Sunday, February 12, 2017
EMWH Newsletter
Legislative Update Feb. 11, 2017
Thank you fellow literary lovers, who appreciated and replied to the last legislative update with additionally applicable Shakespearean quotes. You put a huge smile on my face. :)
Conservation - "Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting, that would not let me sleep."
Next update - Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war! Quite appropriate for the details of Sen. Jennifer Fielder's attempt on our Constitution and Rep. Kerry White's attempt to carve up Fish, Wildlife & Parks by removing the "Parks" from FWP, sending our Parks to Commerce! That weighty piracy is over 150 pages already.
Thanks to the public's efforts HB 96 did not pass after it was not restored to its original form, though the sponsor, Rep. Zach Brown tried to remove Rep. Flynn's amendment. The final vote was aye 48 to no 52. Please make time to thank the legislators who voted against this bill, they need to hear our thanks, not just our comments, especially the 12 Republicans who did not make this a partisan issue - it was a Montana issue.
Considering the politics surrounding this bill, I would like to make a correction of a statement I heard during the hearing. Rep. Redfield incorrectly directed Representatives to look at their email comments, that the opposing HB 96 comments were not from landowners, but sportsmen. Yes, emails in opposition were from sportsmen and women from across Montana, but those hunters/anglers that are also landowners correctly identified themselves as FWP license holders, voicing concern about our hunting heritage and Montana's resource ethics. These hunters/anglers did not necessarily identify themselves as private landowners, because this issue should not have been about the "haves versus the have nots". I know a number of landowners that sent in comments of opposition, including Joe Perry, who owns thousands and leases more acreage in north Montana, who also happened to be on the PLPW council. Rep. Redfield's statement is part of the polarizing problem, with artificial boxes and labels, not part of the solution.
Ooops, there were a few mistakes on the block email addresses I received. I have double checked them now. For those of you who saved the emails, please make sure to adjust your lists.
House of Representatives:
Add - Jbachmeier4hd28@gmail.com
Senate
Add - Sen.Margie.MacDonald@mt.gov
Remove - russtempel@gmail.com
Now here's something we can support...
Support - HB 295, is being heard in the House Judiciary Committee. To some, the penalty for breaking the law is so small, it is meaningless, like fining a billionaire $10 a day for gating off public access. This bill would increase the current fine, for failure to remove the encroachment, of $10 a day up to $500 a day. Now that may make some think twice about illegally cutting off access.
There are some who intentionally and illegally put up obstructions on public roads, to our public lands, to privatize them. Part of my conservation work involves access and I have personally documented a number of cases, contacting authorities of illegal signs, gates, obstructions, to get access restored. This is a growing problem in Montana.
A recent example of a locked, illegal gate (for about 30 years) is that of the Hughes Creek Road in Ravalli County. Generally the cost to restore access is borne by individuals, hunting/angling groups and organizations like Public Lands/Water Access Association (contributions). Sometimes it is borne by the Montana taxpayers, as in the Tenderfoot Road case, which under Attorney General Bullock, began legal actions to restore access.
Outdoor recreation and tourism is one of the largest economic drivers in Montana, yet Montana leads the other western states with almost 2 million acres of public lands not accessible, some of which is illegal.
Please support HB 295 (Representative email addresses below)
Support - HB 290, currently in the House, Business and Labor committee. We need better commercial Outfitter reporting laws, not less. At this time, the Board of Outfitters does not have their own investigators/enforcers for their operational plans and records. Basically, they have been unregulated since they dropped the Memorandum of Understanding with FWP Enforcement in 2010 and stopped paying FWP (used to be $60,000, I have the MOU, Outfitting didn't supply my information request, I had to get it from FWP). It was years that the Board of Outfitting would not supply the data to FWP for the Private lands leased to outfitters map and the last year's map produced, 2015, the data was so questionable that FWP put a disclaimer on the map: "FWP assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the outfitter data (townships, ranges, sections) provided by the MBO (Montana Board of Outfitters). The MBO is the sole steward of outfitter data. Questions related to outfitter data depicted on this map should be directed to the MBO ."
In my 6 year FWP Game Warden Citation research, county dismissals of Outfitter citations is a whopping 43.29%. We have a serious problem here that involves our public trust resources.
This HB 290 requires the cooperation with state agencies, annual reports that include increased information, including harvest data so that resources are accounted for, whether it is on public or private land, the name and automated licensing system number for each client. Not too much to ask for.
Please email the House Representatives in support of HB 290. (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,
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OPPOSE HB 324...A bill to remove Parks from FWP and allow their commission to hire their own director
Montana Sportsmen Alliance strongly OPPOSES HB 324
It was heard in House F&G last Tues. Executive action is imminent.
Please FLOOD House F&G with comments.
