MISSOULA, Mont. — There is a new access point to more than 13,000 acres of previously difficult-to-reach and nearly land-locked public land in south-central Idaho.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation worked with interim landowner Eric Siegfried, also an RMEF life member, to acquire and convey a 23-acre parcel to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), opening the door to the large stretch of public land beyond it.

It is about 30 miles north of Carey and approximately halfway between Boise and Idaho Falls.

“The beauty of this project is it showcases our successful acquisition approach where the actual acreage is rather small but the public access benefits are exponentially larger,” said RMEF President and CEO Kyle Weaver. “That’s great news for those who enjoy hunting and other recreational activities, plus it helps biologists better regulate wildlife management in the immediate region. We also recognize and salute Eric for his staunch conservation values and dedication to creating public access.”

“This project is another great example of a conservation-minded community member recognizing a key access property and reaching out to those that can help. We worked through valuation challenges and succeeded at making recreation mildly more feasible for all on 10,000+ acres of BLM and state lands,” said Siegfried.

Because of its historic access challenges, BLM identified the area as a national priority for increased public access.

“We are so pleased to be able to offer this improved access to thousands of acres of public lands managed by our Shoshone staff,” said BLM Acting Shoshone Field Manager Lisa Cresswell. “This partnership is a shining example of what a dedicated group such as the RMEF can achieve. We at BLM are grateful for their collaboration in helping provide the public access to their lands.”

The small acreage supplies winter range for elk and mule deer and serves as part of a larger migration corridor for mule deer and pronghorn antelope. It also supplies important habitat for mountain lions, black bears, small mammals, raptors, sage grouse and other upland birds.

Volunteers from onX, STIHL and RMEF joined nearby landowners to build a parking area, walking bridge and make improvements to the trailhead to be used for hunting, hiking, biking, birdwatching and other pursuits.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund, onX and RMEF’s Torstenson Family Endowment supplied funding for the project.