Montana conservation groups pushing for trust funding for the improvement of public and private wildlife habitats across the state.

Montana Citizens Elk Management Coalition gathered at Capital Sports to ask lawmakers in the next legislative session to set aside millions of dollars to create a permanent trust for wildlife and conservation.

The coalition, which is made up of non-profits and wildlife and conservation groups, wants lawmakers to set aside $200 million for the trust. The trust would fund grants that would be used for the improvement of public and private wildlife habitats across the state.

They say it was modeled after a Wyoming program that’s funded over 700 projects since 2006.