House FWP members: House Fish, Wildlife & Parks Committee Email Link - Committee Members
Sharon Stewart-Peregoy <Rep.Sharon.peregoy@mt.gov>, Bridget Smith <repbsmith@gmail.com>, george kipp <Rep.George.Kipp@mt.gov>, tomjacobsonmt@gmail.com, Virginia Court <vcourtforlegislature@yahoo.com>, Zachary Brown <brownformontana@gmail.com>, Jean Price <jeanbigskybigwin@gmail.com>, Rep.Bob.Brown@mt.gov, Rep.Kelly.Flynn@mt.gov, winwithwhite@gmail.com, Rep.Matt.Regier@mt.gov, denleylogehd14 <Denleylogehd14@gmail.com>, Atomicrosie@gmail.com, Rep.Casey.Knudsen@mt.gov, Rep.Sue.Vinton@mt.gov, Twelch1213@gmail.com, Rep.Ray.Shaw@mt.gov
Switchboard: Information Office: (406)444-4800
HB 324 is a bill to remove Parks from FWP and let their commission hire their own director.
HOUSE BILL 324
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.
Please OPPOSE
It was heard in House F&G last Tues. Executive action is imminent.
Please FLOOD House F&G with comments.
House FWP members: House Fish, Wildlife & Parks Committee Email Link - Committee Members
Sharon Stewart-Peregoy <Rep.Sharon.peregoy@mt.gov>, Bridget Smith <repbsmith@gmail.com>, george kipp <Rep.George.Kipp@mt.gov>, tomjacobsonmt@gmail.com, Virginia Court <vcourtforlegislature@yahoo.com>, Zachary Brown <brownformontana@gmail.com>, Jean Price <jeanbigskybigwin@gmail.com>, Rep.Bob.Brown@mt.gov, Rep.Kelly.Flynn@mt.gov, winwithwhite@gmail.com, Rep.Matt.Regier@mt.gov, denleylogehd14 <Denleylogehd14@gmail.com>, Atomicrosie@gmail.com, Rep.Casey.Knudsen@mt.gov, Rep.Sue.Vinton@mt.gov, Twelch1213@gmail.com, Rep.Ray.Shaw@mt.gov
Switchboard: Information Office: (406)444-4800
HB 324 is a bill to remove Parks from FWP and let their commission hire their own director.
HOUSE BILL 324
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.
Please OPPOSE
Monday, February 6, 2017
SUPPORT HB 290
Support for this bill is critical if we want some very simple reporting! Please go Viral!
HB 290 up in House Business and Labor at 8:30 on Tuesday Feb, 14, 2017
14-FEB-17 8:30 AM 172 HB 290 Current Text in .HTML format Current Text in .PDF format Revise outfitter reporting laws Tom Jacobson (D) HD 21
Contact Committee Members:
marknolandhd10@gmail.com, amanda@amandaformontana.com, Rep.Vince.Ricci@mt.gov, Rep.Willis.Curdy@mt.gov, Rep.Ross.Fitzgerald@mt.gov, Rep.Moffie.Funk@mt.gov, Rep.Steve.Gunderson@mt.gov, Denleylogehd14@gmail.com, Rep.Andrea.Olsen@mt.gov, Rep.Gordon.Pierson@mt.gov, Atomicrosie@gmail.com, Rep.Casey.Schreiner@mt.gov, Rep.Sharon.peregoy@mt.gov, Rep.Jeremy.Trebas@mt.gov, Rep.Sue.Vinton@mt.gov, Rep.Daniel.Zolnikov@mt.gov
An MSA bill revising record keeping by Board of Outfitters (Boo). MOGA is trying to reduce record keeping to nearly nothing. We want and need digitalization of data and want it shared between state and federal agencies involved in oversight of outfitters or the critters they harvest.
It is not our intention to interfere with efforts to streamline unnecessary paper reporting. We want the Board of Outfitters to require digital reporting to be shared “freely” with FWP, DNRC, and other state and federal agencies regulating outfitting activities. The harvest of public trust critters commercially comes with a responsibility to accurately report data that serves the public in the management of those critters. High elk numbers, low harvest rates in some areas, and shoulder seasons make this info critical to both biologists and law enforcement. Information on the map of outfitted lands is already law. It is not up to outfitters what they have to report and there is a concerted effort to hide info from both law enforcement and biologists and creating more damage to the industry reputation.
We have conferred with FWP, legislators, and FOAM. We have included their respective requests.
Specifically and very simply, we need to know:
Who. Name and ALS number
What. Species and sex of animal harvested
When. Date of harvest
Where. Location of harvest, HD specific to private or public land.
We need from Fishing outfitters:
Who. Outfitter, Guide, Name and ALS number
Where. Fishing outfitters operate on public waters. Board of Outfitters (Boo) needs to require recording of stream and stretch (what put-in and take-out an outfitter uses on any particular stream on any client trip date) in the client log.
Remember, no other license group uses public trust resources like outfitters!
We encourage the reduction in paper reporting but not at the cost of no data. What little we want is a small price to pay for harvesting public trust critters for free. The public…the owners….want this info collected.
Hunter surveys don’t collect the same data and the sample size (statistical significance) is small for outfitters. Shoulder seasons, harboring, and outfitter leasing of private and public lands require this data in order to successfully manage our big game resources.
It is ludicrous that outfitters think they can minimize all of what they report and thumb their noses at the public.
***Note*** MOGA was given a chance to work with us and declined.
PLEASE SUPPORT
EMWH Leg. Update
EMWH Subscribers,
A Legislative Alert
While Shakespeare didn't have to deal with our Montana Legislature every two years, his sentiment is
certainly applicable - "Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more."
This is a quickie general newsletter dealing with legislative issues.
Federal
On the Federal level, great news, due to the massive outpouring of disgust from the public, Rep. Jason
Chaffetz privatizing Federal Public Lands bill H.R. 621 was killed by the sponsor. This was his 3rd
legislative attempt to bring this to Congress, variations occurring in 2013 & 2015.
http://zubeezone.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/More1-300x194.gif Like the info commercials... But wait, there's more...
Rep. Chaffetz also has H.R. 622 that would endanger the public, our resources and our Federal
employees being stewards of our public lands. H.R. 622 seeks "To terminate the law
enforcement functions of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management and to provide block
grants to States for the enforcement of Federal law on Federal land under the jurisdiction of these
agencies, and for other purposes."
Ben Long has a good article - Bill to Cut Forest Service and BLM Enforcement is a Poacher’s Dream,
Sportsman’s Nightmare
Please contact your Federal Legislators and get Chaffetz H.R. 622 killed as well.
H.R.861 was just introduced on the 3rd - To terminate the Environmental Protection Agency
The text is not available yet, but I think the title speaks for itself.
Montana
Federal public lands antagonist, Sen. Jennifer Fielder, is at it again. She has a constitutional amendment
referendum that seeks to bypass the Governor being able to veto her attempts.
LC2314 Constitutional referendum to safeguard right to hunt, fish, and trap wildlife
The language I am seeing would seriously set the stage for privatization, Ranching for Wildlife and
introductions of "huntable" species that could wreak havoc on Montana's ecosystem, all under the guise
of "hunting/fishing rights". As a conservation hunter/angler, I am appalled by this draft.
It opens with demanding a "right", not the "opportunity" as our Constitution currently states, as though
our State serves to provide the fish and wildlife for harvesting like some commercial market, elevating hunting,
fishing and trapping with our other Montana rights, stating they are, "essential to pursuing life's basic
necessities." This raises the State's bar from our current "opportunity" and a "heritage". Imagine an outfitter
or trapper suing the State, saying that he couldn't be regulated from meeting "life's basic necessities"?
One of the changes to our Constitution would be: "(2) The opportunity to harvest wild fish and wild game animals
fish and wildlife is a heritage that shall forever be preserved to the individual citizens of the state and does
not create a right to trespass on private property or diminution of other private rights."
By removing "wild fish and wild game animals" opens the door for invasive and exotic species introductions.
Do you want Montana turned into Texas with all it's exotic "huntable" game farms? Just yesterday a science
article came up on my feed -
Invasive Wild Pigs Leave a Swath of Destruction Across U.S. – And They Keep Spreading!
I was at the Board of Livestock meeting where a proactive bill was proposed, which thankfully passed in 2015,
to restrict feral swine in Montana. Just this change alone would be a privatization nightmare in the making.
But wait...there's more... stating, "Fish and Wildlife management and conservation shall be subject to
statutes that seek to:
"a) Scientifically manage fish and wildlife populations." Now y'all all know that I advocate for public trust doctrine
scientific habitat, fish & wildlife management, but, there are times you have to deal with the social factor and
this statement could remove the FWP Commission and public input, such as in the river rules.
"Protect citizens and private property from threats or harm caused by fish and wildlife."
This bit sounds like it came right out of USDA APHIS Wildlife Service's manual. This would conflict with
Montana Supreme Court rulings Rathbone and Sackman about wildlife. "Montana is one of the few areas in
the nation where wild game abounds. It is regarded as one of the greatest of the state's natural resources,
as well as the chief attraction for visitors. Wild game existed here long before the coming of man. One who
acquires property in Montana does so with notice and knowledge of the presence of wild game and pre-
sumably is cognizant of its natural habits. Wild game does not possess the power to distinguish between
fructus naturales and fructus industriales, and cannot like domestic animals be controlled through an owner.
Accordingly a property owner in this state must recognize the fact that there may be some injury to property
or inconvenience from wild game for which there is no recourse."
If Fielder feels that fish and wildlife are such a threat and in need of "controlling", perhaps she should have
chosen another state to move to, maybe gone to work for a zoo and stayed out of Montana. Unless our fish
and wildlife aren't really a "threat", but a means to sue and bankrupt our Fish, Wildlife & Parks, as well as
limit our fish & wildlife on the landscape, increasing the commercialization of those that remain on the
landscape - supply and demand. These are only two of the paragraphs worth of changes she is proposing.
