State considers new archery range at Big Arm

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is proposing to build an archery range on the parcel west of U.S. 93 of the Big Arm Unit of Flathead Lake State Park located on Flathead Lake in Lake County.

Development would include additional parking, safety and informational signage, a vault latrine, practice range with a covered shooting area and built-in storage, all located across the highway from the main park entrance.

An archery course with up to 12 shooting stations would be located within the parcel. Shooting stations would be located to ensure safe backdrops and distances from park boundaries.

The public archery range would provide a valuable amenity in Lake County and the Polson area, as there are currently no public archery ranges in proximity to Big Arm.

The parcel that would be utilized for this proposal is currently undeveloped and only used for some dispersed hiking.

Comments received during this scoping period will help FWP determine public interest, identify potential issues that would require further analysis, and may provide insight for refining the proposal or for developing and analyzing one or more alternatives.

Upon completion of the scoping phase, FWP will determine next steps, which may include conducting an environmental assessment with additional opportunity for public input.

The agency is asking that comments on this proposal be submitted to either of the following addresses by Oct. 18.

Amy Grout at agrout@mt.gov or to Flathead Lake State Park Manager, 8600 MT Hwy 35, Bigfork, MT 59911.

For more information regarding this project or the initial proposal, contact Grout at the email address above or via phone: 406-837-3041 ext 3.