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Marcus Strange

Supporting our Network of Dedicated Affiliates

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MWF is fortunate to work with our network of dedicated affiliates. In an effort to better support the work our affiliates do, in 2019 MWF started an affiliate grant program to award funding to our affiliates who are working with conservation-minded landowners on wildlife habitat protection and enhancement.

20180517 085614 resized MWF awarded one of the first of these grants to the Western Bear Foundation (WBF). Due to the increasing presence of grizzly bears near Valier Montana, residents have become increasingly concerned about bear activity near Lake Francis Campground, which is directly adjacent to the town. 

WBF and Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks identified a need for better bear-proof garbage cans at the campground.  In an effort to be proactive, mitigate conflict, and protect wildlife, WBF placed 6 Kodiak Bear Proof Containers at various locations around the campsite. The garbage cans are 96 gallons each and are able to be dumped by sanitation staff without having to leave the vehicle.

Bear proof garbage cans will help prevent grizzly bears from using the campground which is within Valier town limits. Additionally, the visibility of such receptacles will promote bear aware behaviors and actions in the town community. Keeping bears away from town and showing that agencies and organizations are working hard to keep people safe will aid in building tolerance for the grizzly bear population in the area. 

20180517 085434 resized MWF is proud of the work that our affiliates, like WBF, do. We are looking forward to awarding our 2020 grants soon and support more quality work from these conservation stalwarts. We encourage you to also support your local MWF affiliate by becoming a member or donating to them today. If you would like to learn more about MWF’s affiliate program, contact Marcus Strange at mstrange@mtwf.org. 

 

New Affiliate: Friends of the Missouri Breaks Monument

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Canoeing2 MWF is thrilled to welcome the Friends of the Missouri Breaks Monument (Friends) into our network of affiliate clubs! The Friends joins 18 other organizations who support the mission of MWF through advocacy and policy work and retention, recruitment, and reactivation of outdoor enthusiasts in the state of Montana.

The Friends is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that was founded in 2001 to advocate on behalf of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument (Breaks). Located in central Montana, the Breaks surrounds the wild and scenic Missouri River as it flows through nearly half-a-million acres of central Montana prairies and badlands. The Friends protect and preserve the Breaks through their advocacy, education and stewardship work.

For more than 80 years, MWF’s network of affiliated conservation organizations has worked tirelessly to help move forward the protection and enhancement of Montana’s wildlife, wildlife habitat, and public access. Without these organizations, MWF would not be able to do the quality work that we are recognized for. If you think your organization would benefit from becoming an affiliate of MWF, contact Marcus Strange, Program and Partnership Director, at mstrange@mtwf.org. 

MWF is Working Tirelessly to Ensure the Future of Public Access

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rhett noonan 172575 unsplash As Montana’s oldest wildlife conservation organization, MWF has seen the conservation and hunting needs of Montana change over the last eight decades. But one thing that has not changed is the need for quality access opportunities. MWF is working tirelessly to ensure the future of public access, including working to support the completion of the Graveley-Warm Springs Conservation Easements near Garrison Montana.   

The Graveley-Warm Springs Conservation Easements will protect more than 8,200 acres of one of kind wildlife habitat.  The easements will also allow hunting access in perpetuity, giving hunters opportunities for elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, antelope, wolves, and upland birds. The property spans native grassland, wetlands, forested areas, and aspen groves that sits in the shadow of the Garnet Mountain Range and will provide improve wildlife habitat connectivity, something healthy wildlife desperately needs. As time progresses, projects, such as this, will become increasingly rare.  

MWF and its members have been actively engaged in ensuring the completion of this project. From writing letters to attending meetings to providing public comments, MWF has shown up on this project like no other conservation organization. If you are interested in also supporting this project contact Central Montana Field Rep Marcus Strange at mstrange@mtwf.org.

Spotted Dog Grazing Plan, Madison River Rules Top Agenda for Fish and Wildlife Commission

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SpottedDog A proposal to enter a six-year agreement with the McQueary Ranch to graze cattle on the Spotted Dog Wildlife Management Area is among the items on the Fish and Wildlife Commission agenda this week.

The proposal would allow the ranch to graze up to 240 Animal Unit Months (AUMs) on 2,800 acres of Spotted Dog, on a rest-rotation basis. The cattle grazing would take place June-July. FWP says in its proposal that the grazing would take place above elk winter range, and could enhance forage for wildlife in the spring.

McQueary Ranch would rest more than 1,400 acres of its 2,100-acre pasture system and make it available for elk in winter. The proposal has drawn a lot of interest from hunting groups around Spotted Dog as well as statewide sporting organizations.

Also on the agenda are a continuation of the grazing leases for the Blackfoot-Clearwater, Ear Mountain, Rob Ledford, and Fleecer wildlife management areas; a forestry project on the Three Mile WMA; and renewal of the haying lease on the Big Lake WMA.

In addition to the discussion of WMA management, the Commission will get an update on the Madison Negotiated Rulemaking Committee. The group has been meeting to address crowding on the Madison River in an attempt to come up with rules to address the issue.

The Commission will also consider quotas for mountain lions for the upcoming year, a plan to reintroduce sharp-tailed grouse to areas west of the Continental Divide, hunting seasons for partridge, pheasants, and waterfowl, and will finalize the statewide Fisheries Management Program and Guide.

As always, MWF staff and volunteers will attend the meeting to make our voice heard on key issues.

The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. April 25, at FWP headquarters, 1420 E. Sixth Ave. in Helena. The full agenda and cover sheets for each item are available. 

Nick Gevock

Conservation Director

 

DOI Drops Badger Appeal

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Photo by Kendall Flint, President, Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance

The fight to permanently protect the Badger-Two Medicine experienced a bump in the road last week when the Department of the Interior (DOI) chose to abandon the appeal of the Moncrief lease, once again leaving the door open for develope in this sacred landscape and reminding us of the need to place the Badger-Two Medicine under permanent protection from industrial development.

For decades, the Blackfeet Tribe, MWF, and a multitude of other supporters have advocated for permanent protection in this final piece of the Rocky Mountain Front. The pristine nature of the Badger-Two Medicine is still under threat due to the presence of two remaining leases, the Moncrief and Solenex leases. These leases were granted illegally and have been hotly contested for decades as the Blackfeet, with the support of various advocates, have sought to save their scared homeland.

While the DOI’s decision on the Moncrief appeal is concerning, advocates for the Badger-Two Medicine were encouraged by the DOI’s decision to appeal the Solenex leases. This was a much-welcomed victory for this embattled Badger and although there is still much to do, the growing bipartisan support for protection gives hope to those that love this hallowed ground.

The Badger-Two Medicine is a place that holds historical, cultural, ecological, and religious significance to the people of the Blackfeet Nation and many other Montanans. Just as one would not bring a jackhammer in the Sistine Chapel, MWF reaffirms our commitment to ensuring that oil rigs will never be brought into the Badger-Two Medicine.

 

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.