Please contact your MT legislators (emails below) and stop her bull$h*t in it's tracks.
HB 315 and 318 FWP Licensing changes
In 2014, as a conservation hunter and angler, I and many others, participated in a very public process to review
and discuss recommendations from an advisory council tasked with adjusting Montana's hunting and fishing
licenses and fees. The call for the funding and license review came from both the 2013 Montana Legislature
and Governor Steve Bullock. The Legislature passed House Bill 609, which requires the Montana
Legislature’s Environmental Quality Council to conduct a study of hunting and fishing license statutes and
fees, while Gov. Bullock requested that FWP begin a public effort to create FWP's budget for consideration
by the 2015 Legislature.
Nine public meetings were held in May to solicit comments on the council's recommendations. I participated
in the Bozeman meeting on May 13th. The revisions would provide an additional $6.25 million a year to
stave off deep budget cuts to fish and wildlife management programs, simplify our licensing system;
standardized license discounts for youth, seniors, and disabled hunters; a revamped base price structure
and other adjustments to provide a fair and stable source of revenue for the state's fish and wildlife
conservation efforts.
These two bills dismiss this body of work that involved a tremendous public input, have only been in place
for one year, therefore not supplying any supporting data showing a need for revision and are another
attempt to cut FWP off at the knees, financially starving the department and the work it does.
HB 315 's Revising laws related to nonresident relative hunting and fishing licenses fiscal note shows the
revenue lost to reduced prices:
Upland Game Bird Licenses - $880
Big Game Combination Licenses - $198,859
Deer Combination Licenses - $34,621
New Elk Combination Licenses - $174,960 (total of previous 3)
HB 318's Revise nonresident college student big game combination license fee fiscal note shows
the revenue lost to reduced prices:
Nonresident college student big game combination license - $13,478
In 2016 we sold 115 college student big game combo licenses at $505 for a total revenue to FWP of
$58,075. In the previous year before the license changes were implemented we sold 477 college student
big game combo licenses for $70 for a total of only $33,390. That is a huge difference to FWP revenue.
While we sold less tags under the revision, we gained $24,685 to fund our FWP resources.
Both bills are still in the House. Please contact the Representatives (addesses below), asking them to
Oppose HB's 315 and 318. No data to support the need for license changes and FWP needs the revenue!
HB 96 was conceived through the Private Lands/Public Wildlife Council, amending MCA 87-2-513
to reward landowners for allowing public access hunting on their lands with 1 elk license or permit
for every 4 public hunters. These landowner tags could only be used by their family members or their
full-time employees. A number of us suspected this bill would be amended making this worse, and it was.
Rep. Kelly Flynn an outfitter from Townsend, added some amendments. 1. The landowner license or permit
could designate anybody, 2. Landowner can't receive any compensation, 3. Landowner would have to name
his designees, he was setting this up to be an additional program to address some of the concerns that this
was double dipping for Block Management. Then suggested they add a sunset - conceptual amendment,
so Kerry White suggested a sunset of June 2019, which also passed the Committee.
Now a landowner can transfer these elk licenses and permits to anyone, including non-resident hunters that
would otherwise be purchasing out of state tags from FWP – and the landowner can sell access.
Don't be deceived, while the amendment text states, “An landowner may not receive compensation
from a designee for a license or permit issued pursuant to this section or for hunting access on the landowner's
property,” this is illegal and the landowners know it. Landowners can legally charge for access, it is their
right. So either this restriction will be struck in another stage of the bill or if it passes, will be legally
challenged in a court of law and struck, leaving us with ranching for wildlife.
In my numerous objections to elk shoulder seasons, I took screen shots of ads in the MT papers and on
Craigslist that landowners put up advertising access fees for elk shoulder season hunts. I sent them to
Gov. Bullock, Dir. Hagener, some FWP wildlife officials and our FWP Commissioners. Other members
of the public also wrote in to complain.
As a result, I received an email from FWP Dir. Hagener on Sept. 23, 2016, based on law:
"Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) has received a number of emails concerning an advertisement in local
newspapers for elk hunts on private land during a particular shoulder season. The opportunity offered
includes a fee. Other than the time when they occur and the restrictions to private land, shoulder seasons
are no different than elk season during archery and general rifle seasons. Just as landowners can, if they
choose to charge for access then, they can charge for access during a shoulder season...
To respond specifically to the question asked by some on the legality of this landowner’s offering:
No, it is not illegal for a landowner to rent a cabin and/or charge an access fee to hunt on his property.
That is no different than a landowner renting his property for grazing or harvesting a crop. FWP does not
condone access fees, but they are not prohibited by law and are not something
FWP can regulate.”
