News - Montana Wildlife Federation

Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) Camp

August 24, 2022 by Guest Profile

BOW has become a staple in Montana and women from across the state come together to experience a weekend of learning and growth in a safe and fun environment. Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks hosts BOW and the purpose is to introduce “women to different outdoor skills such as fishing, hunting, shooting, archery, orienteering, camp cooking, kayaking, and much more. BOW provides participants with information, encouragement, and hands-on instruction.”

BOW is a fantastic opportunity for women to build strong outdoor skills, a solid foundation of ethics and learning, and to meet and connect with other women who are interested in the same things. Stay tuned for workshops happening throughout the year and for the announcement for open registration for BOW 2023.

MWF’s Field Representative, Morgan Marks, attended for the Friday afternoon session to support women in the Beginning Fly Fishing class with fly casting and learning the ins and outs about fly fishing. Morgan walked away impressed with the organization of BOW, the level of expertise of instructors and their extensive knowledge of their subjects, and the overall enthusiasm of everyone involved. Hopefully, next year, MWF can show up for the entirety of the BOW weekend event!

A note from Jim Vashro, an annual instructor at BOW, and President of MWF’s affiliate, Flathead Wildlife:

The statewide Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) workshop was held over the weekend at Lubrecht Experimental Forest near Clearwater Junction. BOW is designed to introduce women to basic and intermediate skills in a variety of outdoor activities in a safe and supportive atmosphere. Women are under-represented in outdoor sports, BOW empowers women and breaks down barriers. The workshop ran from noon, Friday, 8/12 to noon, Sunday, 8/14.

Women had to choose 4 activities from basic gun handling, rifle or shotgun shooting, archery, bird ID, plant ID, kayaking, stand up paddleboards, wilderness survival, backpacking, On the Road (dealing with car breakdowns, etc.), canning, map and compass, beginning and intermediate fly fishing and fly fishing on the water.

MWF’s Morgan Marks was able to attend Friday afternoon and helped with knot tying and fly casting in Beginning Fly Fishing. Thanks to Morgan and I hope you can stay longer next time.

The women also participated in Bear Aware training, building a shelter and a fire with flint and steel in Wilderness Survival, Chris Dover and Chipper gave a presentation on K-9 search and rescue and found one of the “lost” women, you’ll see one of five on-the-water fly fishing crews and a big smile for first fish on a fly. Fun activities included making paracord bracelets, fish tattoos and making earrings out of fish spinner parts. Lots of smiles, lots of plans to link up in their own communities for outdoor activities.

Pictures taken by Jim Vashro and Morgan Marks; shown are activities BOW participants are learning, such as casting a fly rod, archery, being bear aware and learning how to spray bear spray, fire starting, tying knots for fly fishing, catching a fish on a dry fly, and firearm handling and shooting.

MWF applauds passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, historic investments to combat climate change

August 16, 2022 by Alec Underwood

Today, the Montana Wildlife Federation applauded President Biden’s signing of the Inflation Reduction Act, marking the country’s most significant investment ever to combat the impacts of climate change. The landmark bill included many provisions that will bring much-needed investments across the West, including to Native communities, to boost landscape resiliency, clean energy jobs, and protect taxpayers by reforming antiquated energy policies.

“Passage of the IRA marks a historic moment for the future of Montana’s people, landscape, and our fish and wildlife,” said Frank Szollosi, Executive Director for the Montana Wildlife Federation. “Climate change is impacting species and their habitat across the West, and affecting some of the sporting community’s most cherished opportunities that people depend on for their way of life. This historic legislation will help preserve our outdoor heritage while boosting the economy and helping the U.S. transition to a clean energy future.”

Key policy reforms within the bill included changes to the outdated federal oil and gas leasing system, which has cost American taxpayers billions of dollars in revenue because of antiquated policies. Most noteworthy was an increase of royalty rates for federal lands leasing and the elimination of noncompetitive leasing, a loophole that has been exploited by oil and gas companies for decades to scoop up federal lands that have little to no potential for actual development.

“For too long, oil and gas companies have used loopholes in the system to boost their bottom line, without any plans to develop leases and provide a fair return to taxpayers for the use of public lands,” said Szollosi. “The increase in royalty rates and elimination of noncompetitive leasing is a key step forward in protecting taxpayers and also ensuring that our public lands are managed for their outstanding wildlife and recreation values.”

