Elk NetworkPrivate Montana Timberland Changes Ownership, Remains Open for Public Access

General | January 28, 2021

Whew! Call it a collective sigh of relief. Locals who live in northwest Montana feared they might lose access to 291,000 acres of private timberland after yet another change in ownership.

Green Diamond, based in Washington, purchased the property from Southern Pine Plantations, which bought the land from Weyerhaeuser in early 2020. The new owner will continue past agreements that offer access to hunters, anglers and others to recreate on the land.

“Since that’s the end goal, we’ve also agreed to continue to do block management that would then allow public access to go as it has in the past,” told Montana Public Radio.

The 291,000 acres is approximately half of the overall acreage purchased in 2020.

(Photo source: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation)