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BLM Supports Local Sportsmen, Denies Durfee Hills Land Exchange

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Durfee Hills elk herd
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has decided against a land exchange with two of Montana’s largest private landowners, billionaire brothers Dan and Farris Wilks. The Wilkses were proposing to exchange the Anchor Ranch, which sits just north of the Missouri River in Blaine County, along with other lands, for a landlocked parcel of BLM property known as the Durfee Hills which sits inside the Wilke’s NBar Ranch in Fergus County.

Mark Albers, BLM’s Central Montana District Manager, announced his decision to the district’s Resource Advisory Council in Great Falls. He said he made the decision against pursuing the deal when he considered all of the priorities facing his office.

Local sportsmen of the Central Montana Outdoor group, along with the help of the Montana Wildlife Federation, worked tirelessly to stop the transfer. Doug Krings, speaking on behalf of Central Montana Outdoors said that “you only get to keep what you are willing to fight for.” He also made it clear that “the sportsmen of Central Montana and beyond are not against land exchanges, they are simply against bad deals. It is very easy to stay focused on this particular issue, because what we are doing is in the best interest of the American sportsmen.”

The Montana Wildlife Federation looked at the proposal on a value-for-value basis that considered several criteria, including the quality of the habitat; presence of huntable populations of wildlife including elk, mule deer and sage grouse; and public access and hunting opportunity. “We felt it was not a good deal, it was not a fair trade at all,” said Bill Geer, chairman of the access committee for the Montana Wildlife Federation. “The Durfee Hills are far and away a much greater value.” And while the Durfee Hills are only accessible primarily by air, in recent years, more and more hunters are accessing the area via airplane for a relatively affordable fee.

The Durfee Hills has had roughly 200 elk hunter days per year, and high success rates, according to data from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. In addition, the area is the only remaining federal lands available for public big game hunting in Herd Unit 530, and is the core habitat for an elk population that numbers over 5,000 strong. In contrast, the Anchor Ranch, in Herd Unit 680, has walk-in access off of nearby dirt roads and the elk herd is small enough to warrant hunting by special permit only.

One of the arguments that was made in favor of the land trade was to open the Bullwhacker Road, which leads to the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument south of the Anchor Ranch and the hunting opportunities it offers. However, that area is already accessible by boat on the river. It is also accessible via roads farther upstream. The Montana Wildlife Federation will continue to work to increase public access into the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument for sportsmen moving forward.

The Montana Wildlife Federation praises the BLM on their decision to not pursue this land transfer. The Durfee Hills offer great value for sportsmen and wildlife and should remain in public ownership for the public to enjoy.

MWF Durfee Hills Official Comment Letter

Work Together for Effective Public Land Management

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montanascenic
Over the last few weeks, we have watched a gang of self-styled revolutionaries take over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. In addition to trespassing on public lands, these criminals have destroyed government property, ransacked government files, driven government vehicles and caused local schools to be closed.

The Malheur occupiers have attempted to justify their actions with a political agenda that includes turning the refuge and other public lands over to private ownership. Their anti-government rhetoric has been accompanied with bizarre demands for the delivery of vanilla coffee creamer, chewing tobacco and board games.

The national media have been unable to resist this combination of brazen lawlessness, political rhetoric and comedy. Some have been far too willing to believe the simple – but false – story that the Malheur gang represents widespread discontent with public land management.

The Malheur occupiers are far from a “rising tide” of grassroots sentiment. The leaders of this gang are not even from the local community; many of them hail from places like Ohio, Florida and Tennessee. Far from representing Western opinion, they are just a group of free-roaming political activists who took their fight to one unsuspecting community.

Nonetheless, some enterprising politicians are using the media circus around the Malheur occupation as an opportunity to revive an agenda to transfer national forests and other public lands to state control.

We’ve heard this rhetoric before. During the 2015 Legislature, numerous bills were introduced to support the state takeover of public lands. These bills got a fair hearing and all of them were defeated. Why? Because of overwhelming public opposition. Montanans know that transferring millions of acres of public land from one bureaucracy to another won’t solve any management problems. It is political snake oil that would reduce public access and bust the state budget.

Public land management is complex. It is difficult to balance competing interests and support local economies, protect wildlife habitat and ensure public access. Since the first national forests were created more than a century ago, land managers and local communities have put a lot of hard work into meeting everyone’s needs.