Please email the House (addresses below) to Oppose HB 96.
House email addresses (just copy and paste the block into your email TO: header)
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,
Senate Email addresses (just copy and paste the block into your email TO: header)
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, russtempel@gmail.com, 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
Bozeman, MT
www.emwh.org
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A Legislative Alert
While Shakespeare didn't have to deal with our Montana Legislature every two years, his sentiment is
certainly applicable - "Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more."
This is a quickie general newsletter dealing with legislative issues.
Federal
On the Federal level, great news, due to the massive outpouring of disgust from the public, Rep. Jason
Chaffetz privatizing Federal Public Lands bill H.R. 621 was killed by the sponsor. This was his 3rd
legislative attempt to bring this to Congress, variations occurring in 2013 & 2015.
http://zubeezone.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/More1-300x194.gif Like the info commercials... But wait, there's more...
Rep. Chaffetz also has H.R. 622 that would endanger the public, our resources and our Federal
employees being stewards of our public lands. H.R. 622 seeks "To terminate the law
enforcement functions of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management and to provide block
grants to States for the enforcement of Federal law on Federal land under the jurisdiction of these
agencies, and for other purposes."
Ben Long has a good article - Bill to Cut Forest Service and BLM Enforcement is a Poacher’s Dream,
Sportsman’s Nightmare
Please contact your Federal Legislators and get Chaffetz H.R. 622 killed as well.
H.R.861 was just introduced on the 3rd - To terminate the Environmental Protection Agency
The text is not available yet, but I think the title speaks for itself.
Montana
Federal public lands antagonist, Sen. Jennifer Fielder, is at it again. She has a constitutional amendment
referendum that seeks to bypass the Governor being able to veto her attempts.
LC2314 Constitutional referendum to safeguard right to hunt, fish, and trap wildlife
The language I am seeing would seriously set the stage for privatization, Ranching for Wildlife and
introductions of "huntable" species that could wreak havoc on Montana's ecosystem, all under the guise
of "hunting/fishing rights". As a conservation hunter/angler, I am appalled by this draft.
It opens with demanding a "right", not the "opportunity" as our Constitution currently states, as though
our State serves to provide the fish and wildlife for harvesting like some commercial market, elevating hunting,
fishing and trapping with our other Montana rights, stating they are, "essential to pursuing life's basic
necessities." This raises the State's bar from our current "opportunity" and a "heritage". Imagine an outfitter
or trapper suing the State, saying that he couldn't be regulated from meeting "life's basic necessities"?
One of the changes to our Constitution would be: "(2) The opportunity to harvest wild fish and wild game animals
fish and wildlife is a heritage that shall forever be preserved to the individual citizens of the state and does
not create a right to trespass on private property or diminution of other private rights."
By removing "wild fish and wild game animals" opens the door for invasive and exotic species introductions.
Do you want Montana turned into Texas with all it's exotic "huntable" game farms? Just yesterday a science
article came up on my feed -
Invasive Wild Pigs Leave a Swath of Destruction Across U.S. – And They Keep Spreading!
I was at the Board of Livestock meeting where a proactive bill was proposed, which thankfully passed in 2015,
to restrict feral swine in Montana. Just this change alone would be a privatization nightmare in the making.
But wait...there's more... stating, "Fish and Wildlife management and conservation shall be subject to
statutes that seek to:
"a) Scientifically manage fish and wildlife populations." Now y'all all know that I advocate for public trust doctrine
scientific habitat, fish & wildlife management, but, there are times you have to deal with the social factor and
this statement could remove the FWP Commission and public input, such as in the river rules.
"Protect citizens and private property from threats or harm caused by fish and wildlife."
This bit sounds like it came right out of USDA APHIS Wildlife Service's manual. This would conflict with
Montana Supreme Court rulings Rathbone and Sackman about wildlife. "Montana is one of the few areas in
the nation where wild game abounds. It is regarded as one of the greatest of the state's natural resources,
as well as the chief attraction for visitors. Wild game existed here long before the coming of man. One who
acquires property in Montana does so with notice and knowledge of the presence of wild game and pre-
sumably is cognizant of its natural habits. Wild game does not possess the power to distinguish between
fructus naturales and fructus industriales, and cannot like domestic animals be controlled through an owner.
Accordingly a property owner in this state must recognize the fact that there may be some injury to property
or inconvenience from wild game for which there is no recourse."
If Fielder feels that fish and wildlife are such a threat and in need of "controlling", perhaps she should have
chosen another state to move to, maybe gone to work for a zoo and stayed out of Montana. Unless our fish
and wildlife aren't really a "threat", but a means to sue and bankrupt our Fish, Wildlife & Parks, as well as
limit our fish & wildlife on the landscape, increasing the commercialization of those that remain on the
landscape - supply and demand. These are only two of the paragraphs worth of changes she is proposing.
Please contact your MT legislators (emails below) and stop her bull$h*t in it's tracks.
