Montana Pheasant Winter 

Cover and Prairie Pothole 

Enhancement SAFE

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)

Overview

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Pheasants 

Forever, Ducks Unlimited, and the Montana Fish, Wildlife 

and Parks, are partners in implementing a State Acres 

for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) project to establish 

and manage blocks of native grass and other herbaceous 

habitat providing nesting and winter cover across much of 

Montana. The Montana Pheasant Winter Cover and Prairie 

Pothole Enhancement SAFE will benefit multiple species of 

upland game birds and waterfowl of economic importance, 

and some species of concern, in Montana.

Background

SAFE is part of the USDA Conservation Reserve Program 

(CRP). CRP is a federally funded voluntary program that 

contracts with landowners and agricultural producers to 

establish and manage vegetative covers that control soil 

erosion, improve water quality, and provide wildlife habitat. 

SAFE is a unique type of CRP that offers organizations 

the opportunity to partner with the USDA to establish 

habitat for high-priority wildlife species on agricultural 

land. SAFE sponsors work with the USDA to identify the 

wildlife species, the vegetative cover that provides habitat 

for the target species, and the location in the state where 

the habitat is needed. A partnership is formed between the 

SAFE sponsor and the USDA, and federal funds are made 

available to allow for CRP enrollment on eligible land within 

the SAFE project location.

Target Wildlife Species

The goal of the Montana Pheasant Winter Cover and 

Prairie Pothole Enhancement SAFE project is to provide 

habitat for the ring-necked pheasant, gray partridge, 

sharp-tailed grouse, mallard, and Northern pintail. 

Both ring-necked pheasants and gray partridge need 

nesting and winter cover in close proximity to water and 

food sources. Sharp-tailed grouse, reliant on grass and 

shrubland ecosystems, occupy remnant bunchgrass and 

shrub communities often found in coulees and wooded 

draws. Mallards and Northern pintails need native 

grassland cover for nesting adjacent to wetlands.

Habitat

Landowners and agricultural producers participating in 

the Montana Pheasant Winter Cover and Prairie Pothole 

Enhancement SAFE are required to develop a conservation 

plan with assistance from the USDA Natural Resources 

Conservation Service (NRCS) or a technical service provider. 

The conservation plan will provide details on how to plant, 

establish, and manage habitat for ring-necked pheasant, gray 

partridge, sharp-tailed grouse, mallard, and Northern pintail. 

Each species has slightly different habitat requirements, 

primarily related to cover composition and structure and 

subsequent management once the cover is established. 

Nesting cover consists of grass/legume mixtures. Winter 

cover includes the establishment of cattail marshes, stiff 

stemmed grasses, shelterbelts, woody riparian buffers, and 

tall bunchgrasses. New plantings of crested wheatgrass 

and smooth brome are not permitted. Existing crested 

wheatgrass or smooth brome areas can be renovated and 

upgraded to a more beneficial mix. After the habitat is 

established, it will need to be maintained and managed by 

grazing, preferably, or by prescribed burning. Proper habitat 

establishment, maintenance, and management will provide 

year-round habitat benefits for ring-necked pheasant, gray 

partridge, sharp-tailed grouse, mallard, and Northern pintail.

JUNE 2023 MONTANA
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE) 2

Project Location

The Montana Pheasant Winter Cover and Prairie Pothole 

Enhancement SAFE project is located in portions of Big 

Horn, Blaine, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Choteau, Daniels, 

Dawson, Fallon, Fergus, Garfield, Glacier, Golden Valley, Hill, 

Judith Basin, Lewis and Clark, Liberty, McCone, Meagher, 

Musselshell, Petroleum, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River, 

Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Stillwater, 

Sweet Grass, Teton, Toole, Treasure, Valley, Wheatland, 

Wibaux, and Yellowstone counties.

Eligible CRP Practices

This SAFE project uses the following CRP practices:

 CP38A-22, Riparian Buffer

 CP38A-43, Prairie Strips

 CP38B-23, Wetland Restoration on Floodplains

 CP38B-23A, Wetland Restoration on Non-floodplains

 CP38B-27, Farmable Wetlands

 CP38B-28, Farmable Wetlands Buffer

 CP38B-37, Duck Nesting Habitat

 CP38E-1, Permanent Introduced Grasses and Legumes

 CP38E-2, Permanent Native Grasses and Legumes

 CP38E-4D, Permanent Wildlife Habitat

 CP38E-12, Wildlife Food Plot

 CP38E-42, Pollinator Habitat

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. fsa.usda.gov/mt

Haying and Grazing

Emergency and non-emergency grazing is allowed. New 

seedings are to be protected from grazing and left idle for 

the first 2–3 years. Grazing is the preferred management 

activity. In lieu of grazing, prescribed burning is also an 

authorized management activity, required at least once 

during the contract.

Emergency or non-emergency haying is not authorized. 

Haying or clipping as a management activity is prohibited.

Eligibility Requirements

Because SAFE is part of CRP, certain land and participant 

eligibility rules apply. To begin with, land must be in the 

project area and meet cropping history. CRP participant 

eligibility rules also apply to SAFE.

Payments and Incentives

In exchange for participation in CRP SAFE, the Farm 

Service Agency (FSA) provides participants with annual 

per acre rental payments, cost-share to assist with habitat 

establishment expenses, and in some cases additional 

monetary incentives.

For More Information

This fact sheet is provided for informational purposes only; 

other restrictions or requirements may apply. Consult your 

local FSA office for details. For more information, contact 

your local service center and USDA Farm Service Agency 

office: farmers.gov/service-locator.
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE)

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. fsa.usda.gov/mt

Montana Pheasant Winter Cover and Prairie Pothole 

Enhancement SAFE Project Map

JUNE 2023