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Guest Profile

Montanans Turn Out to Show Support for Public Wildlife

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MWFBlog 01252019

The 2019 Legislature is now in full swing and with it this week a bad bill for our public wildlife and the people’s ability to have a say in how it’s managed was heard in front of the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks committee on Tuesday.

HB 161, sponsored by Rep. Ron Tschida, R-Lolo, would have limited the input that the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department would be able to consider. In essence, the public would be able to comment, but the agency & the commission wouldn’t be able to consider that input.

The bill had more than 40 opponents. They include hunters, anglers, past directors of state wildlife agencies, wildlife advocates and many more. Those opponents spoke about how much Montanans value abundant wildlife and state parks, but most importantly, they value their ability to be partners in how those resources are managed. The Montana Sporting Coalition, which is made up of more than a dozen hunting and angling groups gave testimony for MWF as well as our partners in the coalition and we sent in this letter to show our solidarity against the bill. A committee vote is expected next week and we are hopeful that the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks committee makes the correct decision and tables this bill.

Other bills with hearings this week as well were HB 29 which came out of the Environmental Quality Council the effects the regulations for training bird hunting dogs. It was meant to clean up a confusing law that made it against the law for everyone who runs dogs on public lands, because of the threat to nesting game birds. The law was the result of good work during the interim study and passed unanimously out of the House FWP committee.

In addition, this week the House FWP committee heard a bill to allow hunters to donate their refund from special permits back to the Block Management program (HB 239), and a bill to clarify the process for obtaining a fish pond license (HB 205). MWF supported both.

Bills are starting to show up on wildlife and public lands issues in force as the engine of the legislature starts to get up to full speed. Check our Bill Tracker on the MWF homepage. For more frequent updates, join our Legislative Action Team.

Sporting Coalition Opposition to HB 161

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BLOG FB The Montana Sporting Coalition is made up of more than a dozen hunting and angling organizations, collectively representing tens of thousands of Montanans. We come from all walks of life and every corner of the state.

We share a deep commitment to our sporting heritage, the habitat that provides our opportunity and to Montana’s fish and wildlife. Perhaps most importantly, our coalition values our constitutional right to work with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) through public comment and our ability to present our positions, opinions and biological take on specific issues related to fish & wildlife management.

With that in mind, the Coalition strongly opposes HB 161. Montanans deserve to be honestly heard and respected. As a Montanan who cherishes our wildlife, state parks and just as importantly, your ability to exercise your constitutional right to have your input matter in decisions made by your government, we ask you to please oppose HB 161. 

 

Bills Moving Forward

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Week2 LEG

With two weeks behind us, the wildlife bills are starting to move forward in the state Legislature. But hunters, anglers and wildlife enthusiasts are looking ahead to a very troubling bill that is up next week.

HB 161, sponsored by Rep. Brad Tschida, R-Lolo, would eliminate the requirement that the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission consider any input from the public other than landowners in wildlife decision making.

It’s an attack on the Public Trust of wildlife and would limit consideration to a very narrow group of people. HB 161 is one of the worst wildlife bills in years. We need as many voices at the Legislature as possible to kill this bill. Please attend the hearing on HB 161 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22 in room 172 of the state Capitol.

Clean-up Bills Advance

This week several clean up bills that are good for wildlife and hunters did advance out of committee. They included HB 94 is a clean-up bill for Block Management; HB 43, which allows a landowner a non-transferrable elk license or permit for allowing public hunters onto their property and HB 104, which provides a free prerequisite license for Block Management participants.

In addition, HB 143, which removed the sunset date on the non-resident upland game bird license, advanced.

On the Senate side, SB 79 was heard in the Fish and Game Committee. The bill simply cleans up how bonus points for hunters applying as a party are used, by averaging the points for each individual and then squaring them just like for individuals.

Legislative Social a Big Success

This week we also worked on outreach to state legislators and statewide elected officials. The Montana Wildlife Federation and our partners with the Montana Sporting Coalition, as well as the Sportsmen’s Caucus, hosted our legislative social on Wednesday at The Brewhouse. The event was a huge success, drawing more than 60 lawmakers, Gov. Steve Bullock, and numerous senior FWP staff. It was a chance for sportsmen and sportswomen and their organizations to talk directly to legislators about the importance of the Habitat Montana program.

MWF continues to update and refine our Bill Tracker, which is available at the top of our homepage. Become a member of our Legislative Action Team to get more frequent updates and action alerts as the session goes on and more bills come in.

 

Packed Rally, First Wildlife Bills Come Forward

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IMG 5957 If there’s one thing that has broad, overwhelming support among Montanans, it’s a love of public lands. For the third legislative session in a row, hundreds of enthusiastic Montanans packed the state Capitol Friday to celebrate our public lands and make it clear to legislators that we will reject any and all proposals that threaten them.

The event was highlighted by a speech from Gov. Bullock. He spoke about the importance of our public lands first and foremost for our quality of life. He talked about how public lands and the outdoor recreation economy they support pump more than $7 billion into our state’s economy, accounting for more than 73,000 jobs. And he talked about how Montanans stepping up to defend our public lands from efforts to transfer or sell them has made a difference in halting bad bills before the Legislature.

The rally drew more than 1,200 people who packed every level of the Capitol. It was put together by a broad coalition of conservation interests and business groups who rely on public lands.

We’re hopeful that the Legislature and Montana’s Congressional delegation hear the message, and not only refrain from pushing bad policies including the transfer of public lands, but also support important conservation measures. Those include renewal of the essential Land and Water Conservation Fund on the federal level, and not attacking the Habitat Montana program on the state level. If the decibels in the courthouse are any indication, the message should have been heard loud and clear.

But the rally wasn’t the only wildlife measure to be heard this week. The House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee heard two bills on Thursday that affect licensing for landowners who provide public hunting access to their property. The first heard was HB 104, sponsored by Rep. Denley Loge, R-St. Regis. It gives landowners who participate in the popular Block Management hunting access program the required prerequisite hunting licenses to apply for special permits. It’s a simple clean-up bill to show appreciation to landowners who welcome the public.

The second was HB 43, which would expand a program that gives landowners a non-transferrable elk license or permit for at a minimum allowing four public hunters onto their property. This program already exists, but hasn’t been used much, and expanding it to include the license in addition to special permits is being done to try to grow it and gain more public hunting access to private land. The last agreement Montana FWP worked out allowed a total of 49 public hunters for the one landowner permit issued. MWF supported both of these bills.

Expect the bills pertaining to wildlife, public lands, habitat, and public access to start coming quickly in the coming weeks. For more information, view MWF’s bill tracker. For more frequent updates become a member of  MWF’s Legislative Action Team.

 

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

MWF Capitol Report 2019

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Montana State Capitol Overcast 12 The 66th Montana Legislature convenes Monday and the Montana Wildlife Federation (MWF) will be there with our dedicated staff and volunteers to stand up for our outdoor heritage. Check out the MWF bill tracker for the most up-to-date information on bills and where they’re at in the process. MWF will put up every bill that affects wildlife, wildlife habitat, public access, scientific wildlife management, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Park’s budget, and more.

MWF will keep a close eye on every bill and work diligently to keep Montana’s hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts well informed. Join the MWF Legislative Action Team to stay better informed and help push out information to fellow conservationists.

And don’t forget, the Rally for Public Lands is this Friday, Jan. 11. Join us to celebrate the incredible outdoor heritage our public lands offer.

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.