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Hunting Isn’t Just About Killing or Meat In the Freezer.

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Hunting isn’t just about killing or meat in the freezer. It is a complexity of elements that are a part of us as much as breathing is.

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As the gray light of the morning trades places with the dark, I close my eyes and let my auditory senses heighten. It’s amazing what one can hear when all the distractions of modernity get left behind. I let out a few yips and a mournful howl doing my best impersonation of a coyote. Against all common sense, a gobble thunders through the holler.

The gobble ripples over the hills and disappears into the gray dawn as quickly as it came. There’s a mad scramble as gear is throw in packs and we make last-minute adjustments before striking out into the woods.

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This wild landscape is not here by accident, nor can we expect it to stay by accident.

For many of us who wander through the woods, we find ourselves pondering on the complexity of nature, the innate beauty of the lands and of the wildlife, or the meaning of life itself. Our surroundings and experiences may cause us to contemplate and wrestle with a range of emotions as the impressiveness of public lands wash over us.

We take public lands for granted.

We hike, hunt, harvest, bike, boat, create, watch, wander, live, and grow on this land we call our own without a thought for how it came to be and what we, the owner must do to keep it.

In 2018, the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest (HLCNF) will undergo a revision of its forest management plan. The plan will determine the future management of the Rocky Mountain Front and the Big Belt, Little Belt, and Snowy Ranges.

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These public lands provide numerous recreation opportunities and are home to numerous species of flora and fauna. Iconic rivers flow through the HLCNF. The HLCNF is truly one of the great treasures of the West.

One priority for Montana hunters and anglers in the plan revision is the protection of large, unfragmented blocks of public land that provide security habitat for wintering elk and deer. These areas are especially important in light of recent efforts by Senator Steve Daines and Representative Greg Gianforte to strip protections from Montana’s Wilderness Study Areas, in particular, the Big Snowies and Middle Fork of the Judith in the HLCNF.

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To remove protections for these landscapes would threaten vital security habitat. Now, more than ever, Montanans need to stand up for their public lands and wildlife and protect the HLCNF for future generations have quality and diverse public lands.

Marcus Strange, Montana Wildlife Federation, Central Field Rep. 

Birdtail Conservation Easement Protects Key Wildlife Habitat

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Photo by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks

The strong partnership between hunters and landowners is the foundation of why Montana has incredible public wildlife resources along with a strong agricultural sector of the state’s economy.

Hunters know that landowners provide private habitat that benefits wildlife and landowners need hunters to manage wildlife numbers. It works – and it has been that way for decades.

The Birdtail Conservation Easement is an excellent example of this working relationship. The project will protect 3,980 acres of the Rumney Cattle Company ranch northwest of Cascade. This quality habitat consists of mountain foothills grasslands with mixed in shrublands and riparian areas. It includes a mile and a half of Birdtail Creek, as well as the Birdtail and Lionhead buttes. It’s excellent for mule deer, elk, white-tailed deer, and sharp-tailed and mountain grouse. This week the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission unanimously approved the project.

The easement protects the land from subdivision and development. It also includes a hunter access component, which will provide quality hunting opportunity for the public.

Habitat Montana hunter license dollars are funding the $2.35 million easement. This program uses a small portion of hunting license fees to pay for conservation easements, fee title purchases, and fishing access sites. It’s Montana’s premier conservation program, and it helps bring in matching federal and private dollars to fund projects.

Birdtail is an exemplary project that will benefit the landowner, hunters, and wildlife. It’s exactly what Habitat Montana is meant for, and the Montana Wildlife Federation is proud to support this project. 

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

Madison River Rules

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Sonya fish3 A plan to limit the number of fishing outfitters on the Madison River tops a busy agenda this month for the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission.

State managers are considering a proposal that would cap the number of guided fishing boats allowed on the Madison. The plan would be similar to limits on the Big Hole and Beaverhead rivers that were instituted over a decade ago to address social issues related to crowded use on certain days.

The move is expected to be controversial, with some outfitters and guides objecting to limits on the use of the Madison.

The Commission will also consider final approval of an updated plan to manage Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The fatal neurological disease was first detected in Montana last fall in Carbon and Liberty counties, and FWP biologists responded quickly with special hunts to better assess the disease.

Several land deals are also on the agenda, including a trade with the Cross Canyon Ranch of land in the Spotted Dog Wildlife Management Area near Avon, a 160 acre parcel to buy in the Dome Mountain WMA in the Paradise Valley, the Birdtail Conservation Easement near Cascade, and in addition to the Garrity Mountain WMA west of Anaconda.

There are also a couple new fishing access sites on the agenda, including the Selway Bridge in Dillon and the Little Muddy Creek on the Missouri River just downstream from Cascade.

Commissioners will also consider management actions on FWP lands, including grazing leases for the Beartooth and Aunt Molly WMAs.

The public can comment on agenda items, and can also comment at any of the seven regional headquarters via video. Audio of the meeting is available on the FWP website by going to www.fwp.mt.gov.

The Montana Wildlife Federation will attend the Commission meeting to represent the interest of hunters, anglers and wildlife enthusiasts. 

The meeting begins at 8:30 am, Thursday, April 19 at 1420 East Sixth Ave., in Helena at the Montana FWP headquarters.

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

FWP Launches Habitat Improvement Program

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bird One of the areas where hunters and landowners came together last year in the state Legislature was the need to improve wildlife habitat on public and private lands.

With that shared goal, the Montana Wildlife Federation joined Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, agriculture groups and others to support House Bill 434. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Kelly Flynn, R-Townsend, sets up the Montana Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program. It passed and was signed by Gov. Steve Bullock with bi-partisan support.

That was the easy part. The hard work comes now as diverse interests come together to build this program. Here’s how it works.

The bill requires that FWP establish a committee with agriculture groups, hunters and other interest to review grant applications. The money can come from the Habitat Montana program, as well as federal Pittman-Robertson dollars. Grants require matching funds from the applicant. And they are reviewed and approved by the Fish and Wildlife Commission.

All of these measures are meant to ensure that projects to control weeds or make other habitat improvements are worthy, and will benefit specific native wildlife species. They will go through a public review with ample public comment. And they will require the buy-in from local interests to make them successful.

Hunters share with landowners the desire to combat noxious weeds. They crowd out native grasses, and that’s bad for native wildlife. They reduce the capacity of the land to provide forage for wildlife, and they almost always spread once they’re established in an area.

Working together, hunters and landowners forged this measure. It’s just another example that we share some common values and have an invaluable partnership when it comes to wildlife conservation.

That partnership will be essential to making the program work.

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

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.