HB 315 and 318 FWP Licensing changes
In 2014, as a conservation hunter and angler, I and many others, participated in a very public process to review
and discuss recommendations from an advisory council tasked with adjusting Montana's hunting and fishing
licenses and fees. The call for the funding and license review came from both the 2013 Montana Legislature
and Governor Steve Bullock. The Legislature passed House Bill 609, which requires the Montana
Legislature’s Environmental Quality Council to conduct a study of hunting and fishing license statutes and
fees, while Gov. Bullock requested that FWP begin a public effort to create FWP's budget for consideration
by the 2015 Legislature.
Nine public meetings were held in May to solicit comments on the council's recommendations. I participated
in the Bozeman meeting on May 13th. The revisions would provide an additional $6.25 million a year to
stave off deep budget cuts to fish and wildlife management programs, simplify our licensing system;
standardized license discounts for youth, seniors, and disabled hunters; a revamped base price structure
and other adjustments to provide a fair and stable source of revenue for the state's fish and wildlife
conservation efforts.
These two bills dismiss this body of work that involved a tremendous public input, have only been in place
for one year, therefore not supplying any supporting data showing a need for revision and are another
attempt to cut FWP off at the knees, financially starving the department and the work it does.
HB 315 's Revising laws related to nonresident relative hunting and fishing licenses fiscal note shows the
revenue lost to reduced prices:
Upland Game Bird Licenses - $880
Big Game Combination Licenses - $198,859
Deer Combination Licenses - $34,621
New Elk Combination Licenses - $174,960 (total of previous 3)
HB 318's Revise nonresident college student big game combination license fee fiscal note shows
the revenue lost to reduced prices:
Nonresident college student big game combination license - $13,478
In 2016 we sold 115 college student big game combo licenses at $505 for a total revenue to FWP of
$58,075. In the previous year before the license changes were implemented we sold 477 college student
big game combo licenses for $70 for a total of only $33,390. That is a huge difference to FWP revenue.
While we sold less tags under the revision, we gained $24,685 to fund our FWP resources.
Both bills are still in the House. Please contact the Representatives (addesses below), asking them to
Oppose HB's 315 and 318. No data to support the need for license changes and FWP needs the revenue!
HB 96 was conceived through the Private Lands/Public Wildlife Council, amending MCA 87-2-513
to reward landowners for allowing public access hunting on their lands with 1 elk license or permit
for every 4 public hunters. These landowner tags could only be used by their family members or their
full-time employees. A number of us suspected this bill would be amended making this worse, and it was.
Rep. Kelly Flynn an outfitter from Townsend, added some amendments. 1. The landowner license or permit
could designate anybody, 2. Landowner can't receive any compensation, 3. Landowner would have to name
his designees, he was setting this up to be an additional program to address some of the concerns that this
was double dipping for Block Management. Then suggested they add a sunset - conceptual amendment,
so Kerry White suggested a sunset of June 2019, which also passed the Committee.
Now a landowner can transfer these elk licenses and permits to anyone, including non-resident hunters that
would otherwise be purchasing out of state tags from FWP – and the landowner can sell access.
Don't be deceived, while the amendment text states, “An landowner may not receive compensation
from a designee for a license or permit issued pursuant to this section or for hunting access on the landowner's
property,” this is illegal and the landowners know it. Landowners can legally charge for access, it is their
right. So either this restriction will be struck in another stage of the bill or if it passes, will be legally
challenged in a court of law and struck, leaving us with ranching for wildlife.
In my numerous objections to elk shoulder seasons, I took screen shots of ads in the MT papers and on
Craigslist that landowners put up advertising access fees for elk shoulder season hunts. I sent them to
Gov. Bullock, Dir. Hagener, some FWP wildlife officials and our FWP Commissioners. Other members
of the public also wrote in to complain.
As a result, I received an email from FWP Dir. Hagener on Sept. 23, 2016, based on law:
"Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) has received a number of emails concerning an advertisement in local
newspapers for elk hunts on private land during a particular shoulder season. The opportunity offered
includes a fee. Other than the time when they occur and the restrictions to private land, shoulder seasons
are no different than elk season during archery and general rifle seasons. Just as landowners can, if they
choose to charge for access then, they can charge for access during a shoulder season...
To respond specifically to the question asked by some on the legality of this landowner’s offering:
No, it is not illegal for a landowner to rent a cabin and/or charge an access fee to hunt on his property.
That is no different than a landowner renting his property for grazing or harvesting a crop. FWP does not
condone access fees, but they are not prohibited by law and are not something
FWP can regulate.”
Please email the House (addresses below) to Oppose HB 96.
House email addresses (just copy and paste the block into your email TO: header)
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,
Senate Email addresses (just copy and paste the block into your email TO: header)
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, russtempel@gmail.com, 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
Bozeman, MT
www.emwh.org
If you would like to unsubscribed from the EMWH newsletter, please click EMAIL and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line
and you will promptly remove you from the list. Thank you.
