Friday, March 31, 2017

EMWH LEGISLATIVE UPDATE





Legislative Update Mar. 30, 2017

Bill du jour, another serving of the legislative bills...


 


Thanks to those of you taking time to call 444-4800 and or/email comments to legislators about bills. Here is a pic from one of our Bozeman Senators, JP Pomnichowski, processing public comments. Thankfully, we have some responsible legislators that care what Montanans value and take the time to express in the public participation  process.




Public Trust Resources
HB 651 - Oppose - Did not pass 2nd reading.  An act revising laws related to public access projects; creating a public lands access advocate; providing duties; revising use of Wildlife Habitat Funding; providing an appropriation; amending sections 77-1-202 AND 87-1-242, MCA

HB 651 went back to the Committee, yesterday morning, for another attempt at an amendment, brought forward by Rep. Flynn. He likened it to a young horse he had bought that needed some fixing. The amendment passed, then they passed it out of committee. The bill was added to the House Floor Session, evening session, yesterday (29th). The House Motion of Do Pass - 47 Aye and 53 No, motion failed, thankfully.


SB 264 - Oppose - Revising rulemaking for reporting to Board of Outfitters. (reported on 3/15) Passed by House & Senate, signed by President, please email Governor Bullock for a veto.  governor@mt.gov


Trespass and Public Access Bills
SB 170 - Oppose , "An act providing civil penalties for unauthorized operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle over real property; and providing an applicability date." This bill is modifying Title 70 Property, Chapter 16 Rights and Obligations Incidental to Ownership in Real Property, this section defines what property ownership means.
(reported on 3/15 and 3/18) Do Pass Motion - 22 Aye, 26 No, the Do Pass motion failed 2nd reading. Then another senator motioned for a move to Indefinitely postpone SB 170. 32 Aye and 17 No, so SB 170 is Indefinitely Postponed.

This mornings hearing, the SB 170 sponsor bluntly stated, "It's a property rights bill," in his opening.

Legislative Glossary - "Indefinitely postpone: A motion to dispose of a bill without taking an affirmative or negative vote on the bill. A bill that is indefinitely postponed may not be acted on again without a motion to reconsider. Otherwise the bill is treated as if it were killed."

SB 358 - Support - Tabled in Senate Highways and Transportation Committee 3/28, Sen. Cohenour tried a blast motion today which was defeated. Revise laws regarding removal of highway encroachments. This was Sen. Cohenour's version of HB 295, but a little less of a daily fine - $250 a day for illegally blocking a public road.
HB 566 - Oppose - Revise private property notice for trespass, still sitting in House Judiciary since the hearing was cancelled on 3/7. (reported on 2/28)
HB 231 - Opposed private land amendment. Since the amendment text was added back in, restoring private landowners requirement for posting and orange paint, the bill passed to the Senate, where the bill was amended again. It passed its 3rd reading and is now back in the House due to the new residential amendment.   (reported on 2/28 and 2/31)
HB 295 - Support - Tabled in Judiciary Committee, Blast Motion to House on 2/27 failed. Increase fine for gating a public road (reported on 2/11)


Parks Bills
HB 324 - Oppose - Sitting in the Senate Fish & Game since 3/16.  Revise laws related to state parks' administration. This bill unfortunately passed the House, was referred to the Senate Committee and is being heard tomorrow (reported on it on 2/19). Please send your comments to the Senators, addresses below.
HB 454 - Oppose, Did not pass House Floor vote 3/24, probably dead (reported on it 2/23)

Hunting/Sportsmen related
HB 151 - Oppose - Tabled on 3/14 Appropriation for shooting range development program (Reported 2/13)
HB 315 - Oppose - Tabled on 3/21 Revising laws related to nonresident relative hunting and fishing licenses. (reported on 2/5)
HB 318 - Oppose - Tabled on 3/21 Revise nonresident college student big game combination license fee. (reported on 2/5)


Hunting Bills
SB 185 - Oppose - Passed Senate, Hearing before House Fish, Wildlife & Parks on 4/6. Authorize transfer of game to licensed outfitter for inspection purposes.

If you care about accountability, responsibility and transparency involving our public trust resources - please oppose this bill. This bill removes the FWP Commission requirement of certain game hunters, including outfitted/guided hunters of that animal, to have the mandatory inspection, instead transferring the animal over to the outfitter or guide. This can cause conflict for FWP and Enforcement, as to verification of who actually shot the animal. It is against the law for another to use of shoot for a person who purchased a license/tag, especially high profile species.This is  MOGA bill. Here is FWP's Chief of  Enforcement, Dave Loewen opposing statement submitted  at the Hearing.

Please email opposition to Representatives, addresses below.

HB 368 - Oppose - Failed 2nd reading on the 28th. Blast Motion attempted on the 29th, also failed 35 Aye to 64 No. Revise laws related to nonresident hunting.
HB 568 - Oppose - 2nd Reading failed 46 Aye to 54 No on 3/28, Blast Motion on 3/29  also failed 35 Aye to 64 No. Revise laws related to nonresident hunting
HB 96 - Oppose - Failed 2nd reading 2/7, missed deadline for general transmittal 3/1. Revise free elk license/permit for landowner providing free public elk hunting  (reported on 2/5)

Public Lands
HJ 9 - Oppose - Hearing 3/27 Senate Natural Resources,  Resolution supporting the release of certain wilderness study areas.  Please contact the Senators, emails below. (reported 2/19)

Public Water
HB 339  - Oppose - Had a hearing in Senate Natural Resources on the 22nd - Revise laws related to exempt appropriations of water (reported on 2/19)

Please email Senators, addresses below.

Constitutional Amendment
SB 236 - Oppose - Passed the Senate 30 to 20, on the 28th, Transmitted to the House, referred to House Judiciary Committee 3/30. Fielder's Constitutional referendum to safeguard right to hunt, fish, and trap wildlife. Current text. Various suggested text amendments have been proposed, from various sportsmens groups and the Sportsmens Caucus group, but nothing agreed on by all. Which speaks to me, that this bill (or one similar), which affects our Constitution, needs much more work and vetting before going before the legislature in such a rushed manner this year. (reported on 2/15)

Here is a link to former FWP Chief Legal Counsel, Bob Lane's, legal assessment, I post on Hunt Talk forum. It brings up a very important point I had not heard mentioned in this discussion, concerning resident and non-resident licenses, "SB 236 risks Montana’s ability to differentiate between residents and nonresidents in issuing or awarding hunting and fishing licenses. The risk SB 236 poses is significant and unavoidable. Passage of SB 236 could mean that resident and nonresidents will be required to pay the same license fees and compete equally when FWP limits the number of licenses available."

Please email Representatives, addresses below.

CWD
SB's 187 and 173  - Support - Both had hearings on 3/28 with House Fish, Wildlife & Parks. (Reported on 3/15)



_________________________
Legislative call number 444-4800

Senate addresses below

House of Representatives addresses
Rep.Kim.Abbott@mt.gov, Jbachmeier4hd28@gmail.com, nancyballance@aol.com, Danbartel2@gmail.com, becky4hd80@blackfoot.net, bennettforhouse@gmail.com, Rep.Seth.Berglee@mt.gov, Rep.Laurie.Bishop@mt.gov, randybrodehl57@gmail.com, Rep.Bob.Brown@mt.gov, brownformontana@gmail.com, Rep.Tom.Burnett@mt.gov, Rep.Rob.Cook@mt.gov, vcourtforlegislature@yahoo.com, Rep.Mike.Cuffe@mt.gov, Rep.Willis.Curdy@mt.gov, Amanda@amandaformontana.com, Rep.Geraldine.Custer@mt.gov, alandoane@midrivers.com, kimberly.dudik@gmail.com, Rep.MaryAnn.Dunwell@mt.gov, Rep.Jenny.Eck@mt.gov, Rep.Ron.Ehli@mt.gov, Rep.Janet.Ellis@mt.gov, jessmann@mt.gov, Rep.Dave.Fern@mt.gov, Rep.Ross.Fitzgerald@mt.gov, JohnFlemingStIgnatius@gmail.com, Rep.Kelly.Flynn@mt.gov, Rep.Moffie.Funk@mt.gov, wyliegaltformt@gmail.com, frankgarnerhd7@gmail.com, Rep.Carl.Glimm@mt.gov, edgreef@hotmail.com, rep.bruce.grubbs@mt.gov, Rep.Steve.Gunderson@mt.gov, Rep.Jim.Hamilton@mt.gov, Rep.Bradley.Hamlett@mt.gov, Rep.Bill.Harris@mt.gov, Rep.Denise.Hayman@mt.gov, Rep.Adam.Hertz@mt.gov, greghertz11@gmail.com, elliehillhd94@gmail.com, Rep.Ken.Holmlund@mt.gov, Mikeformontana@gmail.com, Rep.Tom.Jacobson@mt.gov, donjonesmt2@gmail.com, Rep.Jessica.Karjala@mt.gov, Rep.Kathy.Kelker@mt.gov, Rep.George.Kipp@mt.gov, Rep.Jon.Knokey@mt.gov, austinforhouse@yahoo.com, Rep.Casey.Knudsen@mt.gov, Rep.Steve.Lavin@mt.gov, Rep.Dennis.Lenz@mt.gov, Denleylogehd14@gmail.com, Rep.Ryan.Lynch@mt.gov, Rep.Forrest.Mandeville@mt.gov, Rep.Theresa.Manzella@mt.gov, kelly@bigskytech.net, Rep.Nate.McConnell@mt.gov, Rep.Wendy.McKamey@mt.gov, Rep.Shane.Morigeau@mt.gov, Rep.Dale.Mortensen@mt.gov, marknolandhd10@gmail.com, Rep.james.ohara@mt.gov, Rep.Andrea.Olsen@mt.gov, Rep.Jimmy.Patelis@mt.gov, Rep.Rae.Peppers@mt.gov, Rep.Zac.Perry@mt.gov, Rep.Gordon.Pierson@mt.gov, jeanbigskybigwin@gmail.com, Rep.Alan.Redfield@mt.gov, Rep.Matt.Regier@mt.gov, Rep.Vince.Ricci@mt.gov, Atomicrosie@gmail.com, Rep.Marilyn.Ryan@mt.gov, Rep.Walt.Sales@mt.gov, Rep.Casey.Schreiner@mt.gov, Rep.Ray.Shaw@mt.gov, Rep.Lola.Sheldon-Galloway@mt.gov, Rep.Derek.Skees@mt.gov, repbsmith@gmail.com, scottstaffanson@gmail.com, Rep.Sharon.Peregoy@mt.gov, Rep.Kathy.Swanson@mt.gov, Rep.Jeremy.Trebas@mt.gov, Rep.Brad.Tschida@mt.gov, Rep.Barry.Usher@mt.gov, Rep.Sue.Vinton@mt.gov, Rep.Kirk.Wagoner@mt.gov, Webb4house@gmail.com, Rep.Susan.Webber@mt.gov, Twelch1213@gmail.com, winwithwhite@gmail.com, tomwoods4mt@gmail.com, Rep.Daniel.Zolnikov@mt.gov,

