SB 356 Requires terms for Conservation Easements using state funds.

 Mr. Chairman and Committee,

We thought maybe this committee would like to hear from folks who have sizable easements.   We are a farm/ranch couple living SE of Conrad on Circle S Ranch.  We pay property taxes in 4 counties.  

We donated a perpetual easement on all our land.  We have wildlife habitat we don’t ever want disturbed.  We want our place to remain in agriculture.  We have our own reasons.

It surprises us that legislators not wanting big government in our lives and wanting to limit paperwork, would support this kind of legislation. 

Please allow landowners flexibility to do the easements WE want without government making choices for us.

Joe and Debby Perry

Circle S Ranch

406-450-3013

HB 547-Provide penalties for selling data/images from trail cams on public lands

 

HB 547 -Provide penalties for selling data/images from trail cams on public lands

Mr. Chairman and members of the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee

  The Montana Sportsmen Alliance is a coalition of resident hunters, anglers and sportsmen and women. We stand in support to HB-547. Technology is rapidly changing how many hunt in Montana and across the US. In some states, it is legal and acceptable to use trail cams and when that buck walks in front of the camera, the image is immediately sent to a cell phone. What an opportunity for a hunter to learn of a “trophy” animal is on a particular piece of property. You can imagine what these images might be worth! Also, we preach the value of “fair chase”. How could this possibly be recognized as fair chase. Please vote green on HB-547.  Thank you

Thank you

Montana Sportsmen Alliance 

Leadership Team

Jeff Herbert    Helena

Tim Thier   Trego

Dale Tribby    Miles City

Joe Perry    Conrad

JW Westman   Park City

Don Thomas    Lewistown

Steve Schindler   Glasgow

Harvey Nyberg   Lewistown

Andrew McKean   Glasgow

Ray Gross   Dillon

Robert Wood   Hamilton

Greg Munther   Missoula

HB 522- Provides landowner preference bison tags for landowners near YNP.

 HB 522 

Mr. Chairman and members of the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee.  

The Montana Sportsmen Alliance is a coalition of resident hunters, anglers and sportsmen and women. We stand in opposition to HB-522. The idea of providing preference to a landowner owning a minimum of 20 acres adjacent to YNP and allocating up to 15% of the annual licenses to these individuals is unfair. Drawing a bison tag is essentially as difficult and as coveted as drawing a moose, bighorn sheep or mountain goat tag. To provide preference to someone owning as few as 20 acres used by bison and who may never or rarely have bison on the property is a taking from the many Montanans who desire an opportunity at this license. Is this encouraging subdivision of important habitat?   There is no definition as to what constitutes use by bison. Is this meant to be one animal for one day in the past five years? This needs to be revised and clarified. Please do not diminish the common Montana resident with an opportunity to hunt bison adjacent to YNP.  Vote no on HB-522. 

Thank you

Montana Sportsmen Alliance 

Leadership Team

Jeff Herbert    Helena

Tim Thier   Trego

Dale Tribby    Miles City

Joe Perry    Conrad

JW Westman   Park City

Don Thomas    Lewistown

Steve Schindler   Glasgow

Harvey Nyberg   Lewistown

Andrew McKean   Glasgow

Ray Gross   Dillon

Robert Wood   Hamilton

Greg Munther   Missoula

HB 593-Revise FWP laws related to publishing the number of nonresident

 HB 593 

Mr. Chairman and members of the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee

  The Montana Sportsmen Alliance is a coalition of resident hunters, anglers and sportsmen and women. We stand in support to HB-593. The need to publish the number and means by which non-resident hunting licenses are sold is an important step to get a handle on how much use is occurring in Montana. In addition to the items included in this bill, we encourage the bill to be amended to clearly define how many non-resident licenses are issue to non-residents utilizing an outfitter, not just those who acquired a preference point. Without this information, it will be difficult for future legislatures, FWP or the Commission to get a clear idea on how many and to whom these licenses are going to. We urge a do pass on HB-593. 

 Thank you

Montana Sportsmen Alliance Leadership Team
Jeff Herbert    HelenaTim Thier   TregoDale Tribby    Miles CityJoe Perry    ConradJW Westman   Park CityDon Thomas    LewistownSteve Schindler   GlasgowHarvey Nyberg   LewistownAndrew McKean   GlasgowRay Gross   DillonRobert Wood   HamiltonGreg Munther   Missoula