Bohart Wildlife Management Area

Bohart Wildlife Management Area
Name	Bohart Wildlife Management Area
Area	~2,000 acres
Location	Montana, United States
Nearest city	Missoula, Montana
Established	20th century
Governing body	Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

Bohart Wildlife Management Area

Bohart Wildlife Management Area is a state-managed conservation unit in western Montana, situated within a landscape shaped by Rocky Mountains, Clark Fork River, and regional Bitterroot Range hydrology. Managed to balance habitat protection with public use, Bohart serves as a focal point for regional wildlife conservation efforts, hunting seasons administered by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and field research conducted by institutions such as the University of Montana and local chapters of the Audubon Society. The area connects to broader ecological networks that include federal lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service and migratory corridors referenced in plans by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Geography and Location

Bohart lies in the western Montana landscape characterized by montane valleys of the Clark Fork River basin, proximate to the urban center of Missoula, Montana and south of the Lolo National Forest. Elevation gradients span foothill sagebrush steppe to riparian meadows alongside tributaries that feed into larger watersheds monitored by the Bureau of Land Management. The WMA is accessible via county roads that connect to Interstate 90 corridors and is mapped within the cartographic frameworks used by the United States Geological Survey and state geographic information systems. Its position places it within flyways recognized by the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and adjacent to lands influenced by historical transportation routes such as the Mullan Road.

Ecology and Wildlife

Vegetation communities at Bohart reflect transitions among Sagebrush Steppe, Montane Coniferous Forests, and riparian willow and cottonwood assemblages described in inventories by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Faunal assemblages include populations of big game species managed under statewide harvest frameworks—such as Odocoileus virginianus (white-tailed deer), Cervus canadensis (elk), and mule deer—alongside furbearers like Lontra canadensis (river otter) and Lynx rufus (bobcat). Avian communities are diverse, with detections of Anas platyrhynchos (mallard), Branta canadensis (Canada goose), raptors monitored under Avian Research programs, and passerines documented by Cornell Lab of Ornithology-affiliated surveys. Aquatic systems support native and introduced fish taxa cataloged in state fishery assessments, intersecting conservation concerns addressed under the Endangered Species Act when applicable to regional species. Invasive plant species and altered fire regimes are ecological pressures framed within planning documents by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

History and Management

The management history of Bohart WMA reflects patterns of land acquisition and wildlife policy in the 20th century influenced by conservation movements associated with figures and institutions such as Theodore Roosevelt-era reforms and the later establishment of state-level agencies like Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Early land uses included grazing and homesteading tied to regional settlement narratives involving routes associated with Lewis and Clark Expedition corridors and subsequent resource extraction booms centered on Copper King era development. Contemporary governance combines state stewardship, cooperative agreements with the U.S. Forest Service, and partnerships with non-governmental organizations including the National Audubon Society and local land trusts. Management plans apply science-based prescriptions for habitat restoration, fire management strategies consistent with guidance from the National Interagency Fire Center, and species monitoring protocols employed by the Wildlife Society.

Recreation and Access

Public use at Bohart accommodates licensed hunting under season frameworks set by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, wildlife viewing promoted by regional chapters of the Audubon Society, and non-motorized hiking connected to trail networks featured in guides by the Appalachian Mountain Club-style outlets adapted for the Northern Rockies. Access is organized from trailheads connected to county roads and parking areas maintained to standards reflected in state outdoor recreation planning by the Land and Water Conservation Fund-influenced projects. Winter recreation includes backcountry skiing and snowshoeing within areas delineated in winter travel advisories compiled by the National Weather Service, while angling access is regulated according to rules promulgated by the Montana Fish and Game Commission.

Conservation and Research

Bohart functions as a site for applied conservation projects, including riparian restoration, invasive species control, and wildlife population studies conducted in collaboration with the University of Montana, regional offices of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and citizen science initiatives coordinated through the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Research topics have encompassed landscape connectivity analyses tied to the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, population dynamics of ungulates in response to climate variability as modeled by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scenarios, and water quality monitoring aligned with standards from the Environmental Protection Agency. Adaptive management at Bohart integrates monitoring datasets into iterative plans developed with stakeholder input from tribes such as the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes where treaty rights and co-stewardship inform restoration priorities.

Regulations and Permits

Use of Bohart is governed by regulations issued through Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and statutes enacted by the Montana Legislature. Activities such as hunting, trapping, and commercial filming require permits administered by state licensing systems and compliance with season dates and bag limits established by the Montana Fish and Game Commission. Special-use permits and research access are processed through interagency agreements consistent with federal requirements when work interfaces with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mandates or tribal co-management protocols. Enforcement is coordinated with county sheriffs and state conservation officers trained within frameworks maintained by the National Sheriffs' Association and state public safety offices.

Category:Protected areas of Montana