Senate email addresses
goodwind1.duane@gmail.com, rnewbar@gmail.com, Sen.Mark.Blasdel@mt.gov, Sen.Dee.Brown@mt.gov, ebuttrey@mtsenate.com, marycaferro@gmail.com, Sen.Jill.Cohenour@mt.gov, Sen.Pat.Connell@mt.gov, TFacey@mt.gov, Sen.Jennifer.Fielder@mt.gov, Sen.Steve.Fitzpatrick@mt.gov, Mrmac570@me.com, Sen.Jen.Gross@mt.gov, Sen.Steve.Hinebauch@mt.gov, Sen.Jedediah.Hinkle@mt.gov, brian@hovenequipment.com, sendavidhoward@gmail.com, Sen.Llew.Jones@mt.gov, Sen.Doug.Kary@mt.gov, Sen.Bob.Keenan@mt.gov, Sen.Mike.Lang@mt.gov, suemalek@gmail.com, edie.mcclafferty@gmail.com, Sen.Mary.McNally@mt.gov, moe.mt.senate@gmail.com, Sen.Eric.Moore@mt.gov, Sen.Albert.Olszewski@mt.gov, ryanosmundson@gmail.com, mikephillips@montana.net, Sen.JP@mt.gov, Sen.Keith.Regier@mt.gov, tomrichmondmt@gmail.com, Sen.Scott.Sales@mt.gov, dansalomon12@gmail.com, senatorsands@gmail.com, Sen.Jon.Sesso@mt.gov, Sen.Jason.Small@mt.gov, Sen.Cary.Smith@mt.gov, clairena@hughes.net, Sen.Nels.Swandal@mt.gov, Sen.Margie.MacDonald@mt.gov, sfredthomas@yahoo.com, vancesd34@gmail.com, cvvincent@hotmail.com, Sen.Gene.Vuckovich@mt.gov, webb4mt@hotmail.com, jeffwelborn@hotmail.com, Sen.Lea.Whitford@mt.gov, Sen.Cynthia.Wolken@mt.gov,


Click to be a Contributor or Subscriber to
Enhancing Montana's Wildlife & Habitat


Thank you,
Kathryn QannaYahu
406-579-7748
www.EMWH.org
Bozeman, MT

Click to Subscribe to the EMWH newsletter, and type "subscribe" in the subject line.
Click to Unsubscribe  with "unsubscribe" in the subject line and we will promptly remove you from the list.
Thank you.


    Virus-free. www.avast.com

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Montana On The Ground: HB 651 UP TONIGHT at 5pm in the house.


Committee OK's shifting Habitat Montana toward access issues

In spite of overwhelming opposition, Republicans have resurrected a bill to create a second public-land access specialist and spend sportsmen’s dollars buying land for access that might be poor habitat.
In a specially scheduled meeting Wednesday, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Kerry White, R-Bozeman, brought House Bill 651 up for an unprecedented third round of executive action. Montana already has a public-land access specialist working in the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to improve public access to all public lands, but HB 651 would create another position under the state land board to increase access to state lands using Habitat Montana funds.
HB 651 had no public support when it was heard in committee on Friday after being introduced the day before. In spite of the 15 people who rose to oppose the bill, White moved the bill to a vote immediately after the hearing and it passed.
Those who attended the Friday hearing protested the fast-tracking of the bill. So it didn’t move forward but was brought up for a vote again on Monday with an amendment.
Many of the 15 opponents said that among many parts of the bill, they didn’t like the section that funded the position with a portion of hunting license fees and took the Fish, Wildlife & Parks commission out of the land-approval process. Opponents included representatives of the DNRC, FWP, Montana Wildlife Federation, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Anaconda Sportsmen, the Montana Bowhunters, Helena Hunters and Anglers, Wild Sheep Foundation, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Montana Trout Unlimited and Montana Audubon.
The bill also shifted the emphasis of Habitat Montana money from procuring land for habitat to gaining public access. Habitat Montana was created in 1987 to fund the purchase of land or conservation easements to preserve large sections of Montana’s wildlife habitat.
On Monday, Rep. Kelly Flynn, R-Townsend, proposed an amendment to remove the section of the bill that eliminated FWP commission authority and used license fees to fund the position. That amendment failed on a 5-10 vote, which caused HB 651 to be tabled.
Tabling a bill isn’t the same as killing it, and on Wednesday, White revived the bill again with the same amendment. Flynn again sponsored the amendment but admitted that the bill was still flawed. He agreed with the opponents that somehow the FWP commission needed to be given some input into the selection of public lands. That and the fact that lands procured with Habitat Montana funds are already required to provide public access.
“This bill needs some work. Even with this amendment out, the challenge will be that, when this goes to the floor, some folks are going to have to work on it,” Flynn said. “What we have is trying to figure out how we can navigate something where we have what looks like an redundancy but with the goal of solving the problem of access to those lands. This is not a perfect bill and I don’t intend to represent it as thus.”
This time, the amendment passed unanimously, and the bill passed to the House floor on an 11-4 vote.
Amendment or not, sportsmen are not happy with HB 651, because it still emphasizes access, not habitat.
If HB651 passes, the Habitat Montana appropriation language would include "It is the legislature's intent that Habitat Montana funds… be used first to secure public access to state lands for which there is currently no legal access for hunting or other wildlife-oriented recreation."
So HB 651 would allow the land board – now dominated by Republican politicians - to approve the use of Habitat Montana money for buying easements or land that has no good wildlife habitat but merely allows access to state land. And that’s not what sportsmen want, said Montana Sportsmen Alliance spokesman Joe Perry.
“The land board has no experience; they don’t know good habitat from bad. And they’re talking the FWP and the natural resource people out of it,” Perry said. “The Republican caucus is trying to make us believe they’re pro-access, and they certainly haven’t been anywhere along the way. Access is a huge issue. But the real issue is access to quality habitat and that means there should be no attacks on Habitat Montana. Maybe they should ask hunters what we want instead of telling us what we want.”
Montana Wildlife Federation spokesman Nick Gevock said it’s surprising that Republicans should be supporting wasting $200,000 out of the general fund on a redundant position.
“This is an example of inefficient government – it’s duplicative. We already have a person less than a year on the job whose task is to gain access to public lands. This is a tight budget year so the last thing we need to do is add staff for positions that already exist,” Gevock said.
The House will probably hear the bill on Thursday and Friday. The pressure is on because Friday is the deadline to pass all bills to the other side of the Legislature. Any bills not approved will die.

Comments (0)

Newest First
Preview Post Comment…

MWF Attempt to Gut Habitat Montana Springs Back to Life



Vote No on HB 651



Attempt to Gut Habitat Montana Springs Back to Life

Undaunted by a room full of hunters, anglers and recreationists opposing a bill with less than 24 hours’ notice, the Montana House Natural Resources committee brought back to life HB 651 today. They amended out part of the bill that we had opposed, but left language in that creates a no net gain of public land situation with our most successful habitat acquisition program.

HB 651 would still fundamentally change the Habitat Montana program, a 30 year conservation success story, by changing the focus from habitat conservation to only access. It would also create a duplicative and unnecessary position to work on issues already being addressed by multiple state agencies.

While we continue to believe that the sponsor, Rep. Matt Regier of Kalispell, has the best intentions, the bill is still a poison pill to the 12 hunting organizations that testified against it last week.

Rather than redirecting habitat acquisition dollars to address issues already dealt with in other places, the Legislature should fully fund the state DNRC Access Specialist position and restore the authority of Habitat Montana to continue protecting some of Montana’s best wildlife habitat and working farms and ranches.

Please take the time to email or call your legislator and ask them politely to vote NO on HB 651. You can leave a message for your legislator by calling 444-4800.

Not sure who represents you? We can help.

MWF will be at the Capitol every single day during the 2017 Legislative Session - and we need your help!  Please take a moment and make a contribution today to support our work to defend your outdoor heritage.

Facebook    Twitter    Instagram 
   
Montana Wildlife Federation | PO Box 1175, Helena, MT 59624
Unsubscribe circles@3rivers.net
Update Profile | About our service provider
Sent by mwf@mtwf.org in collaboration with
 Trusted Email from Constant Contact - Try it FREE today.
Try it free today

MSA ALERT: HABITAT MONTANA STILL UNDER ATTACK!!! The Saga of HB 651 OPPOSE WITH ALL HANDS ON DECK!

Wow, this is an unusual twist with another unusual twist. 

First, HB 651 was dropped in late then fast tracked.  The original hearing had no proponents and many opponents.  Executive Action happened shortly thereafter.  They passed the bill.

Second, they pulled it back in and Rep. Flynn tried an amendment.  It failed and so did the bill. 

Today, they held a committee meeting again just to address 651 with no advance warning to the public.  Flynn offered his amendment, it passed, and so did the bill.

Confused?  Join the group.  It has already been announced on the House floor so it will show up very soon.

Section 3 has been amended out.  But they have left a restriction on Habitat Montana in the Coordination Section at the end.  “It is the legislature’s intent that Habitat Montana funds appropriated pursuant to this section be used first to secure public access to state lands for which there is currently no legal access for hunting or other wildlife-oriented recreation.”  This is still turning Habitat Montana into an access program….not good enough!

While Access is the mantra what we actually want is Access to Quality Habitat!  That does not mean access somehow trumps Habitat Montana.  The message of HANDS OFF HABITAT MONTANA is still a very solid message that doesn’t seem to be understood.

Please continue to call 444-4800, email the House, and call your legislator. 

