FWP Proposes Acquiring Island Complex on Upper Yellowstone River

May 8, 2026
6:15 am

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Montana's Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is eyeing an 82-acre island complex on the upper Yellowstone River near Livingston, courtesy of a donation from the Trust for Public Land. Dubbed the Siskin Island Fishing Access Site, this gem will prioritize habitat conservation while opening up public access for anglers, float-in campers, and hunters—but here's the rub: it comes with weapons restrictions that could crimp your carry options. Public comments are open until May 21, with final approval on June 12, giving 2A advocates a narrow window to weigh in before this slice of paradise gets locked down. For the uninitiated, the upper Yellowstone is prime big-game country, threading through rugged terrain that's a magnet for mule deer, elk, and waterfowl hunters who rely on public lands like this for fair-chase opportunities. Turning private island into public access sounds like a win for sportsmen, expanding Montana's already stellar network of fishing easements and boosting float-boat hunting prospects. But those vague weapons restrictions scream red flag—likely meaning no handguns for self-defense, arbitrary caliber limits, or outright bans during non-hunting seasons, mirroring heavy-handed rules on other FWP sites. We've seen this playbook before: well-intentioned conservation morphs into de facto gun-free zones, where black bears prowling riverbanks or sketchy drifters on remote floats become your problem without the tools to handle them. In a state where grizzlies don't punch clocks and two-legged threats roam free, restricting armed self-defense on public land isn't stewardship—it's negligence. 2A folks, this is your cue: flood those public comments demanding crystal-clear rules that honor Montana's constitutional carry ethos (no permit needed for 18+ since 2021) and prioritize user safety over bureaucratic overreach. Insist on provisions for concealed carry during all access periods, full-autos or suppressors be damned if they're legal elsewhere, and zero tolerance for anti-gun NGOs like the Trust for Public Land dictating terms. If we let restrictions slide now, expect a domino effect on future acquisitions, eroding hunting heritage under the guise of green virtue-signaling. Rally up, submit by May 21 via FWP's site, and keep Montana wild—and armed—for generations.

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Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is eyeing an 82-acre island complex on the upper Yellowstone River near Livingston, courtesy of a donation from the Trust for Public Land. Dubbed the Siskin Island Fishing Access Site, this gem will prioritize habitat conservation while opening up public access for anglers, float-in campers, and hunters—but here’s the rub: it comes with weapons restrictions that could crimp your carry options. Public comments are open until May 21, with final approval on June 12, giving 2A advocates a narrow window to weigh in before this slice of paradise gets locked down.

For the uninitiated, the upper Yellowstone is prime big-game country, threading through rugged terrain that’s a magnet for mule deer, elk, and waterfowl hunters who rely on public lands like this for fair-chase opportunities. Turning private island into public access sounds like a win for sportsmen, expanding Montana’s already stellar network of fishing easements and boosting float-boat hunting prospects. But those vague weapons restrictions scream red flag—likely meaning no handguns for self-defense, arbitrary caliber limits, or outright bans during non-hunting seasons, mirroring heavy-handed rules on other FWP sites. We’ve seen this playbook before: well-intentioned conservation morphs into de facto gun-free zones, where black bears prowling riverbanks or sketchy drifters on remote floats become your problem without the tools to handle them. In a state where grizzlies don’t punch clocks and two-legged threats roam free, restricting armed self-defense on public land isn’t stewardship—it’s negligence.

2A folks, this is your cue: flood those public comments demanding crystal-clear rules that honor Montana’s constitutional carry ethos (no permit needed for 18+ since 2021) and prioritize user safety over bureaucratic overreach. Insist on provisions for concealed carry during all access periods, full-autos or suppressors be damned if they’re legal elsewhere, and zero tolerance for anti-gun NGOs like the Trust for Public Land dictating terms. If we let restrictions slide now, expect a domino effect on future acquisitions, eroding hunting heritage under the guise of green virtue-signaling. Rally up, submit by May 21 via FWP’s site, and keep Montana wild—and armed—for generations.

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