S. 3527 — Montana Sportsmen Conservation Act

This section declares congressional findings concerning wilderness study areas (WSAs) in Montana, including that the Forest Service determined 608,700 acres of 973,000 acres studied under the Montana Wilderness Study Act of 1977 unsuitable for wilderness designation (including the 81,000-acre Middle Fork Judith WSA, reaffirmed unsuitable in 2021), and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) determined 273,828 acres of 447,327 acres studied under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 unsuitable (including the 11,380-acre Hoodoo Mountain WSA and 11,580-acre Wales Creek WSA, reaffirmed unsuitable in 2020). The findings further state that over 1.1 million acres remain designated as WSAs (over 700,000 acres unsuitable), and releasing the three specified WSAs would improve management under applicable plans—developed collaboratively using best available science—to enhance sportsmen opportunities, public access, and wildlife and wildfire projects while adhering to environmental laws and multiple-use principles.

This section releases approximately 81,000 acres of the Middle Fork Judith Wilderness Study Area from the management restrictions of section 3(a) of the Montana Wilderness Study Act of 1977 and directs the Forest Service to manage the land under the applicable land and resource management plan. It also releases approximately 11,380 acres of the Hoodoo Mountain Wilderness Study Area and approximately 11,580 acres of the Wales Creek Wilderness Study Area from the management restrictions of section 603(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) (i.e., requirements to manage wilderness study areas so as not to impair suitability for preservation as wilderness) and directs the Bureau of Land Management to manage the land under applicable land use plans.