Rep.Kim.Abbott@mt.gov,
Jbachmeier4hd28@gmail.com,
nancyballance@aol.com,
Danbartel2@gmail.com,
becky4hd80@blackfoot.net,
bennettforhouse@gmail.com,
Rep.Seth.Berglee@mt.gov,
Rep.Laurie.Bishop@mt.gov,
randybrodehl57@gmail.com,
Rep.Bob.Brown@mt.gov,
brownformontana@gmail.com,
Rep.Tom.Burnett@mt.gov,
Rep.Rob.Cook@mt.gov,
vcourtforlegislature@yahoo.com,
Rep.Mike.Cuffe@mt.gov,
Rep.Willis.Curdy@mt.gov,
Amanda@amandaformontana.com,
Rep.Geraldine.Custer@mt.gov,
alandoane@midrivers.com,
kimberly.dudik@gmail.com,
Rep.MaryAnn.Dunwell@mt.gov,
Rep.Jenny.Eck@mt.gov,
Rep.Ron.Ehli@mt.gov,
Rep.Janet.Ellis@mt.gov,
jessmann@mt.gov,
Rep.Dave.Fern@mt.gov,
Rep.Ross.Fitzgerald@mt.gov,
JohnFlemingStIgnatius@gmail.com,
Rep.Kelly.Flynn@mt.gov,
Rep.Moffie.Funk@mt.gov,
wyliegaltformt@gmail.com,
frankgarnerhd7@gmail.com,
Rep.Carl.Glimm@mt.gov,
edgreef@hotmail.com,
rep.bruce.grubbs@mt.gov,
Rep.Steve.Gunderson@mt.gov,
Rep.Jim.Hamilton@mt.gov,
Rep.Bradley.Hamlett@mt.gov,
Rep.Bill.Harris@mt.gov,
Rep.Denise.Hayman@mt.gov,
Rep.Adam.Hertz@mt.gov,
greghertz11@gmail.com,
elliehillhd94@gmail.com,
Rep.Ken.Holmlund@mt.gov,
Mikeformontana@gmail.com,
Rep.Tom.Jacobson@mt.gov,
donjonesmt2@gmail.com,
Rep.Jessica.Karjala@mt.gov,
Rep.Kathy.Kelker@mt.gov,
Rep.George.Kipp@mt.gov,
Rep.Jon.Knokey@mt.gov,
austinforhouse@yahoo.com,
Rep.Casey.Knudsen@mt.gov,
Rep.Steve.Lavin@mt.gov,
Rep.Dennis.Lenz@mt.gov,
Denleylogehd14@gmail.com,
Rep.Ryan.Lynch@mt.gov,
Rep.Forrest.Mandeville@mt.gov,
Rep.Theresa.Manzella@mt.gov,
kelly@bigskytech.net,
Rep.Nate.McConnell@mt.gov,
Rep.Wendy.McKamey@mt.gov,
Rep.Shane.Morigeau@mt.gov,
Rep.Dale.Mortensen@mt.gov,
marknolandhd10@gmail.com,
Rep.james.ohara@mt.gov,
Rep.Andrea.Olsen@mt.gov,
Rep.Jimmy.Patelis@mt.gov,
Rep.Rae.Peppers@mt.gov,
Rep.Zac.Perry@mt.gov,
Rep.Gordon.Pierson@mt.gov,
jeanbigskybigwin@gmail.com,
Rep.Alan.Redfield@mt.gov,
Rep.Matt.Regier@mt.gov,
Rep.Vince.Ricci@mt.gov,
Atomicrosie@gmail.com,
Rep.Marilyn.Ryan@mt.gov,
Rep.Walt.Sales@mt.gov,
Rep.Casey.Schreiner@mt.gov,
Rep.Ray.Shaw@mt.gov,
Rep.Lola.Sheldon-Galloway@mt.gov,
Rep.Derek.Skees@mt.gov,
repbsmith@gmail.com,
scottstaffanson@gmail.com,
Rep.Sharon.Peregoy@mt.gov,
Rep.Kathy.Swanson@mt.gov,
Rep.Jeremy.Trebas@mt.gov,
 Rep.Brad.Tschida@mt.gov,
Rep.Barry.Usher@mt.gov,
Rep.Sue.Vinton@mt.gov,
Rep.Kirk.Wagoner@mt.gov,
Webb4house@gmail.com,
Rep.Susan.Webber@mt.gov,
Twelch1213@gmail.com,
winwithwhite@gmail.com,
tomwoods4mt@gmail.com,
Rep.Daniel.Zolnikov@mt.gov,

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

FYI Jean Johnson letter from Moga and our response

Responding to the Montana Sportsmen Alliance

Helena IR
JEAN JOHNSON
Mar 27, 2017 Updated 20 hrs ago

The Montana Sportsmen Alliance op-ed piece in the 3/22 IR begs correction, starting with the charge that the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association seeks to turn the Board of Outfitters into a rubber stamp with SB264. At issue is the decades-old requirement that outfitters report their client’s harvest data (species, gender, location, guide).
Two important points about the harvest report: First, the nexus for that requirement was passage of SB334 (1999), which connected Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Board of Outfitters through the guaranteed license issued to contracted clients of outfitters and Board regulations. When MSA joined in the successful effort to eliminate that license with I-161 (2010), that nexus was severed and the report was no longer authorized by law.

Second, by a majority vote last December, the Board of Outfitters under Chairman Robin Cunningham, eliminated that requirement. Prior to that vote, the administrator of the Business Standards Division (Dept. of Labor and Industry) cautioned the Board about straying off into “resource management.” All Montana’s licensing boards are charged with specificity (§37-1-131, MCA), which does not include “resource management.”

HB290 sought to restore the harvest data requirement and increase laws for an unlicensed position. Further, a transcript of MSA spokesman’s testimony at the hearing clearly shows an animosity for the industry and a duplicitous spin of the facts. Mr. Cunningham also strayed from total accuracy in support of the bill. The committee saw through the effort and tabled a bad bill.

Get news headlines sent daily to your inbox


Jean Johnson is a lobbyist for the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association.

(2) comments

Joe Perry Mar 28, 2017 10:58am
Jean Johnson's response to the Montana Sportsmen Alliance op-ed begs significant correction. Moga's effort to control the Board of Outfitters (Boo) is well known. The shameful show they staged against Fishing Outfitter and Chair Robin Cunningham highlights those efforts. They have both the past president and president of Moga on the board....conflict of interest?? They most certainly do not represent the outfitting industry except for a small wealthy group of primarily private land outfitters. Secondly, MSA was not even formed when I-161 was passed. Ms. Johnson has been reminded of this. We have members who supported and members who didn't. Ms. Johnson has persisted in giving legislators false information even when she was called on it. Thirdly, we stand by our testimony. We resent her feeding legislators false information and her behind-the-scenes accusations. We have no disdain for the outfitter industry and work well with many outfitters and FOAM, but we do have disdain for the leaders of Moga! And lastly, MSA members have had to endure Ms. Johnson screaming at us during testimony at Boo, from the floor, disrupting the meeting. Moga president Tabor has made false accusations about MSA , on the record, in Boo meetings. He has been called on it. The industry has a lousy public image and it is almost entirely because of Moga's antics. A shame for the industry. Rest assured that MSA will continue to support Montana's Sportsmen/women and in holding Moga responsible for false statements and lousy self-serving legislation!


Montana Sportsmen Alliance
Leadership Team

John Borgreen, Great Falls
Steve Schindler, Glasgow
Sam Milodragovich, Butte
Jeff Herbert, Helena
Joe Perry, Conrad
JW Westman, Park City
Robert Wood, Hamilton

MSA ALERT: HB 324 STRONGLY OPPOSE!

Up in Senate F&G very soon!  Please oppose by sending to whole senate as well as committee!

The Montana Sportsmen Alliance:   HOUSE BILL 324  OPPOSE

HB 324 is a bill to remove Parks from FWP and let their commission hire their own director.

The Montana Sportsmen Alliance appreciates the many and unique recreational
and historical opportunities State Parks provide to both Montanans and
visitors to the state. We believe State Parks are valuable assets as a part
of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. As such, we oppose HB 324. The
continued attempts to remove Parks organization and operation from the state
wildlife agency have been and will continue to be a detriment to the state
as a whole. We believe that legislative intervention to change the means of
selecting the Parks Administrator is a further attempt at this and is
misguided, ill-advised and inappropriate.

.    The bill is a result of the recent removal of the Parks
Administrator. This was an appropriate and necessary action by FWP.
Legislative action to intervene and modify the selection process for a
replacement by taking it away from FWP is short-sighted and unnecessary
intrusion in the filling agency staff positions.
.    In years past, there have been efforts for other commissions or
boards to act as hiring authorities for agency directors or program
managers. It has been proven time and time again that this method is
counter-productive, does not guarantee quality leadership and serves to
further politicize selections.
.    Although Parks' primary focus is general recreation, 29 of the 54
State Parks in Montana are water-based with fishing and, to a lesser extent,
hunting being important side activities of those sites. 22 of those 54 are
on lakes and 7 are on major waterways. As such, hunters and anglers have a
definite interest and stake in State Parks. Any attempt to move Parks or its
operations away from FWP, by either procedure or physical removal will be a
detriment to sportsmen and women as well as the recreating public. We
unequivocally oppose any attempts at lessening the involvement of sportsmen
and women in the operation of State Parks or its removal from the agency.
.    The FWP Director must remain the final authority to coordinate both
work and budget priorities of division work and funding. Not only is it a
much more effective business model, it also ensures good decision-making and
aids in forestalling potential issues of funding diversion and
non-compliance with state policy and funding sources requirements. 
.    This legislation does not address the fundamental and largest, most
critical issue for State Parks-funding. In fact, it serves to only further
divert attention from that basic issue. Time would far better be spent
working to help develop a reliable, sustainable and long-term means of
funding for our State Parks.

   Senate emails:   Please OPPOSE

goodwind1.duane@gmail.com, rnewbar@gmail.com, Sen.Mark.Blasdel@mt.gov, Sen.Dee.Brown@mt.gov, ebuttrey@mtsenate.com, marycaferro@gmail.com, Sen.Jill.Cohenour@mt.gov, Sen.Pat.Connell@mt.gov, TFacey@mt.gov,  Sen.Jennifer.Fielder@mt.gov, Sen.Steve.Fitzpatrick@mt.gov, Mrmac570@me.com, Sen.Jen.Gross@mt.gov, Sen.Steve.Hinebauch@mt.gov, Sen.Jedediah.Hinkle@mt.gov, brian@hovenequipment.com, sendavidhoward@gmail.com, Sen.Llew.Jones@mt.gov, Sen.Doug.Kary@mt.gov, Sen.Bob.Keenan@mt.gov, Sen.Mike.Lang@mt.gov, suemalek@gmail.com, edie.mcclafferty@gmail.com, Sen.Mary.McNally@mt.gov, moe.mt.senate@gmail.com, Sen.Eric.Moore@mt.gov, Sen.Albert.Olszewski@mt.gov, ryanosmundson@gmail.com, mikephillips@montana.net, Sen.JP@mt.gov, Sen.Keith.Regier@mt.gov, tomrichmondmt@gmail.com, Sen.Scott.Sales@mt.gov, dansalomon12@gmail.com, senatorsands@gmail.com, Sen.Jon.Sesso@mt.gov, Sen.Jason.Small@mt.gov, Sen.Cary.Smith@mt.gov, clairena@hughes.net, Sen.Nels.Swandal@mt.gov, Sen.Margie.MacDonald@mt.gov, sfredthomas@yahoo.com, vancesd34@gmail.com, cvvincent@hotmail.com, Sen.Gene.Vuckovich@mt.gov, webb4mt@hotmail.com, jeffwelborn@hotmail.com, Sen.Lea.Whitford@mt.gov, Sen.Cynthia.Wolken@mt.gov,
http://flatheadbeacon.com/2017/03/27/jane-goodall-wolves/

The Jane Goodall of Wolves

Nearly four decades after Diane Boyd started monitoring the first radio-collared wolf to recolonize the Western U.S. from Canada, she has come full circle with her new job as wolf management specialist for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

