NWTF Montana Invests in the Future of the Wild Turkey and Big Sky Ecosystems

Together, the Tin Can Hill Prescribed Fire Re-introduction project and the Riparian Revegetation project on Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge demonstrate how NWTF dollars translate into healthier ecosystems, resilient turkey habitat and enhanced recreational opportunities for members and the public alike. 

Reintroducing Fire to Restore a Working Landscape 

In Montana’s Missouri and Musselshell River Breaks, Montana NWTF has supported the Tin Can Hill Prescribed Fire Re-introduction, a 3,110-acre landscape-scale prescribed burn within the Upper Missouri River Focal Landscape. 

Decades of wildfire suppression allowed habitat in this region to grow unnaturally dense, with conifers expanding into adjacent sagebrush and grassland habitats. This buildup increased the risk of high-severity wildfire and reduced habitat quality for wildlife. By reintroducing fire under controlled conditions and minimizing the unnaturally dense vegetation, land managers are restoring a natural ecological process that benefits both forests and wildlife. 

State NWTF funding helped cover helicopter ignition operations and critical equipment needs, ensuring the project was implemented safely and effectively. The prescribed burn reduces fuel loads, opens the forest understory and allows grasses, forbs and insects to flourish — key components of nesting, brood-rearing and foraging habitat for wild turkeys. 

The project area includes Bureau of Land Management lands and a block management area, offering public access for turkey hunters, big game hunters and other outdoor recreationists. Local landowners and permittees have supported the work, and NWTF’s long-standing partnership with the Bureau of Land Management is recognized on-site with signage highlighting the collaborative conservation effort. 

“The Montana State Chapter has a long-standing relationship with the BLM fuels program that does some amazing restoration work in the Missouri and Musselshell Breaks,” said David Nikonow, NWTF district biologist for Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. “We’re excited to see continued investment in this area treating at a landscape level.”  

Restoring Riparian Habitat Where Water, Wildlife and People Meet 

In western Montana’s Bitterroot Valley, the NWTF is also investing in riparian habitat through the Riparian Revegetation on Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge project, led by Trout Unlimited as part of NWTF’s Waterways for Wildlife Initiative. 

The project restored seven acres of riparian habitat along a half-mile stretch of North Burnt Fork Creek, located within the refuge’s Wildlife Viewing Area near Stevensville. This area sees heavy public use, with an ADA-accessible trail winding through the floodplain and crossing the creek before continuing along the Bitterroot River. 

For decades, a relic water control structure altered natural stream function, backing up sediment and allowing invasive reed canary grass to dominate the floodplain. This aggressive, non-native species formed dense monocultures that prevented native vegetation from establishing and severely reduced habitat value for wildlife. The structure also blocked fish movement between North Burnt Fork Creek and the Bitterroot River. 

In 2024, Trout Unlimited and partners removed the water control structure and installed a new 32-foot box culvert, restoring fish passage and stream-floodplain connectivity. NWTF funding supported the completion of riparian restoration efforts in 2025, resulting in significant on-the-ground accomplishments: 

• Removal of reed canary grass across 0.73 acres 

• Regrading of 0.73 acres using berms, swales and woody material to mimic natural floodplain features 

• Planting of 13,000 willow cuttings along streambanks and throughout the floodplain 

• Installation of 650 containerized native plants, fenced and protected with weed fabric 

• Establishment of “habitat pods” across an additional 5.7 acres, strategically planting native vegetation without full floodplain regrading 

In total, the project treated a half mile of riparian corridor, initiating the development of a native riparian forest with a cottonwood overstory and diverse shrub understory. More than 550 volunteer hours supported the work, including contributions from Bitterroot students, Trapper Peak Job Corps members and community volunteers. 

“Riparian restoration is difficult,” Nikonow said. “It takes lots of funding, people and time to treat only a few acres, but it’s critical work. We’re excited for this project to highlight those efforts and the collaborative process to everyone who visits the refuge.” 

Why It Matters to Wild Turkeys and NWTF Members 

Healthy riparian areas and fire-adapted forests are critical to wild turkey survival. These projects improve nesting, brood-rearing, foraging and roosting habitat while also supporting clean water, insect abundance and diverse plant communities. 

For NWTF members, these investments mean more than habitat on a map. They help sustain huntable turkey populations, reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and protect access to public lands that support hunting, wildlife viewing and outdoor traditions. 

By investing in partnerships that deliver measurable conservation outcomes, the NWTF continues to ensure that Montana’s landscapes remain productive, resilient and accessible today and for generations of hunters to come.