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Day: January 17, 2018

EQC to Meet in Helena

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Montana Capitol
Montana Capitol. Photo credit: Mark Dostal

The Montana Wildlife Federation will be watching out for the interests of hunters, anglers and wildlife enthusiasts when the state Environmental Quality Council (EQC) holds its quarterly meeting this week in Helena.

EQC is the legislative interim committee that oversees the departments of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP); Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC); and Environmental Quality (DEQ).  It conducts studies between legislative sessions and can recommend legislation to address specific issues.  What happens at these meetings can have a big impact on the agenda during the 2019 Legislative Session, and MWF staff will be attending and monitoring the issues for the entire meeting.

The agenda for this week’s two-day meeting includes an update on the evaluation of the state parks program by FWP.  State parks have been under scrutiny since last session, and several bills would have changed the oversight of state parks, including one that would have moved the program out of FWP.

EQC will also receive an update from FWP of Chronic Wasting Disease CWD), which was first detected in deer last year; and will review options for bills to address large dog training operations in upland game bird areas. Sage grouse conservation is also on the agenda as Montana continues to move forward with a plan to conserve the native upland game bird.

On the second day, EQC will hear from FWP on the review of its funding, including a review of hunting and fishing license fees. That is required every four years based on a bill passed in the 2015 Legislature that revamped and simplified Montana’s license fee structure.

The program to prevent aquatic invasive species is also on the agenda, as well as a report on the options for managing brucellosis in elk. The meeting finishes out with a review of potential management changes by FWP for grizzly bears.

The council, which includes appointed citizen members, will meet this week in room 172 of the Capitol. The meeting begins 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17 and 8 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 18. You can see the agenda for more information on specific topics.

Montana Hunters Thank Jon Tester for Action on CWD

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Montana's big game and hunting heritage are at risk.
Montana’s big game and hunting heritage are at risk.

Chronic Wasting Disease has been getting a lot of attention in Montana lately, after the disease was first detected in the Treasure State last November in a mule deer buck in Carbon County, and subsequently in more deer around the state. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks responded with two special hunts to get an adequate sample size to determine prevalence and geographic distribution of the disease.

But someone else responded as well – Montana Senator Jon Tester. He has introduced a bill that would allocate $60 million in federal funds nationwide to help fight this disease. The money would go right where it’s most needed – to state and tribal wildlife agencies doing the on-the-ground work to manage wildlife and CWD.

Tester’s bill could help pay for special management hunts, CWD lab testing and for the facilities to help implement a program to monitor and manage the disease. State and tribal agencies have the staffing and expertise to handle the disease. But at a time when they’re dealing with so many other wildlife issues, CWD puts a tremendous strain on their resources. Simply put, it takes time – and that takes money – to address this very complicated and serious wildlife disease.

Eight wildlife conservation and hunting organizations recently sent Senator Tester a letter thanking him for his work on this key issue. The groups included the Montana Wildlife Federation, National Wildlife Federation, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Mule Deer Foundation, Montana Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Montana Bowhunters Association, Traditional Bowhunters of Montana and Wildlife Management Institute.

We hope that Congress can prioritize a response to this issue.  Other Senators are looking at cosponsoring Senator Teste’rs bill, and a companion bill has also been introduced in the House of Representatives.  Without the federal support to manage the disease, state and tribal wildlife agencies are left with a major burden to get ahead of CWD. Public servants like Jon Tester understand they need the help, and he’s working to get that help to protect our valued native wildlife and our hunting heritage.

Nick Gevock is the conservation director for the Montana Wildlife Federation.

Want to know more about this issue?

  • Sign up for MWF email alerts for  updates on CWD and other issues.
  • Join MWF to help support our work to protection wildlife, habitat, and outdoor access!
Jeff Lukas – MWF Elk Campaign Manager

Jeff Lukas

Elk Campaign Manager

Jeff Lukas is a passionate conservationist who has been fishing and hunting his entire life. Whether it’s floating a small stream chasing trout, pursuing elk in the high country, or waiting in a blind for ducks to set their wings, Jeff is always trying to bring more people afield to show them what we are trying to protect. He loves being in the arena, and he will never shy away from conversations about the beautiful and unique corners of Big Sky country.