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KILL HB 96
KILL HB 96
The Montana Sportsmen Alliance opposes House Bill 96. We oppose it because it negates and violates the original intent of the Private Lands/Public Wildlife Council’s hard work and at the same time, opens the door wide for transferable hunting licenses and tags in Montana. We unequivocally oppose this practice. Honest efforts to help were immediately amended to something intolerable! Don’t get confused on amendments, JUST KILL THIS BILL!
House Bill 96 was originally developed out of the Public Land/Private Wildlife Council (PLPW) as a means to increase access to private lands that were not previously open to the general public. The PLPW is a collaborative resource advisory group that was created by the Governor in 1995 as a means to bring together different views and develop ideas and solutions in regards to recreation, access, wildlife and private property issues. HB 96 grew from discussions and ultimately, a delicate consensus recommendation from this group.
The original version HB 96 addressed access by suggesting incentives for private landowner participation. Those incentives included licenses tags that landowners would be eligible for if a certain level of public access was attained on their private property. Those tags could be used by family members or full-time employees of the property, in a similar fashion that Landowner Preference is allowed in the application for tags.
Upon reaching the House Fish and Game Committee, the original bill was amended and expanded to allow the tags to be transferred to anyone, regardless of relationship to the property. This establishes a basis and precedent for a formal, wide-open system of transferable hunting licenses in Montana.
MSA cautiously supported the original HB 96. However, the current version goes far beyond the original intent and proposes a Colorado -style system similar to their Ranching for Wildlife programs. That program has been rife with problems, both for the public and in implementation. We cannot allow such a system to gain a foothold in Montana.
The current HB 96 compromises and negates the work, intent and efforts of the PLPW; it sets Montana directly on the path towards the privatization of our public wildlife, with few practical safeguards against abuse. It has become a bad bill.
The threats this bill embodies are intolerable!
With big money Bucks and Bulls on the line there is no effective way to monitor landowners taking cash or goods or services for access.
Montana Sportsmen Alliance
John Borgreen, Great Falls
Sam Milodragovich, Butte
Steve Schindler, Glasgow
Joe Perry, Conrad
Jeff Herbert, Helena
JW Westman, Park City
Robert Wood, Hamilton
The Montana Sportsmen Alliance opposes House Bill 96. We oppose it because it negates and violates the original intent of the Private Lands/Public Wildlife Council’s hard work and at the same time, opens the door wide for transferable hunting licenses and tags in Montana. We unequivocally oppose this practice. Honest efforts to help were immediately amended to something intolerable! Don’t get confused on amendments, JUST KILL THIS BILL!
House Bill 96 was originally developed out of the Public Land/Private Wildlife Council (PLPW) as a means to increase access to private lands that were not previously open to the general public. The PLPW is a collaborative resource advisory group that was created by the Governor in 1995 as a means to bring together different views and develop ideas and solutions in regards to recreation, access, wildlife and private property issues. HB 96 grew from discussions and ultimately, a delicate consensus recommendation from this group.
The original version HB 96 addressed access by suggesting incentives for private landowner participation. Those incentives included licenses tags that landowners would be eligible for if a certain level of public access was attained on their private property. Those tags could be used by family members or full-time employees of the property, in a similar fashion that Landowner Preference is allowed in the application for tags.
Upon reaching the House Fish and Game Committee, the original bill was amended and expanded to allow the tags to be transferred to anyone, regardless of relationship to the property. This establishes a basis and precedent for a formal, wide-open system of transferable hunting licenses in Montana.
MSA cautiously supported the original HB 96. However, the current version goes far beyond the original intent and proposes a Colorado -style system similar to their Ranching for Wildlife programs. That program has been rife with problems, both for the public and in implementation. We cannot allow such a system to gain a foothold in Montana.
The current HB 96 compromises and negates the work, intent and efforts of the PLPW; it sets Montana directly on the path towards the privatization of our public wildlife, with few practical safeguards against abuse. It has become a bad bill.
The threats this bill embodies are intolerable!
With big money Bucks and Bulls on the line there is no effective way to monitor landowners taking cash or goods or services for access.
Montana Sportsmen Alliance
John Borgreen, Great Falls
Sam Milodragovich, Butte
Steve Schindler, Glasgow
Joe Perry, Conrad
Jeff Herbert, Helena
JW Westman, Park City
Robert Wood, Hamilton
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
HB 289
HB 289
Folks,
This bill is up Thursday, 2/2/17 at 3pm. Please work this one hard! SUPPORT
Moga is trying to beat the intent of the law by keeping “emergency” and its definition out of statute. Please help us in trying to protect the resident and non-resident sportsmen/women! Contact House F&G House Fish, Wildlife & Parks Committee
Folks,
This bill is up Thursday, 2/2/17 at 3pm. Please work this one hard! SUPPORT
Moga is trying to beat the intent of the law by keeping “emergency” and its definition out of statute. Please help us in trying to protect the resident and non-resident sportsmen/women! Contact House F&G House Fish, Wildlife & Parks Committee
An MSA bill revising Outfitter Assistant (OA) Laws: An effort to force
some credibility in the OA laws and enable the Board of Outfitters
(Boo) to set rules. It puts the definition of “emergency guide” in
statute and allows for Boo rule making.