Szollosi also applauded senior Senator Jon Tester for his work to pass the bill in the U.S. Senate, while expressing disappointment in Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Matt Rosendale for opposing the legislation: “Senator Tester has been a stalwart champion for fish, wildlife and public lands, and his work to ensure that Montana receives the key investments from the bill is no exception. We’re disappointed that Senator Daines and Congressman Rosendale decided to put partisan politics ahead of securing a healthy future for Montana residents, fish and wildlife.”

Hunters Celebrate Expansion of Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area

August 15, 2022 by Marcus Strange

On a tight-vote, the Montana Land Board gave conditional approval this morning for the state to acquire a small private parcel to be managed as part of the Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area.

Acquisition of the 829-acre Willow Creek parcel was a priority for hunters and anglers who were worried private development would spoil critical big game winter range. They say today’s vote will protect wildlife habitat, increase public access, and provide new hunting and other outdoor opportunities for Montanans.

“This was the only responsible outcome for Montana and for our wildlife,” said Gary Ouldhouse, president of Anaconda Sportsman’s Club. “We thank Governor Gianforte for his leadership and are encouraged that the majority of our Land Board members agreed to create new public access and protect high-quality habitat that would have otherwise been developed and closed off to future generations.”

The Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area straddles the Continental Divide and is the largest Wildlife Management Areas in the state. The new addition is located four miles south of Anaconda and shares a 2.5 mile border with the existing management area.

The acquisition was supported by the Anaconda Deerlodge County Commission, Montana Union Sportsman’s Alliance, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, The Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Jefferson Valley Sportsmen, the Anaconda Sportsman’s Club, Montana Trout Unlimited as well local hunters and landowners.

“We’re incredibly thankful this addition was finally approved. FWP, RMEF and the landowners deserve all the thanks and praise we can muster, yet today’s narrow and conditional approval for a project overwhelmingly supported by the public and paid for with sportsmen’s dollars reminds us we need to continue to show up and engage when it matters most,” said Scott DeSena, a board member of the Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. “We’d like to thank Governor Gianforte who showed leadership today in repeatedly expressing his support for this project with sound and reasonable justifications.”

According to Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, the Willow Creek property was likely to be subdivided and developed had the state not stepped in.

“Given current interest in Montana real estate, the recreational value of the property due to bordering the WMA, the easy access from Interstate 90 and MT Highways 1 and 569, and the proximity to the amenities of Anaconda, this property is prime for subdivision. The current landowners have recently been approached by developers showing interest in acquiring their property for this purpose,” reads the State’s environmental analysis.

Funding for the $2.7 million purchase will come from Montana’s Habitat Montana program with in-kind support from Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks conservation trust.

For over three decades, the Habitat Montana program has helped landowners create new public access and protect habitat-rich lands from development. The program raises money through hunting license sales and state taxes on recreational marijuana.

Hunting and conservation advocates say they are hopeful today’s majority vote signals continued interest in additional fee title acquisitions later this year. At the top of that list is the creation of a new 5,677-acre Wildlife Management Area in the Big Snowy Mountains.

The Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Commission is expected to vote on the Big Snowy proposed acquisition next Thursday. That vote would clear the path for approval by the Montana Land Board.

“We are hopeful the majority of our Montana Land Board will continue to support strong proposals like the Big Snowy Mountains WMA, which are fiscally responsible and have overwhelming support from hunters and landowners,” said Marcus Strange, Director of State Policy and Government Relations for Montana Wildlife Federation.

CONTACT

Gary Ouldhouse, President of Anaconda Sportsman’s Club, 406.559.0422

Marcus Strange, Director of State Policy Montana Wildlife Federation, 406.916.2585

Scott Desena, Board member of MT Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, 406.498.8811

MWF Cheers Landmark Inflation/Climate Deal

August 1, 2022July 28, 2022 by Frank Szollosi

Today we are thrilled with news of a legislative breakthrough that will boost Montana wildlife, fisheries, forests and communities and reduce our carbon emissions 40% by 2030. And by lowering energy costs, we reduce inflation. MWF encourages you to call Senator Jon Tester at (202)-224-2651 to express appreciation for his support of climate action and to call Senator Steve Daines at (202)-224-2651 and ask him to get on board!

Hunters, anglers, farmers, ranchers, bird watchers, and conservationists of all stripes have long advocated for Congress to act on climate. We understand the long established science, and bear witness to the impacts as our Montana fisheries warm and our public lands and communities endure ever-more devastating floods and wildfires. And three-quarters of respondents in a recent Montana State University survey of farmers and ranchers reported anxiety from the uncertainty driven by climate change.

