Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act

The Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act removes the "wilderness study area" designation from three specific Montana land areas (Middle Fork Judith, Hoodoo Mountain, and Wales Creek) that federal agencies have determined are unsuitable for wilderness protection. This affects approximately 104,000 acres of public land that have remained in a pending status for decades despite agency evaluations. By eliminating the wilderness study area status, the bill directs land managers to use existing land management plans - which were developed through collaborative processes - to allow for enhanced hunting, fishing, public access, and wildlife habitat projects. These plans already balance conservation with multiple uses, and the bill ensures management aligns with current science-based strategies without altering the land's existing protections.