Over-heated political rhetoric and unworkable schemes don’t give us real solutions. Instead of the political grandstanding, we need to sit down, roll up our sleeves and support real solutions.

First, we need to support collaborative efforts that bring people together to find common ground. There are plenty of great examples around Montana. Last year, the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act implemented a land management proposal developed by conservationists, ranchers and local communities. Similar place-based efforts are underway in the Blackfoot-Clearwater basins, the Beaverhead-Deerlodge and Kootenai National Forests, among others. Bringing local people together is how we manage resource development, protect wildlife habitat and preserve public access.

To complement local efforts, we need our elected officials to continue to work to pass bipartisan, common-sense policies at the national level. The Land and Water Conservation Fund is a widely supported program that funds land acquisitions that consolidate federal ownership, improve access and streamline management. The program needs to be permanently authorized and fully funded.

Changing the ways the U.S. Forest Service pays for wildfire funding would free up funds for other necessary public land management, restoration and conservation programs. These reforms also enjoy bipartisan support.

We should have zero tolerance for the lawbreakers at Malheur. Sooner or later, they need to be held accountable. Our elected leaders need to remember that Montanans cherish our federal lands and overwhelmingly support keeping public lands in public hands.

Kathy Hadley lives in Deer Lodge. She is a life-long hunter and angler and the current president of Montana Wildlife Federation.

Forget the rhetoric: in Montana we know public lands mean access and habitat

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NLWMA-Bulls Elk graze on newly acquired WMA lands

Last week, while a bunch of all-hat, no-cow rebels were vandalizing public property and hogging national media attention in Burns, Oregon, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission quietly approved a few projects that show just how popular public land really is.

Montanans bought more public land for public access and wildlife habitat.

That’s right – Montanans purchased land from willing sellers to add to our state Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). The purchases included key winter range for elk west of Missoula, wetlands along the north shore of Flathead Lake and a key wildlife link between Nevada Mountain and the Garnett Range near Helmville. The projects were funded by the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Habitat Montana program.

In total, 1,156 acres were added to the public estate. These are places where all Montanans – and all Americans – can go to hunt, fish, hike, birdwatch, etc. All three were additions to existing WMAs, places that were already protected by hunters and anglers who had the foresight to set land aside for wildlife.

The projects were partially paid for through Habitat Montana, which uses a small fee on hunting licenses to purchase conservation easements, fishing access sites, lands for wildlife, access and sporting opportunity. Habitat Montana is essential because it is often matched with federal and private foundation dollars to complete projects. These projects also included funds from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, which is funded by a portion of offshore oil drilling revenue.

The Oregon occupiers – and the extremist politicians who support them – vilify national forests, wildlife refuges and other federal lands, and hold up state management as a panacea. But then they turn around and oppose funding for state public land programs like Habitat Montana.

Instead of the political rhetoric, we should be working together to support more public land and more public access at every level. Instead of pitting federal government versus state government, we should support programs like the Land and Water Conservation Fund and Habitat Montana that protect land for people and wildlife.

The truth is that public lands – state and federal – contribute to local economies. The habitat and access that public lands provide are essential to sustain Montana’s $6 billion outdoor recreation economy. State and federal agencies also make payments to counties to offset the lost property tax revenue.

Montanans know these places are even more important than dollars and cents. They’re essential to our very way of life – a big if not the biggest reason people choose to live here.

So let the blowhards in Oregon who think they’re entitled to our national birthright continue to spew their nonsense while they tear down fences and destroy public property. The vast majority of Americans know the real value of our public lands and will fight fiercely to protect them.

Nick Gevock is the conservation director for Montana Wildlife Federation.

Stand up for wildlife refuges and other public lands, buy a Duck Stamp

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duck stamp

As the occupation of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon enters a second week, the Montana Wildlife Federation is joining the National Wildlife Federation and state federations around the country in urging Americans to show their support for protecting public lands by buying a Duck Stamp.

The Malheur occupiers have said that they will not leave until the refuge and other public lands are taken out of public hands and given to private interests. The occupation follows unsuccessful political efforts to take over public lands in Montana and other Western states. Such efforts have failed to gain traction because they are wildly unpopular with the public. Last year, the Montana Legislature rejected every single bill that was introduced in order to take over public lands.

“The takeover of a wildlife refuge is a particular slap in the face to hunters, who have personally helped fund the creation of so many wildlife refuges,” said Montana Wildlife Federation executive director Dave Chadwick. “Now hunters are forced to watch a group of armed, anti-government trespassers occupy the very lands that they helped protect.”

