.

"If you are an upland bird or waterfowl hunter, you essentially paid for this, so go and enjoy it," Williams said. "It should be good pheasant and waterfowl hunting this fall."

Waterfowl season begins Oct. 2, and pheasant season begins Oct. 9.