Will Israel praised a slate of 22 habitat conservation easements that were approved by the Fish and Wildlife Commission on Thursday as proof that Montana residents are good people.

The 30- and 40-year term easements are spread across more than 68,000 acres, the majority of which is in Eastern Montana, and will distribute to the landowners more than $7.88 million.

All of the money will be drawn from the Habitat Montana fund, half of which will come from license dollars mostly paid by nonresident hunters and half from marijuana revenue. One component of all FWP easements is providing some public access.

“Each one of these property owners could sell these properties for millions more,” said Israel, executive director of the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association. “They could be develope

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