In 1979, Diane Boyd left her native Minnesota and headed west to begin tracking the first radio-collared gray wolf from Canada to recolonize the Western U.S., where humans had effectively eliminated the species by the 1930s through hunting, poisoning and habitat loss. Boyd, a 24-year-old wildlife biology graduate student at University of Montana, was fueled by optimistic idealism and boundless energy. When she pulled up to her new home, deep in northwestern Montana’s rugged North Fork Flathead River valley, it was apparent she would need both.
“It was like, ‘Wow,’” Boyd recalls of seeing the cabin, which had no plumbing, electricity or means of communicating with the outside world. “I’d spent a lot of time outdoors, but this was true isolation.”
Though wolves had been extirpated statewide, reports of sightings and shootings started trickling in during the 1960s and ‘70s, leading University of Montana professor Bob Ream to launch the Wolf Ecology Project in 1973, the same year that Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolves were listed under the Endangered Species Act. It was through the Wolf Ecology Project that researcher Joe Smith trapped a female wolf, dubbed Kishinena, on April 4, 1979 in the North Fork drainage along the northwestern edge of Glacier National Park.
From a formal scientific standpoint, the story of gray wolf recovery in the Western U.S. starts with Kishinena, and nobody is better suited to tell it than Boyd, who would study and live among wolves, beginning with Kishinena and her descendant “Magic Pack,” for the better part of two decades, mostly without running water or power, and at times without funding. As a veritable Jane Goodall of wolves, her work has been widely cited and led to national attention, with Sports Illustrated profiling her in a 1993 feature entitled, “The Woman Who Runs with the Wolves.”
Now, nearly four decades after she first arrived in Montana and following years of non-wolf work, Boyd has orbited back to her professional origins with her new role as wolf management and carnivore specialist for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ Region 1. She brings a uniquely qualified long-view perspective to a public discussion that often gets bogged down in short-sighted squabbling. This is a woman, after all, who still melts snow or treks to the river for water. She’s patient.
“I’ve come completely full circle,” Boyd, now 62, said from her Kalispell office in January. “This is where I want to be.”
Diane Boyd captures and collars wolves near Spotted Bear last summer. Courtesy Photo
Boyd grew up in Minnesota’s Twin Cities area. Her father was a hunter and outdoorsman, and he passed down a love of nature to his daughter. As a little girl, Boyd would play in a marshy expanse she called “The Swamp.” Though hardly wilderness by Montana standards, those modest wetlands set her imagination free.
“It was as wild as a kid could get in the Twin Cities,” she says. “It was my wild. For all I knew, there were wolves and panthers out there.”
The Swamp probably didn’t have any wolves, but other parts of Minnesota did. The state’s northeastern lake and sub-boreal forest region held the last remaining viable population of wild gray wolves in the lower 48. There were also wolves living on Michigan’s remote Isle Royale and periodic sightings in Wisconsin, but Minnesota was the true final American frontier for the species.
“Wolves were kind of the mystery animal, the essence of what was wild,” she said.
Boyd enrolled in the University of Minnesota’s wildlife management program and, as a “starry-eyed” 18-year-old freshman, immediately began pestering L. David Mech to give her field work. Mech is one of the leading figures in modern gray wolf research and the founder of the International Wolf Center. He didn’t have much time for starry eyes. But Boyd wouldn’t be denied.
“I was like a good parasite — persist, persist, persist,” she says.
Mech finally relented and gave her a summer position. After graduating college, Boyd worked in Alaska and then accepted a trapping job with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service back in her home state. She wasn’t aware of a single other female trapper, in Minnesota or anywhere else.
“It was a time of huge growth for me, personally and professionally,” she said. “I gained a lot of perspective. Here I was, a girl in this male-dominated field, walking up to farmers to talk about wolves killing their livestock.”
After wrapping up her Minnesota USFWS job, Boyd enrolled in University of Montana’s wildlife biology graduate school and showed up in Missoula in September 1979 with everything she owned stuffed into her car. Ream, the founder of the Wolf Ecology Project, greeted her and let her stay at his home the first night.
“The next day, I got her signed up at the university, gave her the equipment she needed, and then she took off up the North Fork,” Ream said in a recent interview.
Ream said Boyd arrived with strong recommendations and surprisingly ample experience for a fresh college graduate. Through Ream’s Wolf Ecology Project, funded by multiple federal and state entities, Boyd and Mike Fairchild, another biologist, headed into the Flathead in search of the lost lobos.
“She was very enthusiastic, she had a good head on her shoulders, and she was a good organizer,” Ream said. “Put those things together and you have a pretty good combination.”
At the time, wolves were novel, almost mythical, and not yet a heated political football. Loggers would take photos of them and share information about sightings with Boyd. One woman who had shot a wolf up the North Fork in 1970 had apparently reconsidered her actions and implored Boyd not to harass her furry neighbors.
“They had been gone so long, there wasn’t the hatred,” Boyd said. “It’s been an amazing evolution of cultural perspective.”
Scattered sightings in the greater Glacier Park region, including on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation opposite of the North Fork, became more frequent in the 70s leading up to Kishinena’s capture. Ream started the Wolf Ecology Project to document the increasing sightings in the Rockies, the majority of which occurred in northwestern Montana. He maintained his teaching job and residence in Missoula, making his field work sporadic. Boyd and Fairchild provided the primary boots on the ground, along with other researchers and volunteers.
While Fairchild, who passed away in 1998, had a house in Kalispell, Boyd huddled up in her rudimentary cabin in a region known for brutal winters. She became part of the landscape, a resident of the wild not unlike the animals she was there to study. Her cabin in Moose City, a former homestead settlement along the Canadian border, was built in 1909. As for amenities, “it barely had walls.”
“It was very, very rustic,” Boyd said. “I shared it with mice, chipmunks, packrats, weasels and my dogs.”
Boyd melted snow or retrieved river water, boiling it on a wood stove, a way of life she would continue at a different cabin that she built later up the North Fork and still calls home.
“You learn to depend on your brain,” she said, “and not technology.”
Boyd monitored Kishinena’s movements from a distance that would not disrupt her natural behavior. She spent many of her days tracking the radio-collar signal, on foot or in her pickup, skiing or snowmobiling in the winter, and flying in airplanes. She plotted the findings on a map. Then, Kishinena, already shy and enigmatic, disappeared. The radio collar had quit transmitting. With only one wolf documented in the Flathead drainage, interest in the research declined and funding evaporated in 1982.
But around the same time, Glacier Park rangers discovered the tracks of a three-toed male wolf. It had presumably lost its toe in a trap. Those distinctive tracks merged with a familiar set: Kishinena’s. In the spring of 1982, Bruce McLellan, a biologist who had been with Smith when Kishinena was captured, located the two wolves’ litter of seven babies. But the male died the same year, leaving the pups’ future in serious doubt.
“A female with seven pups and no male, we thought they would die,” Boyd said. “But we were still seeing the tracks of eight wolves in winter. It was amazing.”
After more than a half-century of absence, a wolf pack roamed Montana’s wilderness, although it spent much of its time in Canada. Its descendants would be dubbed the Magic Pack. Yet, the research program’s funding wasn’t renewed. Rather than admit defeat, Boyd stayed in the North Fork, working at the Cyclone Lookout from 1983-1985 and doing other odd jobs to make ends meet while she continued studying the pack largely on her own dime. Ream, who says “she was pretty much on her own for a while,” helped as much as he could, providing a truck and gas.
“I worked at the lookout to feed my wolf habit,” Boyd said. “I had gotten to know them. I didn’t want to leave.”
After funding arrived in 1985, Boyd and Fairchild returned to full-time wolf research. The following year, biologists discovered that the Magic Pack was denning in Glacier National Park, the first time in over 50 years that a wolf den had been documented in the Western U.S.
In a 1986 article in Natural History magazine, Clifford Martinka, the former longtime supervisory biologist at Glacier National Park, summed up the significance of gray wolves’ return: “In reviewing the history of the park, I think this is the biggest thing that has happened here since the creation of the park itself.”
Through the rest of the ’80s into the ’90s, new packs emerged around western Montana, including in the Ninemile Valley near Missoula. Wolves were naturally recolonizing the state from Canada, and Boyd was on the front lines to document it. Meanwhile, Ream was a member of the Northern Rocky Mountain Wolf Recovery Team, which drafted a management strategy in 1980 and revised it in 1987.
Boyd lived in the North Fork and completely immersed herself in her research until 1993, when she started work on a Ph.D. from University of Montana. For the next four years, she spent part of her time in Missoula. She finally left the North Fork for good in 1997, although she maintained her new cabin there. The original one was swept away in a 1995 flood.
Boyd and Ream were against reintroducing wolves to the Yellowstone National Park ecosystem, which occurred in 1995. They believed wolves would get there on their own, which would have been a more organic way for recovery to unfold and also far more politically palatable.
In fact, wolves had already made their way there. One was shot in Wyoming near Yellowstone Park in 1991 and another was filmed in the area prior to reintroduction. Boyd acknowledges today that reintroduction proved to be a springboard for recovery, but it did make wolves more controversial.
In the end, Boyd believes gray wolf recovery has been a towering achievement in American conservation. When Montana’s wolves were delisted in 2011, removing federal protections and transferring management to the state, the minimum wolf count statewide was 653, although the true population was higher.
“Biologically, it’s been successful beyond belief,” she said. “Sociologically, it’s still challenging.”
In 1997, Boyd went to Arizona to work for the Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Program, which released captive-raised wolves. To Boyd, after running with wild wolves for so many years, these seemed like domestic dogs. She ditched out quickly and returned to Montana in 1998 to work under USFWS Wolf Recovery Coordinator Ed Bangs.
Then came a long period away from wolf work, besides another one-year stint under Bangs, although she remained an affiliate faculty member at UM and continued wolf research on her own. She alternated jobs with organizations such as the Prickly Pear Land Trust, Nature Conservancy and as executive director of the Bitterroot Valley’s Teller Wildlife Refuge. An avid bird hunter, she also served from 2010-2013 as an FWP upland game biologist based out of Conrad. After that gig, she retired to her North Fork cabin, which is plumbed with propane but still has no running water or electricity, and committed to an art career, painting in solitude.
“The cabin is just like the one in Moose City,” she noted, “except it’s tight and warm and there aren’t any animals living there.”
But a mournful howl kept beckoning her back to the woods: “My wolves were always in my heart.” When FWP’s Region 1 wolf management specialist position opened up, following Kent Laudon’s departure, she saw her opportunity to answer it. Boyd took the helm in May 2016. Along with wolves, she oversees all other carnivores, such as wolverines, bobcats and mountain lions. She has been renting a house in Kalispell because a daily commute from the North Fork is unfeasible. She’s getting used to simply turning on the faucet for water.
Ream says nobody else could match Boyd’s institutional knowledge, understanding of the issues and network of connections.
“She’s the best person they could get for the job,” he said.
Diane Boyd, pictured at Lone Pine State Park on Feb. 13, 2017. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon
After all these years, Boyd hasn’t lost the childlike curiosity that decades ago first compelled her to venture into the Minnesota marsh. This past winter, she would set out alone on skis into the frozen North Fork to research wolverines, relieved to get out of the office, into the timber where she feels most at home.
Nor does she speak of wolves with any hint of professional fatigue. They remain majestic animals continually capable of astonishing her with their intelligence, their personality, their tale of redemption. There may be nothing special scientifically about a Washington wolf venturing 700 miles to central-Montana’s Judith Gap or another trekking 540 miles in seven months through all sorts of terrain, because wolves routinely make epic voyages. But in her telling, the story is shrouded in wonder.
It’s not just that she sees an incredible creature; she sees herself. Sometimes the journey ends where it should.
“This will be my last stop,” Boyd said of the FWP job. “I’m doing what I want to do. I was kind of like that wolf, moving around, trying to find what I wanted. And I found it. I’m here. I’m happy.”

