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Wild Dinner Highlights the Locavore Movement

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Wild Dinner The elk was local food. So too was the white-tailed deer, antelope and trout. And there was more than just game meat dishes that came from local products.

The third annual Wild Dinner last Friday drew more than 60 people to Free Ceramics Helena, where a feast of locally produced game meat dishes, breads and vegetable dishes awaited the crowd on a cold night. The event is a joint effort put on by the Montana Wildlife Federation, Alternative Energy Resources Organization and Helena Hunters and Anglers.

It’s meant to feature the contribution that game meat makes to kitchen tables throughout Montana, but also the fact that locally produced food includes a variety of grains, vegetables and other products, such as honey and locally raised livestock. It’s part of the growing “localvore” movement in which people work to consume as much food as possible from their own gardens, from the bounty of wildlife we enjoy and from local sources.

Wild Dinner That included local beer. Ten Mile Creek Brewery in Helena donated a keg of its Queen City Pale Ale. It complimented the big variety of local foods perfectly.

The night included a brief talk by MWF Conservation Director Nick Gevock on how hunting fits in with the localvore movement, and how it’s helping to recruit a new generation of hunters. That’s crucial for wildlife conservation as we continue to build on the work that hunters and anglers have done for decades to promote abundant wildlife and the habitat it depends on.

 

Ravalli County Residents Defend Public Land Protections

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Ravalli county commissioners Ravalli County commissioners were forced to move the location of their meeting Wednesday morning as hundreds of public land supporters showed up to voice their concerns about Senator Steve Daines bill the “Protect Public Use of Public Lands Act” (S.2206). The legislation would strip protective status for nearly half a million acres of public lands across the state.

In Ravalli County, the Sapphire and Blue Joint Wilderness Study Areas (WSA) provide for unique backcountry hunting and fishing opportunities and key habitat for fish and wildlife. This secure roadless habitat is important for deer and elk populations that summer there and eventually migrate to lower elevations. More importantly, the clean, cold water that comes from these areas are vital to native trout populations and iconic blue ribbon trout streams like Rock Creek and the Bitterroot River.

At Wednesday’s meeting, over 50 people spoke out against Senator Daines legislation and called for a transparent public process to determine the fate of the WSA’s.  MWF President Bill Geer said “This meeting and hearing should have been held by Senator Daines before it ever got to this point,” referring to the fact that Daines had not held one public meeting in regards to his bill before it was written.

Montanans deserve better than a Washington DC written bill that does not incorporate the voices of sportsmen and other outdoor recreationists. Take action today and visit www.ourlandourlegacy.org to see how you can help.

 

Alec Underwood

MWF Western Field Representative

 

 

 

Resolving Conflicts Between Landowners & Hunters

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MWF President Bill Geer
MWF President Bill Geer

Montana Wildlife Federation President Bill Geer has been reappointed to the Private Land/Public Wildlife Council for another term. It’s an important group that brings together landowners, hunters, conservation groups and other interests to work on the tough issues surrounding public hunting access to private lands.

Geer, who ran the state of Utah’s wildlife agency during his career as a professional wildlife biologist, brings a wealth of experience to the position. He understands the intricacies of managing a public trust resource – wildlife – that often lives on private land. And he understands the delicate balance that’s needed between hunters and landowners to effectively manage deer, elk and other game species. We’re looking forward to productive discussions within the council, and know that Montana’s hunters will be well represented with Geer serving on it.

Support the Rule of Law and Your Public Land

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Today the Montana Wildlife Federation joined the Montana Wilderness Association, Montana Human Rights Network, Montana Conservation Voters,  and the National Wildlife Federation in issuing the following statement about the anti-government meeting planned for this weekend in Paradise, Montana:

The rule of law and access to our public lands are integral to how Montanans live, work, and play together as good neighbors.

This weekend, a group of extremists, including Cliven Bundy, are gathering in our backyard to advocate violating both of these core Montana principles.

Cliven Bundy and his colleagues have a record of breaking the law, not taking responsibility for their actions, and not being held responsible. Even though a mistrial was declared against Mr. Bundy for his armed 2014 standoff, he still has a 20+ year record of illegally trespassing on America’s public lands and refusing to comply with court orders to halt his behavior.

Mr. Bundy defends his illegal behavior by proclaiming “I don’t recognize the US government as even existing” and calling the United States a “foreign government.” He has publicly declared “I abide by almost zero federal laws”, which is borne out by his repeated refusal to comply with legal court orders. He holds many other radical views, including the idea that slavery was good for African-Americans.

Mr. Bundy will be joined by several other other anti-government extremists, including Roger Roots. Roots has a long history with white nationalism and advocates radical concepts like “jury nullification”, an eccentric and dangerous theory that juries should ignore the law.

Most troubling, at least one Montana lawmaker has indicated that she intends to attend this event: State Senator Jennifer Fielder (R-Thompson Falls). Senator Fielder is well-known as an extremist within her own party, but standing alongside someone who ignores the law and rejects the American judicial system and the very existence of the federal government is beyond the pale.

The stakes are high in Sanders County. In addition to this weekend’s gathering of extremists, one Bundy militia member found guilty in Oregon is a Plains, Montana, resident due for sentencing on the 24th. Montana lawmakers and law enforcement officials have a duty to protect and uphold the rule of law, not entertain extremists.

We are asking reasonable Montanans to stay away from the Bundy meeting and not fuel the conflict. Instead of playing who-has-a-bigger-gun with these extremists, we are asking people to support the law and public lands by taking three actions:

  • Contact State Senator Jennifer Fielder and ask her to state her position on the multiple legal rulings against Mr. Bundy and if she believes he should be required to comply with court orders or not.
  • Contact Sanders County Sheriff Tom Rummel and Montana Attorney General Tim Fox,  and ask them to support the peaceful rule of law and hold lawbreakers accountable.

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.

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.