{"data":{"id":"us-mt/87-1-249","jurisdiction":"us-mt","citation":"87-1-249","heading":"Rules.","body":"(1) The department shall adopt rules for the administration of the upland game bird enhancement program created in 87-1-246 through 87-1-249.\n(2) The rules must:\n(a) provide for eligibility criteria for project applications, including project evaluation criteria that incorporate the following factors:\n(i) proposed project acreage of suitable size;\n(ii) proposed project acreage and adjoining lands that are suitable for upland game bird habitat;\n(iii) evidence that existing and potential species will benefit from the project;\n(iv) the number of acres that will be open to and suitable for public bird hunting under the proposal; and\n(v) in addition to the criteria in subsections (2)(a)(i) through (2)(a)(iv), preference to proposed projects with:\n(A) longer contract length and larger landowner cost share;\n(B) lands with special or unique components, such as wetlands; and\n(C) a landowner history of providing hunter access and habitat enhancement;\n(b) be consistent with general requirements of the federal conservation reserve program, the agricultural conservation program, and hunting access programs established pursuant to 87-1-265 so that landowners who participate in those programs may also be eligible for participation in the upland game bird enhancement program;\n(c) specifically indicate specifications under which upland game birds will be released in project areas, including but not limited to:\n(i) habitat requirements;\n(ii) number of upland game birds to be released;\n(iii) health requirements;\n(iv) banding requirements;\n(v) time for release;\n(vi) age of birds to be released; and\n(vii) reimbursement amount for each bird released;\n(d) establish application procedures for project funding and review and for approval or denial of applications; and\n(e) establish project monitoring and reporting procedures, including a requirement that payments for projects authorized pursuant to 87-1-247 be supported by contracts, invoices, receipts, or other supporting documentation.","path":["TITLE 87. FISH AND WILDLIFE","CHAPTER 1. ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION","Part 2. Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks"],"source_url":"https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0870/chapter_0010/part_0020/section_0490/0870-0010-0020-0490.html","current_through":"Montana Code Annotated 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T05:01:34Z","sha256":"a2e165cf867783fb82f2e9eb0144e9582881f1f2a9b12b25e3219e3b6c485018","source_id":"us-mt","stale":false,"prev":"us-mt/87-1-248","next":"us-mt/87-1-250"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}