MSA ALERT: Today on House floor HB 568 STRONGLY OPPOSE

NOTE:  This is our original statement.  The Missouri Breaks Elk Archery issue has been amended out for now.  This is another Moga bill trying to take licenses away from residents.  Please oppose.
Montana Sportsmen Alliance

HB 568 Comment:  Please Oppose


The Montana Sportsmen Alliance was founded to protect our prized Montana traditions like hunting, angling, trapping and conservation of such.  We founded to help protect the Montana resident hunters and anglers from the overreach of the Legislature when bills to privatize and/or commercialize those prized traditions are brought forth.

In 2007, Montana FWP held numerous public meetings throughout the state to deal with the Missouri Breaks Elk Archery issue. At issue were that resident hunters were being outnumbered by outfitted non-resident hunters.  The allocation of unlimited tags was wreaking havoc on our elk and the quality of the hunt for sportsmen/women.

At those public hearings, where everyone was given the opportunity to comment, Montana hunters spoke loudly & clearly; they wanted those Breaks tags to be put on a drawing basis so the scales would again allow the residents to participate more equitably in a quality hunt.

HB -568, unfortunately turns back the clock on that democratically decided issue by Montana hunters.  It is just one more of many Moga,  self-serving entitlement bills.  It is a waste of legislative time and slap in the face to the resident hunters who participated in 2007 and have continued to oppose these kind of commercial interest bills.

The mandatory 10% allocation for Non-residents is another attempt to bypass the public.  The current “up to 10%” is plenty.  What is broke??   Why aren’t we considering eliminating Non-Resident permits where the drawing odds for residents is horribly low??

This bill is another attempt to  legislate game management over FWP Commission Authority.    These attempts leave the public out of the process (the goal).   It is with these reasons the Montana Sportsmen Alliance strongly opposes HB 568. 

Please include our comment into the official record.  Thanks a bunch for your time. 

Respectfully submitted,

MSA Leadership Team

Joe Perry, Conrad
John Borgreen, Great Falls
Robert Wood, Hamilton
Sam Milodragovich, Butte
Steve Schindler, Glasgow
Jeff Herbert, Helena
JW Westman, Park City

Sunday, March 26, 2017

EMWH Update including a Disgusting Hearing on HB 651





Legislative Update Mar. 25, 2017

Bill du jour, another serving of the legislative bills...


 
HB 651 Fasttracking


Watching the live video of the HB 651 hearing, Rep. Zach Brown, the Vice Chair, made an objection, that House Rules 30-40, subsection 4 states, "(4)  All  committees  shall  provide  for  and  give  public  notice,  reasonably   calculated   to   give   actual   notice   to   interested   persons,  of  the  time,  place,  and  subject  matter  of  regular  and  special meetings. All committees are encouraged to provide at least  3  legislative  days  notice  to  members  of  committees  and  the general public. However, a meeting may be held upon notice appropriate to the circumstances." He also asked that the 15 minutes allotted for comments, by the Chair, Rep. Kerry White, be expanded.

This bill was posted on the 23rd, with a hearing set for the 24th - about 24 hours.

There were no proponents there, with the sponsor, Rep. Regier stating that due to short notice, he was not able to get the proponents there. Yet, due to our conservation networking, even with short notice, we had 15 opponents testify, with numerous other opponents calling and emailing their objections.

Testifying opposition were: Chris Marchion - Anaconda Sportsmen, Steve Platt - Helena Hunters & Anglers, Richard Hutton, Seth Morris, Shawn Thomas - MT DNRC, DJ Berg - National & MT Wild Sheep Foundation, Mark Lambrecht - RMEF, Jery Davis - Montana Bowhunters Association, Amy Seaman - MT Audubon Society, Jeff Lukas - MT Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Rod Bullis, Brian Ohs - MT Trout Unlimited, Mike Korn - retired FWP (began Block Management), Ron Aasheim - Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Nick Gevock - representing Montana Wildlife Federation, National Wildlife Federation, Mule Deer Foundation & The Nature Conservancy.

As fast tracked as this bill has been introduced the 23rd and hearing the 24th, Rep. Kerry White stated that they might take executive action that day. Which is exactly what they did last night.

Additionally, according to "5-4-201, MCA, fiscal notes are required on all bills reported out of a committee having an effect on the revenues, expenditures, or fiscal liability of the state or of a county or municipality, except appropriation measures carrying specific dollar amounts. Statutory provisions regarding fiscal notes may be found in 5-4-201 through 5-4-210, MCA."

No fiscal note was available for either the committee, nor the public by the time of, nor at the time of the hearing. It is still not posted.

Not what I wanted to be doing this morning, but I watched the executive action for this bill.

Rep. Flynn mentioned his concerns with the funding source, that it was going to be tough to overcome and he couldn't support the bill.

Then Rep. Wylie Galt let fly,
"The landowner/hunter problem is a growing rift. Lot of the opponents came up here, said how great this Habitat for Humanity (yes, that is exactly what he said, instead of Habitat Montana). I would disagree. As a landowner who deals with hunters, every year I dread hunting season more and more. The hunters are becoming more rude, more blatant. What needs to happen is we need to get these people together, we need to have them actually come talk to the landowners. So for that I'm going to support this bill for hopefully some kind of change like this will get something like that to happen. Because if we don't start doing something, its only going to get worse."



Flynn suggested PR dollars instead of Habitat Montana funding. He held up a stack of messages in opposition and said,
"Look at this, 100s and 100s and 100s more! And I absolutely know after being in the discussions with Rep. Regier, he is in earnest to solve the problem. And every body in here is in earnest to solve the problem. If we take it to a funding source that is a, you know I think we have a chance of maybe, getting some dollars out of there, that I think it has the potential to solve the problem, answer the concerns of some of the folks around here, alleviate the concerns from the other folks and at the end of the day, the winners will be the public, so that would be my suggestion Mr. Chair."

Chair White said he resisted putting any kind of conceptual amendment on this, didn't want to delay this, wanted to get it passed. So they voted - 8 yes, 7 no. Thankfully, Rep. Flynn voted against it, but unfortunately it was not enough to stop this fasttrack agenda. 

Despite all the public outpouring of opposition emails, phone calls and public testimony; despite FWP and DNRC opposing  HB 651; despite the Montana rule about public notice and the MCA about fiscal notes, almost of the entirety of the Republicans on this House Natural Resource Committee chose to ignore all this to fasttrack pass this financial funding and authority, redundant thieving bill.

For another perspective, Mike Korn's article - Thanks for Your Comments. Now, Go Away. HB 651  (retired FWP's Block Management Coordinator from 1988-1995) 

Please contact the House Representatives in opposition to this bill, quickly, it will probably go to the Floor the beginning of this coming week. Addresses below.

Public Trust Resources
HB 651 - Oppose - Passed Executive Action, probably will be heard early this week.  An act revising laws related to public access projects; creating a public lands access advocate; providing duties; revising use of Wildlife Habitat Funding; providing an appropriation; amending sections 77-1-202 AND 87-1-242, MCA
Please email opposition to House Representatives, addresses below.


SB 264 - Oppose - Revising rulemaking for reporting to Board of Outfitters. (reported on 3/15) Passed by House & Senate, signed by President, please email Governor Bullock for a veto.  governor@mt.gov


Trespass Bills
SB 170 - Oppose , "An act providing civil penalties for unauthorized operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle over real property; and providing an applicability date." This bill is modifying Title 70 Property, Chapter 16 Rights and Obligations Incidental to Ownership in Real Property, this section defines what property ownership means.
(reported on 3/15 and 3/18) Still sitting in  Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs Senate Committee.


HB 566 - Oppose - Revise private property notice for trespass, still sitting in House Judiciary since the hearing was cancelled on 3/7. (reported on 2/28)
HB 231 - Opposed private land amendment. Since the amendment text was added back in, restoring private landowners requirement for posting and orange paint, the bill passed to the Senate, where the bill was amended again. It passed it's 3rd reading and is now back in the House due to the new residential amendment.   (reported on 2/28 and 2/31)

Parks Bills
HB 324 - Oppose - Sitting in the Senate Fish & Game since 3/16.  Revise laws related to state parks' administration. This bill unfortunately passed the House, was referred to the Senate Committee and is being heard tomorrow (reported on it on 2/19). Please send your comments to the Senators, addresses below.
HB 454 - Oppose, Did not pass House Floor vote 3/24, probably dead (reported on it 2/23)

Hunting/Sportsmen related
HB 151 - Oppose - Tabled on 3/14 Appropriation for shooting range development program (Reported 2/13)
HB 315 - Oppose - Tabled on 3/21 Revising laws related to nonresident relative hunting and fishing licenses. (reported on 2/5)
HB 318 - Oppose - Tabled on 3/21 Revise nonresident college student big game combination license fee. (reported on 2/5)

Public Lands
HJ 9 - Oppose - Hearing 3/27 Senate Natural Resources,  Resolution supporting the release of certain wilderness study areas.  Please contact the Senators, emails below. (reported 2/19)

Constitutional Amendment
SB 236 - Oppose - Hearing before Senate Fish & Game 3/27 Fielder's Constitutional referendum to safeguard right to hunt, fish, and trap wildlife. Current text. Various suggested text amendments have been proposed, from various sportsmens groups and the Sportsmens Caucus group, but nothing agreed on by all. Which speaks to me, that this bill (or one similar), which affects our Constitution, needs much more work and vetting before going before the legislature in such a rushed manner this year. (reported on 2/15)

CWD
SB's 187 and 173 Hearings on 3/28 with House Fish, Wildlife & Parks. (Reported on 3/15)

