An elk in Montana (Photo provided by the Montana FWP).

The management of about 38% of Montana’s national forest lands is guided by the 2001 Roadless Rule, which generally prevents new road construction while allowing for a multitude of other uses, including Off Highway Vehicle riding on motorized trails, firewood cutting, grazing, habitat improvements, camping, and of course, hunting and fishing.

Because these public lands are intact, they provide irreplaceable big game habitat and security cover which keeps elk on public land and provide the backcountry experiences many hunters seek. Hunters have long relied on these chunks of wild land to disperse pressure and, importantly, hold game. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), fewer roads mean more elk and greater hunter s

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