Currently the OA law is being abused regularly and there has been no check on its use. It contains a provision that requires the outfitter to tell the client before the trip that they have an OA and if they have a first aid card. Is this being done?? No checking has been done.
Boo is pretty dysfunctional with MOGA controlling most votes. Clearly, they don’t want any audits on OA use.
PLEASE Support
Currently the OA law is being abused regularly and there has been no check on its use. It contains a provision that requires the outfitter to tell the client before the trip that they have an OA and if they have a first aid card. Is this being done?? No checking has been done.
Boo is pretty dysfunctional with MOGA controlling most votes. Clearly, they don’t want any audits on OA use.
PLEASE Support
HB 290
Folks,
This is currently scheduled for Business and Labor at 8:30am Thursday 2/2/17. Please work this one hard as it is an uphill battle and we’ll lose the ability for game managers and law enforcement folks to get this data without subpoena.
MSA
House Biz and Labor Committee
marknolandhd10@gmail.com, amanda@amandaformontana.com, Rep.Vince.Ricci@mt.gov, Rep.Willis.Curdy@mt.gov, Rep.Ross.Fitzgerald@mt.gov, Rep.Moffie.Funk@mt.gov, Rep.Steve.Gunderson@mt.gov, Denleylogehd14@gmail.com, Rep.Andrea.Olsen@mt.gov, Rep.Gordon.Pierson@mt.gov, Atomicrosie@gmail.com, Rep.Casey.Schreiner@mt.gov, Rep.Sharon.peregoy@mt.gov, Rep.Jeremy.Trebas@mt.gov, Rep.Sue.Vinton@mt.gov, Rep.Daniel.Zolnikov@mt.gov
This is currently scheduled for Business and Labor at 8:30am Thursday 2/2/17. Please work this one hard as it is an uphill battle and we’ll lose the ability for game managers and law enforcement folks to get this data without subpoena.
MSA
House Biz and Labor Committee
marknolandhd10@gmail.com, amanda@amandaformontana.com, Rep.Vince.Ricci@mt.gov, Rep.Willis.Curdy@mt.gov, Rep.Ross.Fitzgerald@mt.gov, Rep.Moffie.Funk@mt.gov, Rep.Steve.Gunderson@mt.gov, Denleylogehd14@gmail.com, Rep.Andrea.Olsen@mt.gov, Rep.Gordon.Pierson@mt.gov, Atomicrosie@gmail.com, Rep.Casey.Schreiner@mt.gov, Rep.Sharon.peregoy@mt.gov, Rep.Jeremy.Trebas@mt.gov, Rep.Sue.Vinton@mt.gov, Rep.Daniel.Zolnikov@mt.gov
An MSA bill revising record keeping by Board of Outfitters (Boo). MOGA
is trying to reduce record keeping to nearly nothing. We want and need
digitalization of data and want it shared between state and federal
agencies involved in oversight of outfitters or the critters they
harvest.
Specifically and very simply, we need to know:
who…..name and als
what…..big game harvested reported as to sex, species, and location down to hunting district (HD)
when….date of harvest
where…HD
Remember, no other license group uses public trust resources like outfitters!
We encourage the reduction in paper reporting but not at the cost of no data. What little we want is a small price to pay for harvesting public trust critters for free. The public…the owners….want this info collected.
Hunter surveys don’t collect the same data and the sample size (statistical significance) is small for outfitters. Shoulder seasons, harboring, and outfitter leasing of private and public lands require this data in order to successfully manage our big game resources.
It is ludicrous that outfitters think they can minimize all of what they report and thumb their noses at the public.
***Note*** MOGA was given a chance to work with us and declined.
PLEASE SUPPORT
Specifically and very simply, we need to know:
who…..name and als
what…..big game harvested reported as to sex, species, and location down to hunting district (HD)
when….date of harvest
where…HD
Remember, no other license group uses public trust resources like outfitters!
We encourage the reduction in paper reporting but not at the cost of no data. What little we want is a small price to pay for harvesting public trust critters for free. The public…the owners….want this info collected.
Hunter surveys don’t collect the same data and the sample size (statistical significance) is small for outfitters. Shoulder seasons, harboring, and outfitter leasing of private and public lands require this data in order to successfully manage our big game resources.
It is ludicrous that outfitters think they can minimize all of what they report and thumb their noses at the public.
***Note*** MOGA was given a chance to work with us and declined.
PLEASE SUPPORT
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