_________________________
Senate addresses below

House of Representatives addresses
Rep.Kim.Abbott@mt.gov, Jbachmeier4hd28@gmail.com, nancyballance@aol.com, Danbartel2@gmail.com, becky4hd80@blackfoot.net, bennettforhouse@gmail.com, Rep.Seth.Berglee@mt.gov, Rep.Laurie.Bishop@mt.gov, randybrodehl57@gmail.com, Rep.Bob.Brown@mt.gov, brownformontana@gmail.com, Rep.Tom.Burnett@mt.gov, Rep.Rob.Cook@mt.gov, vcourtforlegislature@yahoo.com, Rep.Mike.Cuffe@mt.gov, Rep.Willis.Curdy@mt.gov, Amanda@amandaformontana.com, Rep.Geraldine.Custer@mt.gov, alandoane@midrivers.com, kimberly.dudik@gmail.com, Rep.MaryAnn.Dunwell@mt.gov, Rep.Jenny.Eck@mt.gov, Rep.Ron.Ehli@mt.gov, Rep.Janet.Ellis@mt.gov, jessmann@mt.gov, Rep.Dave.Fern@mt.gov, Rep.Ross.Fitzgerald@mt.gov, JohnFlemingStIgnatius@gmail.com, Rep.Kelly.Flynn@mt.gov, Rep.Moffie.Funk@mt.gov, wyliegaltformt@gmail.com, frankgarnerhd7@gmail.com, Rep.Carl.Glimm@mt.gov, edgreef@hotmail.com, rep.bruce.grubbs@mt.gov, Rep.Steve.Gunderson@mt.gov, Rep.Jim.Hamilton@mt.gov, Rep.Bradley.Hamlett@mt.gov, Rep.Bill.Harris@mt.gov, Rep.Denise.Hayman@mt.gov, Rep.Adam.Hertz@mt.gov, greghertz11@gmail.com, elliehillhd94@gmail.com, Rep.Ken.Holmlund@mt.gov, Mikeformontana@gmail.com, Rep.Tom.Jacobson@mt.gov, donjonesmt2@gmail.com, Rep.Jessica.Karjala@mt.gov, Rep.Kathy.Kelker@mt.gov, Rep.George.Kipp@mt.gov, Rep.Jon.Knokey@mt.gov, austinforhouse@yahoo.com, Rep.Casey.Knudsen@mt.gov, Rep.Steve.Lavin@mt.gov, Rep.Dennis.Lenz@mt.gov, Denleylogehd14@gmail.com, Rep.Ryan.Lynch@mt.gov, Rep.Forrest.Mandeville@mt.gov, Rep.Theresa.Manzella@mt.gov, kelly@bigskytech.net, Rep.Nate.McConnell@mt.gov, Rep.Wendy.McKamey@mt.gov, Rep.Shane.Morigeau@mt.gov, Rep.Dale.Mortensen@mt.gov, marknolandhd10@gmail.com, Rep.james.ohara@mt.gov, Rep.Andrea.Olsen@mt.gov, Rep.Jimmy.Patelis@mt.gov, Rep.Rae.Peppers@mt.gov, Rep.Zac.Perry@mt.gov, Rep.Gordon.Pierson@mt.gov, jeanbigskybigwin@gmail.com, Rep.Alan.Redfield@mt.gov, Rep.Matt.Regier@mt.gov, Rep.Vince.Ricci@mt.gov, Atomicrosie@gmail.com, Rep.Marilyn.Ryan@mt.gov, Rep.Walt.Sales@mt.gov, Rep.Casey.Schreiner@mt.gov, Rep.Ray.Shaw@mt.gov, Rep.Lola.Sheldon-Galloway@mt.gov, Rep.Derek.Skees@mt.gov, repbsmith@gmail.com, scottstaffanson@gmail.com, Rep.Sharon.Peregoy@mt.gov, Rep.Kathy.Swanson@mt.gov, Rep.Jeremy.Trebas@mt.gov, Rep.Brad.Tschida@mt.gov, Rep.Barry.Usher@mt.gov, Rep.Sue.Vinton@mt.gov, Rep.Kirk.Wagoner@mt.gov, Webb4house@gmail.com, Rep.Susan.Webber@mt.gov, Twelch1213@gmail.com, winwithwhite@gmail.com, tomwoods4mt@gmail.com, Rep.Daniel.Zolnikov@mt.gov,

Senate email addresses
goodwind1.duane@gmail.com, rnewbar@gmail.com, Sen.Mark.Blasdel@mt.gov, Sen.Dee.Brown@mt.gov, ebuttrey@mtsenate.com, marycaferro@gmail.com, Sen.Jill.Cohenour@mt.gov, Sen.Pat.Connell@mt.gov, TFacey@mt.gov, Sen.Jennifer.Fielder@mt.gov, Sen.Steve.Fitzpatrick@mt.gov, Mrmac570@me.com, Sen.Jen.Gross@mt.gov, Sen.Steve.Hinebauch@mt.gov, Sen.Jedediah.Hinkle@mt.gov, brian@hovenequipment.com, sendavidhoward@gmail.com, Sen.Llew.Jones@mt.gov, Sen.Doug.Kary@mt.gov, Sen.Bob.Keenan@mt.gov, Sen.Mike.Lang@mt.gov, suemalek@gmail.com, edie.mcclafferty@gmail.com, Sen.Mary.McNally@mt.gov, moe.mt.senate@gmail.com, Sen.Eric.Moore@mt.gov, Sen.Albert.Olszewski@mt.gov, ryanosmundson@gmail.com, mikephillips@montana.net, Sen.JP@mt.gov, Sen.Keith.Regier@mt.gov, tomrichmondmt@gmail.com, Sen.Scott.Sales@mt.gov, dansalomon12@gmail.com, senatorsands@gmail.com, Sen.Jon.Sesso@mt.gov, Sen.Jason.Small@mt.gov, Sen.Cary.Smith@mt.gov, clairena@hughes.net, Sen.Nels.Swandal@mt.gov, Sen.Margie.MacDonald@mt.gov, sfredthomas@yahoo.com, vancesd34@gmail.com, cvvincent@hotmail.com, Sen.Gene.Vuckovich@mt.gov, webb4mt@hotmail.com, jeffwelborn@hotmail.com, Sen.Lea.Whitford@mt.gov, Sen.Cynthia.Wolken@mt.gov,


Click to be a Contributor or Subscriber to
Enhancing Montana's Wildlife & Habitat


Thank you,
Kathryn QannaYahu
406-579-7748
www.EMWH.org
Bozeman, MT

Click to Subscribe to the EMWH newsletter, and type "subscribe" in the subject line.
Click to Unsubscribe  with "unsubscribe" in the subject line and we will promptly remove you from the list.
Thank you.


    Virus-free. www.avast.com

Bill complicates Montana warden funding

http://mtstandard.com/news/government-and-politics/bill-complicates-montana-warden-funding/article_22d3a568-ac3c-55f0-a078-c0a3c769ac51.html#utm_source=mtstandard.com&utm_campaign=%2Femail-updates%2Fdaily-headlines%2F&utm_medium=email&utm_content=7515E501D8621D638AB9EDA32A36E7225B3BADE2

EMWH HB 651 Oppose

Note:  It passed as other articles mention.  Please contact the entire House as it is being fast tracked to the floor.
Joe




Legislative Update Mar. 23, 2017

Hair on Fire Bill
Capitol Switchboard: 406-444-4200
The hearing tomorrow is at 3 PM, in room 172.
Legislator addresses below




 



HB 651 - OPPOSE - AN ACT REVISING LAWS RELATED TO PUBLIC ACCESS PROJECTS; CREATING A PUBLIC LANDS ACCESS ADVOCATE; PROVIDING DUTIES; REVISING USE OF WILDLIFE HABITAT FUNDING; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; AMENDING SECTIONS 77-1-202 AND 87-1-242, MCA;

HB 651 was introduced today, has a hearing Friday, March 24th. This bill is an outright theft from the public and of our Habitat Montana Funding. Here's why...

This bill proposes to hijack our Habitat Montana funding, moving it from FWP Commission authority, to the Republican dominated State Land Board (board of land commissioners) (4-1) authority, whose official Republican Party Platform still includes the plank to transfer/sell our Federal Public Lands to the State - which is partly why they sought control of the State Land Board this election.
Habitat Montana Funding is funded by our hunting license dollars, Habitat Montana Funding (87-1-242) "must be used exclusively by the commission (FWP) to secure, develop, and maintain wildlife habitat.
HB 651 proposes a duplication of efforts by establishing a "public lands access advocate" position, answerable to the State land board, of course, to " increase public access opportunities on public lands and to surface waters within Montana that are capable of recreational use."
Governor Bullock already created a Public Access Specialist position, this last summer, within the Natural Resources division, DNRC -  Ryan Weiss 444-5576.
For example, here is what Weiss is already doing... “With these news signs we’d like to focus on public access and highlight some management objectives. We’ll continue to use the traditional signs as needed, but with these new ones we’d like to welcome the public to come and enjoy the state trust lands,” says DNRC Public Access Specialist Ryan Weiss.



We already have Fish, Wildlife & Parks programs that pay private landowners to increase public access, such as Block Management, Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program, Unlocking Public Lands , just some of the programs available to private landowners under the Landowner's Guide to Montana FWP Landowner Programs.
How is all this duplication fiscal conservatism?
Habitat Montana should be overseen by our FWP Commission, whose legal duty is fish, wildlife and habitat management, not a political, elected body, whose fundamental duty is to ensure that the state trust is adequately compensated for it's use.
Don't be deceived by this motivationally disingenuous bill. We already have what we need under FWP's roof and authority - let's keep it there.

