JCPF AND HUNTING

Established in 2005 by Dottie Fossel and Jon Fossel, Jack Creek Preserve Foundation provides unique opportunities for people to engage in conservation through programs, camps, and events that cover a variety of topics including hunting, wildlife management, and land stewardship. Dottie and Jon have hunted all over the world from Africa to America to New Zealand and are passionate hunter conservationists, therefore, an important part of the Jack Creek Preserve Foundation mission is to educate others about the critical role that hunting, and hunters play in conservation of wildlife and its habitat, regardless of personal interest in hunting.

What does hunting look like in our programming?

The role of hunting in conservation is demonstrated in a variety of ways in our youth educational programming. From in-depth discussions with high-school students to games and activities with 4th graders, our programming models how hunting is a vital tool used in wildlife management. Summer Outdoor Skills Camps that have been held since 2005 encourage youth to deepen their understanding of hunting and conservation. Our comprehensive curriculum includes archery skills, field dressing techniques, and discussions on important conservation legislation, such as the Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937. Through our programs, it is our goal to provide participants the opportunity to understand the role hunting plays in wildlife and habitat conservation.

Jack Creek Preserve Foundation is actively involved in many local community outreach programs that provide us the opportunity to reach a wider audience with our mission and values as they relate to our support for hunting.

With input from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, we offer a limited number of hunts on the Preserve. Hunting is an important tool for managing the wildlife populations that reside in and migrate through the Preserve and funds raised from these hunts directly support our conservation efforts and programs.

Hunting opportunities are frequently made available through our own raffles and at times through partners, such as Pope & Young Club, Wild Sheep Foundation, Safari Club International, and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for fundraising efforts. From more information on current Hunt Raffles check out our Events page.

ABOUT YOUR HUNT

YOUR HUNT: A 6 day archery elk hunt on Jack Creek Preserve, with a choice of 6 consecutive dates (as we discussed over the phone today if you need to separate out your 6 days due to other hunting opportunities, I can accommodate that) any time during the 2026 archery season (dates TBD). Please let me know as soon as you select the dates for your hunt. You will be the only hunter on the property at that time.

The Preserve has 4500 acres that are protected by a Conservation Easement held by the Montana Land Reliance. Our property joins two sections on the Lee Metcalf Wilderness, making it an important wildlife migration corridor. Our mission is "To protect wildlife in wild country by supporting healthy habitats, hunting, and conservation education." We have a few different programs to achieve our mission: We have been providing Outdoor Skills Camps, which include archery, to kids since 2005! We provide workshops and classes for adults, including professional development opportunities in wildlife conservation and management for teachers. We also have an outdoor education center where we host groups or use for other educational programming with groups and schools. Raffles for hunts are important fundraisers for us, providing scholarships, equipment, and other important materials for our conservation education programs, so thank you for your support!

MAPS: Below is a button for a map of the Preserve showing the two cabins that you will have access to, the Preserve roads, and any needed property gate codes. Please use the provided map, On-X, or other maps to stay within the property boundaries. It is very important to us that our hunters respect our neighboring landowners. The road that drives down along the Preserve on our eastern boundary also crosses other land ownership. Please note that there is a public trail (Forest Service Easement) that runs through the Preserve. While you will be the only hunter on the Preserve during your hunt, it is possible that there could be trail users. Also below is a button for a "Hunter Access" map showing an area that we ask hunters to stay out of (in red) for safety reasons because we may have groups using the Outdoor Education Center during the hunting season. These groups will know to stay within the red area as well. If you choose dates when there is not a group at the Education Center, we will let you know and you can use that part of the Preserve, however, you cannot hunt or park off of Jack Creek Rd.

CABINS: You will have access to two rustic cabins that are on the property (one on the north end-Elk Cabin, and one on the south end-Bear Cabin). Depending on weather, the road to Bear Cabin may not be accessible (it is usually fine June through September).  Below is a button with an informational document for each cabin, including directions. Elk Cabin gets locked and the key is on the top right-hand side of the front window (only window facing south above porch). Bear Cabin is not locked. There are basic amenities in the cabins, no water or electricity. Basically, you want to be prepared for camping but know that you will have shelter. Directions to our Outdoor Education Center (OEC) can be found here: Directions to JCP Education Center.pdf - Google Drive. The directions included on the cabin documents are instructing you from the OEC. We do not have cleaning services for the cabins, please leave them as good (or better) than you found them for the next user.

ACCESS: To access the Jack Creek Preserve you will need to travel on Jack Creek Rd which is private and owned by Moonlight Basin. About 2 weeks prior to your visit, please fill out the online ROAD AGREEMENT for each vehicle/driver. The road pass that I send back to you will have the Moonlight gate code on it. This road pass will need to be displayed on your dash at all times. I also notify Moonlight Security and adjacent landowners when we have a hunter on the Preserve. Please use the provided map, On-X, or other maps to stay within the property boundaries and to only park on the road on Preserve property. The road that drives down through the Preserve also crosses other land ownership. It is very important to us that our hunters are respectful of our neighboring landowners. If you require access to a neighboring property to retrieve your animal, please call me right away and I will work on getting access for you. The Preserve also provides convenient access to the Lee Metcalf Wilderness to the north and south. 

A 4WD/high clearance vehicle will be needed and depending on weather/road conditions, you may need chains.

Gate code combinations on the Preserve (these are on the provided map above as well):

 Road to Campground gate combination: 2014

South Jack Creek Road Gate Combination (road after cattle guard): 5073, at road split (right road): 2020Gravel Pit: 2020Other gates on our property: 2020

ATV/UTV: You may bring an ATV/UTV and I can work with you to figure out where to park the trailer. An ATV/UTV can certainly expedite traveling on some of the rough roads. We ask that you stay on existing roads unless absolutely necessary to retrieve your harvest. If you need to go off road, only do so on Preserve property. 

GAME CAMERAS: Please do not place your own game cameras anywhere on the Preserve. We  have game cameras on the property and are happy to share any significant photos and locations.

YOUR EXPERIENCE:  We appreciate receiving photos, quotes, or any other details about your experience at the Preserve that we can share through our newsletters and social media. Also any feedback on my communication, information provided, etc. For our own tracking and safety of the next hunter, we would also appreciate coordinates of where your animal was harvested, and if you harvest a bull, please provide the score (or approximate score) of your bull.

 Please let me know when your hunt is successful and when you are no longer on the Preserve (you can just text me). There is not great cell service on the Preserve except for the far eastern side (Elk cabin area does have cell service).