For 80 years, waterfowl hunters have been required to purchase a Duck Stamp, which helps fund the protection of wildlife refuge lands – and hunters have strongly supported the program from the outset. Bird watchers and many other outdoor enthusiasts also buy the stamps in order to support wildlife and habitat.

Duck Stamp funds are used to acquire public land for wildlife refuges, helping expand wildlife habitat and hunting access. Since the program was created in 1934, more than 300 national wildlife refuges, including at least one in every state, were created or have been expanded using Federal Duck Stamp revenue, totaling more than 6.5 million acres.

To send a peaceful, constructive message of support for public lands, MWF is urging Montanans to purchase a Duck Stamp today. You can buy a Federal Duck Stamp at National Wildlife Refuges, select post offices, and many major sporting goods stores, or online. Hunters and others who already have a Duck Stamp can also purchase an additional stamp to show their support for public lands.

“National wildlife refuges and other public lands are important to millions of hunters, anglers, birdwatchers and other outdoors enthusiasts. Poll after poll shows how much we love our public lands,” said Chadwick. “Buying a Federal Duck Stamp is one simple but meaningful way we can send a message that Montanans support keeping public lands in public hands.”

“Whether a hunter, angler, birder, hiker, or wildlife enthusiast, every American benefits from the amazing public lands that have been protected for generations for the benefit of all Americans,” said Collin O’Mara, president and chief executive officer of the National Wildlife Federation. “By purchasing Federal Duck Stamps, we can show our strong support for conserving wildlife, enhancing wildlife refuges, and ensuring that America’s public lands remain accessible to all Americans.”

Buy a Duck Stamp and help Stamp Out Bundy

Dave Chadwick is the Executive Director of Montana Wildlife Federation

Political Extremists Threaten Our Public Lands, Democratic Values

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A greater sandhill crane feeds in the wetlands at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. More than 200 pairs of sandhills nest on the refuge each year. They begin arriving in Feburary/March and are reclusive when they begin nesting. But they can be seen in their nesting territories from late June until the crane colts fledge in September. Credit: Roger Baker A greater sandhill crane feeds in the wetlands at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Credit: Roger Baker USFWS

For the last several days, a group of armed extremists has been illegally occupying Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. They have said they won’t leave until the Refuge and other public lands are handed over to private interests.

In an effort to justify their actions, the Malheur occupiers are espousing a political agenda to take over all wildlife refuges, national forests, and other public lands, transfer them to local control, and privatize them. The group’s leaders – who are not from the local community – have taken every opportunity to get in front of the TV cameras, repeat their complaints about public land management, and issue their demand that public lands be taken out of public hands (while also calling for the delivery of snacks and hot meals).

We’ve heard the same anti-public land rhetoric here in Montana. Over the last few years, a handful of politicians have been pushing an agenda to take over our national forests and other public lands. The overwhelming majority of Montanans oppose this idea, and the Montana Legislature has so far rejected every single bill to transfer public lands to state or local control. Montanans know that this extremist agenda will reduce public access, ruin wildlife habitat, and expose our public lands to more private development.

Unfortunately, the anti-public land crowd can’t seem to accept a fair defeat in the court of public opinion. It is one thing to advocate for your agenda in the democratic process, it is quite another to invade public lands, hold a local community hostage, and make threats of armed violence. Proponents of the public land transfer can’t stick their heads in the sand and pretend like their rhetoric isn’t fueling this criminal behavior.

The takeover of a national wildlife refuge is a particular slap in the face to America’s hunters. For 80 years, waterfowl hunters have been required to purchase a Duck Stamp, which helps fund the protection of wildlife refuge lands – and hunters have strongly supported the program from the outset. Now, America’s hunters are forced to watch a group of armed, anti-government trespassers occupy the very lands that they’ve helped protect.

Law enforcement officials are working to resolve the situation. All Americans are hopeful for a peaceful resolution that reopens the wildlife refuge and restores order to the local community. The individuals responsible for the occupation need to be held legally responsible for their actions. And the radical politicians calling for the wholesale transfer of public land need to recognize their own responsibility for fueling this undemocratic, criminal behavior. The anti-public land and anti-government rhetoric has to stop.

Dave Chadwick is the executive director of Montana Wildlife Federation.

Changes to Montana’s Hunting Season dates and regulations have been proposed. Hunters, now is the time to let your voice be heard.

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.