Please email the legislators opposing HB 651

_________________________
Senate addresses below

House of Representatives addresses
Rep.Kim.Abbott@mt.gov, Jbachmeier4hd28@gmail.com, nancyballance@aol.com, Danbartel2@gmail.com, becky4hd80@blackfoot.net, bennettforhouse@gmail.com, Rep.Seth.Berglee@mt.gov, Rep.Laurie.Bishop@mt.gov, randybrodehl57@gmail.com, Rep.Bob.Brown@mt.gov, brownformontana@gmail.com, Rep.Tom.Burnett@mt.gov, Rep.Rob.Cook@mt.gov, vcourtforlegislature@yahoo.com, Rep.Mike.Cuffe@mt.gov, Rep.Willis.Curdy@mt.gov, Amanda@amandaformontana.com, Rep.Geraldine.Custer@mt.gov, alandoane@midrivers.com, kimberly.dudik@gmail.com, Rep.MaryAnn.Dunwell@mt.gov, Rep.Jenny.Eck@mt.gov, Rep.Ron.Ehli@mt.gov, Rep.Janet.Ellis@mt.gov, jessmann@mt.gov, Rep.Dave.Fern@mt.gov, Rep.Ross.Fitzgerald@mt.gov, JohnFlemingStIgnatius@gmail.com, Rep.Kelly.Flynn@mt.gov, Rep.Moffie.Funk@mt.gov, wyliegaltformt@gmail.com, frankgarnerhd7@gmail.com, Rep.Carl.Glimm@mt.gov, edgreef@hotmail.com, rep.bruce.grubbs@mt.gov, Rep.Steve.Gunderson@mt.gov, Rep.Jim.Hamilton@mt.gov, Rep.Bradley.Hamlett@mt.gov, Rep.Bill.Harris@mt.gov, Rep.Denise.Hayman@mt.gov, Rep.Adam.Hertz@mt.gov, greghertz11@gmail.com, elliehillhd94@gmail.com, Rep.Ken.Holmlund@mt.gov, Mikeformontana@gmail.com, Rep.Tom.Jacobson@mt.gov, donjonesmt2@gmail.com, Rep.Jessica.Karjala@mt.gov, Rep.Kathy.Kelker@mt.gov, Rep.George.Kipp@mt.gov, Rep.Jon.Knokey@mt.gov, austinforhouse@yahoo.com, Rep.Casey.Knudsen@mt.gov, Rep.Steve.Lavin@mt.gov, Rep.Dennis.Lenz@mt.gov, Denleylogehd14@gmail.com, Rep.Ryan.Lynch@mt.gov, Rep.Forrest.Mandeville@mt.gov, Rep.Theresa.Manzella@mt.gov, kelly@bigskytech.net, Rep.Nate.McConnell@mt.gov, Rep.Wendy.McKamey@mt.gov, Rep.Shane.Morigeau@mt.gov, Rep.Dale.Mortensen@mt.gov, marknolandhd10@gmail.com, Rep.james.ohara@mt.gov, Rep.Andrea.Olsen@mt.gov, Rep.Jimmy.Patelis@mt.gov, Rep.Rae.Peppers@mt.gov, Rep.Zac.Perry@mt.gov, Rep.Gordon.Pierson@mt.gov, jeanbigskybigwin@gmail.com, Rep.Alan.Redfield@mt.gov, Rep.Matt.Regier@mt.gov, Rep.Vince.Ricci@mt.gov, Atomicrosie@gmail.com, Rep.Marilyn.Ryan@mt.gov, Rep.Walt.Sales@mt.gov, Rep.Casey.Schreiner@mt.gov, Rep.Ray.Shaw@mt.gov, Rep.Lola.Sheldon-Galloway@mt.gov, Rep.Derek.Skees@mt.gov, repbsmith@gmail.com, scottstaffanson@gmail.com, Rep.Sharon.Peregoy@mt.gov, Rep.Kathy.Swanson@mt.gov, Rep.Jeremy.Trebas@mt.gov, Rep.Brad.Tschida@mt.gov, Rep.Barry.Usher@mt.gov, Rep.Sue.Vinton@mt.gov, Rep.Kirk.Wagoner@mt.gov, Webb4house@gmail.com, Rep.Susan.Webber@mt.gov, Twelch1213@gmail.com, winwithwhite@gmail.com, tomwoods4mt@gmail.com, Rep.Daniel.Zolnikov@mt.gov,

Senate email addresses
goodwind1.duane@gmail.com, rnewbar@gmail.com, Sen.Mark.Blasdel@mt.gov, Sen.Dee.Brown@mt.gov, ebuttrey@mtsenate.com, marycaferro@gmail.com, Sen.Jill.Cohenour@mt.gov, Sen.Pat.Connell@mt.gov, TFacey@mt.gov, Sen.Jennifer.Fielder@mt.gov, Sen.Steve.Fitzpatrick@mt.gov, Mrmac570@me.com, Sen.Jen.Gross@mt.gov, Sen.Steve.Hinebauch@mt.gov, Sen.Jedediah.Hinkle@mt.gov, brian@hovenequipment.com, sendavidhoward@gmail.com, Sen.Llew.Jones@mt.gov, Sen.Doug.Kary@mt.gov, Sen.Bob.Keenan@mt.gov, Sen.Mike.Lang@mt.gov, suemalek@gmail.com, edie.mcclafferty@gmail.com, Sen.Mary.McNally@mt.gov, moe.mt.senate@gmail.com, Sen.Eric.Moore@mt.gov, Sen.Albert.Olszewski@mt.gov, ryanosmundson@gmail.com, mikephillips@montana.net, Sen.JP@mt.gov, Sen.Keith.Regier@mt.gov, tomrichmondmt@gmail.com, Sen.Scott.Sales@mt.gov, dansalomon12@gmail.com, senatorsands@gmail.com, Sen.Jon.Sesso@mt.gov, Sen.Jason.Small@mt.gov, Sen.Cary.Smith@mt.gov, clairena@hughes.net, Sen.Nels.Swandal@mt.gov, Sen.Margie.MacDonald@mt.gov, sfredthomas@yahoo.com, vancesd34@gmail.com, cvvincent@hotmail.com, Sen.Gene.Vuckovich@mt.gov, webb4mt@hotmail.com, jeffwelborn@hotmail.com, Sen.Lea.Whitford@mt.gov, Sen.Cynthia.Wolken@mt.gov,


Click to be a Contributor or Subscriber to
Enhancing Montana's Wildlife & Habitat


Thank you,
Kathryn QannaYahu
406-579-7748
www.EMWH.org
Bozeman, MT

Click to Subscribe to the EMWH newsletter, and type "subscribe" in the subject line.
Click to Unsubscribe  with "unsubscribe" in the subject line and we will promptly remove you from the list.
Thank you.


    Virus-free. www.avast.com

HB 651 Thanks for Your Comments. Now, Go Away. HB 651


Saturday, March 25, 2017

Thanks for Your Comments. Now, Go Away. HB 651

-Or-
What is it About “No!” That You Don’t Understand?
On Friday night, the House Natural Resources Committee passed on HB 651 to the House floor for a vote. This bill establishes a position of “Public Lands Advocate” under the State Land Board. The funding for this position comes from a $200,000 appropriation from the General Fund. In addition, 651 amends the Habitat Montana statute (87-1-242) so as to add “…and to secure public access to wildlife habitat” to the responsibilities of the program. In essence, this bill taps Habitat Montana for activities that are not part of the aim of the program, opening it up beyond its dedicated purpose.

To start, Rep. Zack Brown (D- Bozeman) objected to the bill being heard as it violated rules that requires adequate time for public notification between when a bill is introduced and then heard in committee. The bill was introduced on March 23rd and the hearing was the next day. Chairman Cary White (R-Bozeman) thanked Rep. Brown for his comment and then proceeded with the hearing. Additionally, the bill had been put together and pushed through so fast that there was not a fiscal note, the standard official and statutorily-required document that analyzes what the monetary impact the bill would likely be. This also provides basis and insight for discussion, both by the public and legislators. The hearing continued.

Once the hearing began no one appeared in support of the bill, except the bill’s sponsor, Matt Regier (R-Kalispell.) His testimony extolled the need for access to the 1.5 million acres of state lands in Montana. He pled the need to be able to access our land. He said that this bill would be the answer.

Immediately following that, 15 people, representing various conservation groups, state agencies and individuals testified in no uncertain terms against it. Sportsman’s groups, Montana DNRC, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and private citizens all spoke against the bill, objecting to the diversion of Habitat Montana funds for dubious purposes and the redundancy and duplication of establishing yet one more government position with overlapping duties to existing successful programs. It was crystal clear that the supposed beneficiaries of HB 651 were adamant that this was not the ultimate solution.

In his closing, Regier tried valiantly to support his bill. He reiterated the need for access to public land and argued that this bill would solve the problem. Ironically, he stated that the turnaround from the time the bill was introduced to the hearing was insufficient for him to rally together anyone to appear in support of the bill. Hmmm. A nod is as good as a wink…..

Later, during Executive session (the time when committee members discuss bills among themselves, do not take any further testimony and then vote up or a down to passing a bill to the floor) the committee passed House Bill 651. The vote was, with one exception, along party lines, with Rep. Kelly Flynn (R-Townsend) opposing. During committee discussion, Flynn held up a fistful of slips, messages sent him by citizens opposing HB 651. He said, “Look at this! 100S and 100s and 100s more.“ He recognized this bill was not widely supported. Also during that discussion Rep. Wylie Galt (R-Martinsdale) broke into a commentary dissing public hunters, the conservation movement, and FWP concerning Habitat Montana. Why would someone with such fierce contempt for the very people HB 651 was supposed to benefit would then turn around and vote for it?

HB 651 is part of a bigger “package” that Republicans in the legislature announced to make access to public land as a banner of the party. Most every candidate, regardless of political stripe running in last year’s election featured photos of him/her swathed in hunter orange, wrestling a wild trout from a stream or sojourning into the Great Outdoors. The governor’s race was in part framed in issues regarding access to public land. Over a thousand people showed up at the capitol recently to demand that public lands remain in public hands. It's unquestionably an issue whose time has finally come. But HB 651 misses the mark…by a long ways.

Certainly, the most egregious part is the diversion of Habitat Montana funding to another agency and for things afield from its intent. Since its inception, Habitat Montana has been used for a wide range of conservation habitat projects including acquisition, conservation easements and leases. It is nationally-recognized and arguably, the most successful program of its kind anywhere. Many who disapprove of the state owning property have objected to this program and have, over the years tried various means to end, or at very least cripple it. HB 651 is one more transparent shot at that. It’s important to note that although not statutorily required, public access has been a requirement in all acquisitions, leases, agreements and conservation easements that are funded all or in part, by Habitat Montana.

HB 651 establishes an “access advocate” position under the State Land Board, ostensibly to promote existing programs, identify opportunities to increase access and propose projects. However, by definition, this overlaps, duplicates numerous existing programs and efforts of other state agencies. FWP has numerous programs such as Block Management (which since 1985 has opened over 7 million acres of private and public land to free hunting) and Fishing Access Sites (over 300 statewide) which are ongoing in their efforts to open state, federal and private lands and waters to the public. DNRC’s recreational use section along with a dedicated Access Coordinator enables and expands public use of state lands. Each of these agencies have numerous other programs where public access is either a dedicated goal or collateral benefit of their work. The simple fact is that HB 651 comprises just another cog of bureaucracy doing the same thing and is simply not needed. And one only wonders why those who presume to be such strong advocates of reducing government and ending duplication and waste would propose more, rather than less. That, at an additional cost not only to Habitat Montana but now, to the General Fund and at the tune of almost a quarter of a million dollars ($200,000). So what gives guys?

If anything, the legislature should be doing everything it can to help the existing programs be sustainable, encouraging efforts to coordinate work across agency lines and view access in a comprehensive fashion. Access to private land often leads to access to state lands which in many cases leads to access to federal lands. Making these gears mesh better should be our priority and goal- not to further clutter the access landscape.

HB 651 will hit the House floor next week and it is critical that representatives get the message loud and clear that this bill is not worth further consideration. They need to be emailed and called with unequivocal messages to vote down this attempt at raiding Habitat Montana and duplicating other, already successful access efforts. 
by Mike Korn, retired FWP 

Friday, March 24, 2017

MSA ALERT: URGENT OPPOSE HB 651 TODAY

Sorry for short notice but they are sneaky.  Please oppose HB 651 crippling Habitat Montana….one of our priorities.  3Pm House Natural Resources.  Might just as well send to the whole House as well.