As recently as two weeks ago, MWF was back in DC speaking up for action on climate. See image below.

The historic Inflation Reduction deal announced this week includes:

– natural climate solutions that will build the resilience of Montana’s wildlife, fish, forests, streams, rivers, prairies and farms and ranches

– first meaningful oil and gas leasing reform in 100 years, protecting critical Montana habitat, wildlife and taxpayers

– $5 billion in grants to support healthy, fire resilient forests, forest conservation and urban tree planting

– investments in U.S. clean energy manufacturing

– investments in Montana communities, including tribes, long impacted by environmental injustices

– more than $20 billion to support climate-smart agriculture practices

– tax credits for electric vehicles

Contact: Frank Szollosi, Executive Director, 406-417-9909

Below Montana Wildlife Federation Executive Director Frank Szollosi, of Missoula, speaks with Senator Jon Tester on Capitol Hill about climate-fueled devastation in and adjacent to Yellowstone National Park, and the lopsided fiscal benefits of strong climate policy. July 12, 2022.

Montana sporting groups call on Rep. Rosendale to abandon his attack on federal wildlife conservation funding

July 18, 2022July 18, 2022 by Frank Szollosi

Today, the Montana Wildlife Federation and twelve affiliate rod and gun clubs representing tens-of-thousands of hunters called on Representative Matt Rosendale to withdraw his co-sponsorship of legislation that would defund the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and gut federal funding for wildlife conservation and hunter education programs across the nation.

H.R. 8167, the “Return our Constitutional Rights Act of 2022,” would essentially repeal one of the most important pieces of legislation for wildlife management and hunting, the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act. Passed in 1937, the Pittman-Robertson Act sets aside the revenue from federal excise taxes on firearms and archery equipment for grants to state fish and wildlife agencies for wildlife management and hunter education. The Pittman-Robertson Act is used to this day to provide robust funding to state fish and wildlife management agencies.

In a letter to Rosendale, the groups reiterated the importance of the Pittman-Robertson funding, stating “Pittman-Robertson is the backbone of the management that ensures that fish and wildlife that are pursued by hunters and anglers continue to flourish. It is a key element in the phrase hunters proclaim proudly:“hunting is conservation”.

FWP’s largest source of federal funding comes from both the Pittman-Robertson Act and the similar Dingell-Johnson Act, which provides funding to states to support recreational fishing. In total, both sources of funding account for nearly 20 percent of FWP’s budget.

While H.R. 8167 purports to direct federal oil and gas revenue into the Pittman Robertson Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund instead of firearms excise taxes, the bill is actually written to completely repeal the core Trust Fund and direct additional funding into a different set of programs that are targeted at non-game wildlife conservation. While that latter goal is crucially important – and the subject of separate pending federal legislation, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, which enjoys bipartisan support – H.R. 8167 would end all federal funding for the management of game species and their habitats, as well as funding for hunter safety education and public shooting ranges.

In addition to all of the benefits of robust conservation funding, signers of the letter to Rosendale emphasized to the need to protect the conservation legacy that has been created by Pittman-Robertson: “Montana hunters take pride in being the primary source of funding for state wildlife management agencies through the Pittman-Robertson Act as well as hunting/fishing license sales. These funding mechanisms are critical to the future persistence of both game and nongame species. We again urge you to listen to the voices of hunters across the state and withdraw your support for H.R. 8167.”

Signers of the letter included the Montana Wildlife Federation, Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife Association, Laurel Rod and Gun Club, Bearpaw Bowmen, Hellgate Hunters and Anglers, Montana Artemis Alliance, Helena Hunters and Anglers, American Bear Foundation, Flathead Wildlife Inc., Montana Union Sportsmen’s Alliance, Anaconda Sportsmen’s Club, Public Land Water Access Association and Traditional Bowhunters of Montana.

Contact: Frank Szollosi, executive director, Montana Wildlife Federation, 406-417-9909

Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) Camp

MWF applauds passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, historic investments to combat climate change

Hunters Celebrate Expansion of Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area

MWF Cheers Landmark Inflation/Climate Deal

Montana sporting groups call on Rep. Rosendale to abandon his attack on federal wildlife conservation funding

Jeff Lukas

Elk Campaign Manager