   Everything we've worked for over the past year would be thrown out if HB 651 passes. This bill makes major changes to Habitat Montana that would permanently cripple the program and the ability to protect and purchase key wildlife habitat. It's up tomorrow, March 24 at 3 p.m. in House Natural Resources and we need to turn out as many people as possible to oppose this terrible bill.

   It's in Room 172. Please get there and make a difference. Most certainly call in 444-4800 or email.

   Here's the link to the bill:

http://laws.leg.mt.gov/legprd/LAW0210W$BSIV.ActionQuery?P_BILL_NO1=651&P_BLTP_BILL_TYP_CD=HB&Z_ACTION=Find&P_SESS=20171


2017 MONTANA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES E-MAIL:

Rep.Kim.Abbott@mt.gov,  nancyballance@aol.com, Danbartel2@gmail.com, becky4hd80@blackfoot.net,
bennettforhouse@gmail.com, Rep.Seth.Berglee@mt.gov, Rep.Laurie.Bishop@mt.gov, randybrodehl57@gmail.com, Rep.Bob.Brown@mt.gov, brownformontana@gmail.com, Rep.Tom.Burnett@mt.gov, Rep.Rob.Cook@mt.gov, vcourtforlegislature@yahoo.com, Rep.Mike.Cuffe@mt.gov, Rep.Willis.Curdy@mt.gov,  Amanda@amandaformontana.com, Rep.Geraldine.Custer@mt.gov,  alandoane@midrivers.com, kimberly.dudik@gmail.com, Rep.MaryAnn.Dunwell@mt.gov, Rep.Jenny.Eck@mt.gov, Rep.Ron.Ehli@mt.gov, Rep.Janet.Ellis@mt.gov, jessmann@mt.gov, Rep.Dave.Fern@mt.gov, Rep.Ross.Fitzgerald@mt.gov, JohnFlemingStIgnatius@gmail.com, Rep.Kelly.Flynn@mt.gov, Rep.Moffie.Funk@mt.gov, wyliegaltformt@gmail.com, frankgarnerhd7@gmail.com, Rep.Carl.Glimm@mt.gov, edgreef@hotmail.com, rep.bruce.grubbs@mt.gov, Rep.Steve.Gunderson@mt.gov, Rep.Jim.Hamilton@mt.gov, Rep.Bradley.Hamlett@mt.gov, Rep.Bill.Harris@mt.gov, Rep.Denise.Hayman@mt.gov, Rep.Adam.Hertz@mt.gov, greghertz11@gmail.com, elliehillhd94@gmail.com, Rep.Ken.Holmlund@mt.gov, Mikeformontana@gmail.com, Rep.Tom.Jacobson@mt.gov, donjonesmt2@gmail.com, Rep.Jessica.Karjala@mt.gov, Rep.Kathy.Kelker@mt.gov, Rep.George.Kipp@mt.gov, Rep.Jon.Knokey@mt.gov, austinforhouse@yahoo.com, Rep.Casey.Knudsen@mt.gov, Rep.Steve.Lavin@mt.gov, Rep.Dennis.Lenz@mt.gov, Denleylogehd14@gmail.com, Rep.Ryan.Lynch@mt.gov, Rep.Forrest.Mandeville@mt.gov, Rep.Theresa.Manzella@mt.gov, kelly@bigskytech.net, Rep.Nate.McConnell@mt.gov, Rep.Wendy.McKamey@mt.gov, Rep.Shane.Morigeau@mt.gov, Rep.Dale.Mortensen@mt.gov, marknolandhd10@gmail.com, Rep.james.ohara@mt.gov, Rep.Andrea.Olsen@mt.gov, Rep.Jimmy.Patelis@mt.gov, Rep.Rae.Peppers@mt.gov, Rep.Zac.Perry@mt.gov, Rep.Gordon.Pierson@mt.gov, jeanbigskybigwin@gmail.com, Rep.Alan.Redfield@mt.gov, Rep.Matt.Regier@mt.gov, Rep.Vince.Ricci@mt.gov, Atomicrosie@gmail.com, Rep.Marilyn.Ryan@mt.gov, Rep.Walt.Sales@mt.gov, Rep.Casey.Schreiner@mt.gov, Rep.Ray.Shaw@mt.gov, Rep.Lola.Sheldon-Galloway@mt.gov, Rep.Derek.Skees@mt.gov, repbsmith@gmail.com, scottstaffanson@gmail.com, Rep.Sharon.Peregoy@mt.gov, Rep.Kathy.Swanson@mt.gov, Rep.Jeremy.Trebas@mt.gov, Rep.Brad.Tschida@mt.gov, Rep.Barry.Usher@mt.gov, Rep.Sue.Vinton@mt.gov, Rep.Kirk.Wagoner@mt.gov, Webb4house@gmail.com, Rep.Susan.Webber@mt.gov, Twelch1213@gmail.com, winwithwhite@gmail.com, tomwoods4mt@gmail.com, Rep.Daniel.Zolnikov@mt.gov,

Thursday, March 23, 2017

Dr. Bob Ream has passed. R.I.P.

I am sad to report the passing of Bob Ream last nite.  He has been sick for some time.  He was my professor in college, a legislator, FWP Commission Chair, and a damn fine man.  R.I.P.
Joe

Montana On The Ground....Moga bill would reduce permits for residents

Very good analysis.


Independently reported news stories of Montana's people, land, water and wildlife.

Updates from http://www.montanaotg.com/
Montana On The Ground


In the 03/23/2017 edition:

MOGA bill would reduce permits for resident hunters


MOGA bill would reduce permits for resident hunters
By Laura Lundquist on Mar 22, 2017 10:13 pm

A group of outfitters is trying to wrest a few more game permits from the hands of Montana hunters.

On Tuesday, the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association defended its bill, House Bill 568, to ensure that nonresident hunters always get 10 percent of the permits to hunt elk, antelope, mountain lions and eventually black bears. Rep. Kerry White, R-Bozeman, carried HB568, saying it would bring in additional money for Fish, Wildlife & Parks, because nonresident licenses cost more than those of residents. But White’s justification belies the fact that it takes permits away from residents.

The number of resident and nonresident hunters who enter drawings for game permits varies each year, depending on the hunting district and species. But according to a 1979 law, nonresidents can’t receive any more than 10 percent of the permits for each species in each district.

FWP licensing chief Hank Worsech explained the drawing process this way. Say there are 100 elk permits for a particular district. FWP randomly selects hunters’ names, and as soon as they draw 10 nonresidents, no more nonresidents can get a permit in that district. However, if after 100 names are drawn, fewer than 10 nonresidents are selected – say seven – only seven nonresidents get permits. In this way, Montana residents get a little priority. But Worsech said in many districts, nonresidents end up getting 10 percent of the permits anyway.

But MOGA wants to remove the priority that resident hunters get and give nonresidents 10 percent of each species and sex in each district. So in the previous example, three residents would lose their permits so 10 nonresidents would get theirs.

Based upon the 2016 drawing results, that means last fall, residents would have lost 393 elk cow permits, 122 antelope permits and 157 female antelope permits, Worsech said. But nonresidents would have added about $147,000 to FWP’s coffers. But all that could change in next year’s drawing.

MOGA lobbyist Jeanne Johnson said this was the bill she’s wanted to bring for the past 13 legislative sessions. She explained that the 1979 law was passed after some nonresident hunters behaved badly in 1978, causing legislators to pass a bill to clamp down on the number of nonresidents.

“That’s 38 years ago – I think it’s time to let that go,” Johnson said. “The nonresident supports that (FWP) agency across the street – 70 percent of their budget. That’s a lot of money. But now we want to honor those people and say, ‘You get 10 percent.’”

MOGA executive director Mac Minard also claimed to be advocating for nonresident hunters because otherwise they’ll go hunt in other states. Both Minard and Republican committee members said the nonresidents would spend additional money on food, hotels and transportation, but couldn’t say how much more that would add to Montana’s economy, especially since resident hunters also pay for food, hotels and transportation unless they’re hunting near home.

Other than the fact that state Legislatures don’t usually pass laws to favor nonresidents – they usually look after their own citizens – Montana Wildlife Federation spokesman Nick Gevock said HB568 was not appropriate because it takes season-setting duties out of the hands of the FWP commissioners. Montana Bowhunters spokesman Jerry Davis agreed with Gevock.

Every two years, FWP commissioners approve the numbers of individuals and species that can be hunted and trapped in each district and sometimes need to vary the proportion of hunters due to circumstances such as accounting for promised landowner permits.

“We oppose season setting in statute. If we go down that road, we’ll be asked to set all seasons in statute. That would make managing wildlife virtually impossible,” Gevock said. “Twenty percent of our membership is nonresidents, so I disagree that MOGA is the only organization looking out for nonresident hunters. We welcome nonresident hunters and want opportunity for them, but it already exists. This wouldn’t benefit Montana resident hunters.”

It would benefit MOGA members because nonresident hunters tend to hire guides. About a third of nonresident hunters use guides, Minard said, but that could increase if more nonresident hunters could get permits. Minard didn’t provide many other details about outfitters’ operations other than to say that about 400 outfitters belong to MOGA although about 100 appear to be inactive.

MOGA has already pushed for other bills that would favor outfitters, including SB264, which would require outfitters to provide only minimal information to the Board of Outfitters. MOGA also forced angling representative Robin Cunningham off the Board of Outfitters by opposing his nomination. Cunningham advocated for transparency and outfitter reporting of resources they use.

Kerry tried to justify HB568 by saying increasing the number of nonresident hunters would keep resident-license costs down. But that’s not necessarily so.

FWP has to calculate its budget for every four years and sets license and permit fees based on past license sales and the department’s expenses. FWP will have to do that again in 2018 for the next four years and fees may or may not change based upon a complicated calculus of how all the fees add together, whether federal money has increased or decrease and whether they cover any number of expenses. And Montana’s resident hunters still pay some of the lowest fees in the nation.

But ultimately, it may come down to lost resident hunting opportunity.

“We oppose the 10 percent becoming a floor rather than a ceiling (for nonresident numbers),” Gevock said.

Introduced at the end of February, HB568 has already been amended but hasn't passed the committee or the House yet, after which it would still need to be passed by the Senate.


Read in browser »
share on TwitterLike MOGA bill would reduce permits for resident hunters on Facebook




Recent Articles:
Resolution urging pipeline approval nears gov's desk
State Outfitters Board in shake-up over reporting requirements
House supports resolution dissolving wilderness study areas
Wilderness Study Area bill sees overwhelming opposition
Audience may be restricted for greenhouse-gas bill
Copyright © 2017 Montana On The Ground, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you asked to be notified when new stories are posted to Montana On The Ground.

Our mailing address is:
Montana On The Ground
Town center
Missoula, MT 59801

Add us to your address book


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp