Cameron Evans - Montana Wildlife Federation

Support HB 932: Montana’s Smartest Conservation Investment

October 21, 2025April 12, 2025 by Cameron Evans

Tell your legislators: Support HB 932.

Montana’s outdoors depend on it.

Montana’s wildlife, working lands, and outdoor heritage are central to who we are. The rivers we fish, the ranges we hunt, and the open spaces we roam all require ongoing stewardship. Keeping this land wild, working, and accessible takes funding, coordination, and a long-term strategy.

The Habitat Legacy Account—established by HB 932—delivers just that.

At its core, the Habitat Legacy Account is designed to support and strengthen the very programs that keep Montana’s wildlife habitat healthy, its working lands productive, and its outdoor traditions alive. Here’s how it works, what it funds, and why it matters.

Why It Matters

Montana has many tools to conserve public and private lands, but we lack one critical tool: A robust funding mechanism to restore our land, wildlife and water resources in the face of drought, wildfire, invasive species and deteriorating wildlife habitat conditions.

In 2021, the Montana Legislature passed HB 701, which allocated 20% of the state’s recreational marijuana tax revenue to Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Habitat Montana program. This was a step forward, but as conservation challenges have grown more complex and more urgent, stakeholders recognized the need to build on that success and create something more flexible with even broader reach.

The Habitat Legacy Account is a historic opportunity to channel Montana’s marijuana tax revenue into a suite of Montana’s most important conservation and access programs—expanding their reach, increasing flexibility, and ensuring long-term funding stability.

Creating the Habitat Legacy Account

The Montana legislature is currently considering two legislative proposals to establish the Habitat Legacy Account, House Bill 932, sponsored by Rep. Ken Walsh, R-Twin Bridges, and Senate Bill 537, sponsored by Sen. Daniel Zolnikov, R-Billings.

The proposals uphold the conservation funding allocated by the Montana Legislature in 2021 and are supported by Montana’s conservation and hunting communities. It would ensure that the Habitat Legacy Account is properly funded, allowing for a more comprehensive and flexible approach to land, wildlife and water conservation.

What the Habitat Legacy Account Would Fund

The Habitat Legacy Account is a long-term commitment to ensuring conservation keeps pace with the demands on our land and water. Key focus areas include the following:

1. Habitat Montana

The Habitat Montana program is one of the most successful tools in the state for wildlife conservation and public access. It funds both short-term and perpetual conservation easements, FWP land acquisitions, and access improvements.

Thanks to Habitat Montana, projects like the Big Snowy Mountains Wildlife Management Area—providing access to nearly 100,000 acres of public land—and the Montana Great Outdoors Project in northwest Montana have preserved critical habitat while opening up new ground for hunters, anglers, and other recreationists. The Habitat Legacy Account ensures Habitat Montana has the funding it needs to continue seizing big opportunities as they arise, including habitat leasing and partnerships with willing landowners.

Screenshot 2025 04 12 at 9.28.04 PM — Using funding from the Habitat Montana program, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks secured nearly 6,000 acres of native prairie and foothill habitat at the base of the Big Snowies to create a new Wildlife Management Area. The WMA opens access to nearly 100,000 acres of previously landlocked public land, provides critical year-round range for elk, deer, and antelope, and protects some of the state’s most intact native grassland and conifer woodland ecosystems. Photo from Montana FWP.

2. WHIP Legacy Expansion

The Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP) has already played a role in tackling noxious weeds and improving habitat on both public and private land. But the scope of the program has been narrow—until now.

A Habitat Legacy Account would expand WHIP through the new WHIP Legacy initiative, funding landscape-scale restoration and stewardship work across rural Montana. The program would support ranchers, Tribes, conservation districts, local governments, hunters, and nonprofits in their efforts to heal degraded land and improve fish and wildlife habitat.

Eligible projects would include the following:

Rangeland and soil restoration
Invasive species removal
Fence modifications for improved wildlife movement
Water retention and development
Aspen and wetland enhancement
Fish passage and irrigation upgrades

These types of projects directly improve wildlife habitat and water quality, while helping working lands stay productive. Importantly, this program puts funding in the hands of people who know the land best—those who live and work on it.

3. Wildlife Crossings

Montana ranks second in the nation for wildlife-vehicle collisions. Every year, more than 6,000 big game animals are struck and killed on our roads. These crashes cost Montanans more than $119 million annually in vehicle damages, injuries, and emergency services. Worse still, they threaten the health of our big game herds and the safety of our communities.

The Habitat Legacy Account would create a dedicated funding stream for wildlife accommodations—overpasses, underpasses, and fencing that allow animals to safely cross highways and keep drivers safe. According to recent surveys, 77% of Montanans support more investments in wildlife crossings. With this bill, we can turn that public support into action.

Wildlife crossings are also cost-efficient. By helping species like elk, deer, moose, bears and pronghorn move safely across the landscape, these structures improve long-term herd vitality and prevent roadkill-related costs. They’re a win-win for wildlife and public safety.

Why Now?

Montana has many tools for conserving public and private lands, but we lack one essential piece: a robust, reliable funding mechanism for habitat stewardship. With changing climate conditions and growing land-use pressures, we can’t afford to wait.

The Habitat Legacy Account fills that gap by creating a framework that’s flexible, efficient, and grounded in local knowledge. It supports the people who know the land best—ranchers, Tribes, land managers, hunters, and conservationists—and gives us the tools to get the work done.

Take Action

Montanans overwhelmingly support conservation, wildlife, and access. HB 932 proposes strategic, common-sense investments in all three legs of the stool.

Contact your legislators and urge them to support HB 932. It’s how we keep Montana wild, working, and open for the next generation.

To provide testimony and/or written comments, visit https://participate.legmt.gov. You can also send a message to legislators through the public participation portal.

Supreme Court Rejects Utah’s Attempt to Take Over Public Lands

October 21, 2025January 14, 2025 by Cameron Evans

The U.S. Supreme Court has delivered a victory for conservation Monday, refusing to hear Utah’s attempt to seize control of nearly 18.5 million acres of federally managed public lands. While the court’s decision blocks this particular lawsuit, it comes amid escalating efforts to transfer or sell public lands under state control, posing significant risks to the landscapes, wildlife, and access cherished by hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts.

“Utah’s lawsuit is nothing more than an attempt to acquire lands to sell off to the highest bidder. Montanans love these lands. They are critical for wildlife, hunters, anglers, ranchers, and rural communities,” said Frank Szollosi, executive director of the Montana Wildlife Federation.

Utah’s lawsuit, backed by a dozen other states, aimed to transfer federal lands used for grazing, energy production, and recreation into state hands. This would open the door to privatization, degradation and the sale of lands to the highest bidder.

MWF appreciates Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Attorney General Austin Knudsen, and our Congressional delegation for recognizing that these arguments have no legal merit. But the fight isn’t over, and we must remain vigilant to protect our public lands.

With a new Congress adopting rules to make public land transfers easier and Utah signaling readiness to refile the case in a lower court, threats to public lands remain. These efforts could strip protections from millions of acres, jeopardizing wildlife habitat, rural economies, and public access to lands that belong to all Americans.

Monday’s decision by the Supreme Court comes as the newly Republican-controlled Congress adopted a rules package that includes language allowing lawmakers to more easily transfer or sell off public lands managed by federal agencies. The rules consider public lands to have no monetary value, meaning lawmakers will no longer need to account for lost revenue if they decide to give parcels to states or extractive industries.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, Senate President Stuart Adams, House Speaker Mike Schultz and Attorney General Derek Brown said they were disappointed in the court’s decision, but noted that the decision does not prevent the state from filing the case in federal district court in the future.

“We are also heartened to know the incoming [Trump] administration shares our commitments to the principle of ‘multiple use’ for these federal lands and is committed to working with us to improve land management,” they said in a Monday statement. “We will continue to fight to keep public lands in public hands because it is our stewardship, heritage and home.”

What’s Next?

The Montana Wildlife Federation is committed to defending public lands and the values they represent. We’ll continue to track developments and fight against any attempts to privatize or degrade the landscapes that define Montana and the West. Thank you to everyone who has taken action, signed petitions and spoken out on this issue. Your voices are crucial in ensuring these lands remain public for generations to come.

As the U.S. Senate prepares for Doug Burgum’s confirmation hearing as Secretary of the Interior this week, the Montana Wildlife Federation (MWF) sent an open letter to Senator Steve Daines and Senator Tim Sheehy urging them to prioritize Montana’s conservation and public land, wildlife, and access in their decision-making.

With nearly 27 million acres of federal public lands, including iconic destinations like Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, outdoor recreation is a cornerstone of Montana’s economy and integral to its way of life. A U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis report from November highlights the economic significance of outdoor recreation, which contributed $3.4 billion to the state’s economy in 2023 and accounted for 4.6% of Montana’s GDP.

“We encourage our Senators to ask the nominee if he supports Utah’s wholesale federal land transfer scheme. As it stands, Burgum’s nomination comes with a clear directive to put oil and gas drilling above all other uses of public lands, which would be detrimental to our state’s economy and way of life,” said Frank Szollosi, Executive Director of MWF. “We urge Senator Daines and Senator Sheehy to protect the $3.4 billion economic engine our public lands provide in Montana and seek commitments to safeguard our economy, wildlife, and way of life as they consider Governor Burgum for Interior Secretary.”

Public interest in Montana aligns with conservation goals. Seventy-seven percent of Montanans statewide and 82% in Southwest Montana support prioritizing conservation of lands near rivers and streams or with threatened wildlife, on par with oil and gas drilling, according to a recent poll conducted by New Bridge Strategy that MWF commissioned. The poll surveyed Montanans statewide and found that 69% of Montanans favor leasing in areas with a high likelihood of oil and gas production, avoiding speculative leasing that ties up public lands unnecessarily.

The Department of Interior oversees more than 500 million acres of federal public lands and hunters and anglers don’t believe that decisions about public land management should favor extractive industries over rural families, Indigenous communities, wildlife, public access, sustainable recreation, and conservation.

MWF sent the following letter to Senator Steve Daines and Senator Tim Sheehy:

January 14, 2025

Dear Senator Tim Sheehy,

On behalf of the Montana Wildlife Federation, we urge you to prioritize Montana’s public lands and wildlife conservation programs as you begin the 119th Congress. This week, former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum’s Secretary of the Interior confirmation hearing is scheduled. As you can meet with the nominee, we encourage you to seek commitments from Governor Bergum to safeguard Montana’s wildlife, habitat, access, outdoor heritage, and economy. Critical species such as sage grouse, wolves, grizzlies, wolverines, grayling, bull trout, and lynx are of particular concern. Collaboration between the DOI, sovereign tribes, and Montana is fundamental to resolving conflicts. Key habitat and wildlife management – driven by science and ethics – will require commitment and leadership from the Department of Interior and its agencies.

Montana’s public lands are integral to our way of life and our economy. With 27 million acres of federal public land, including Glacier and Yellowstone National Park, outdoor recreation is a pillar of Montana’s economy and way of life. In 2023, outdoor recreation-adjacent business accounted for 4.6% of Montana’s gross domestic product (GDP) and added $3.4 billion to our state’s economy, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis report released in November. Governor Bergum’s known ties to extractive industries raise concerns about conservation priorities. Please ask Governor Bergum not to prioritize oil and gas extraction on public lands that undergird such a critical element of Montana’s economy.

Montanans across the aisle value conservation. A recent University of Montana poll shows that more than 70% of Montanans—across all political affiliations—prioritize conservation and want it to have equal footing with extractive industries. Additionally, many Montanans are concerned about the impacts of development on the quality of life that makes our state so special.

As you know, Utah has sought to take over all federal lands in that state. We encourage you to press Mr. Burgum and forcefully oppose transferring federal lands to the states. Any proposal leading to a wholesale public lands sale is anathema to Montana’s sporting community. Please ask Doug Bergum if he supports Utah’s wholesale federal public land transfer bid.

Montanans are depending on you to defend our values. By prioritizing conservation, public land, wildlife, and access, you can help ensure that future generations enjoy the Last Best Place and that Montana continues to thrive as a leader in outdoor recreation and stewardship. We hope you will meet with Montana’s conservation community in the coming months to discuss these priorities.

Thank you for your time and your service to our state.

Poll: Montanans Strongly Support New Common-Sense Oil & Gas Leasing Reforms

October 21, 2025August 13, 2024 by Cameron Evans

In a state where public lands and wildlife are cherished, it’s no surprise that Montanans are rallying behind new measures to protect them. A recent poll conducted across Montana demonstrates overwhelming support for the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) new onshore oil and gas rule, which aims to reform how oil and gas development occurs on our public lands. The poll also revealed significant backing for limiting new oil and gas development in Southwest Montana.

The poll, commissioned by the Montana Wildlife Federation and conducted by New Bridge Strategy, surveyed Montanans statewide. The results are clear: There’s broad support among Montanans for common-sense oil and gas reforms.

“Montanans have made it clear that they value responsible energy development that also protects our public lands and wildlife habitats,” said Frank Szollosi, Executive Director of the Montana Wildlife Federation. “BLM’s oil and gas rule ensures that companies are held accountable for cleaning up their messes and that Montana taxpayers receive a fair return from energy development. This poll shows that the people of Montana stand firmly behind these common-sense reforms.”

The poll also demonstrates bipartisan support for a number of elements of the BLM’s oil and gas rule and stands in contrast to Senator Steve Daines’ recent resolution to dismantle the reforms. In fact, a majority of Montanans say that the oil and gas rule is common sense, including 60% of Republicans.

Key finding:

Montanans overwhelmingly support the four main components of BLM’s new oil and gas rule, with intense support for most policies:

Strong support for clean-up responsibility: 96% of Montanans support requiring oil and gas companies to pay for the clean-up of public lands after drilling.
Increased royalty fees: 84% of Montanans support increased royalty fees that match the state of Montana’s rates.
Prioritizing conservation: 77% of Montanans statewide and 82% in Southwest Montana support prioritizing conservation of lands near rivers and streams or with threatened wildlife, on par with oil and gas drilling.
Prioritizing productive leasing: 69% of Montanans favor leasing in areas with a high likelihood of oil and gas production, avoiding speculative leasing that ties up public lands unnecessarily.

The poll results also reflect strong support for limiting oil and gas development in Southwest Montana, particularly in areas like the Big Hole and Beaverhead watersheds. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has an opportunity to do just that in its pending sage grouse plan, which is aimed at protecting the habitats of the greater sage grouse. Oil and gas leasing and development pose significant threats to sage grouse and Southwest Montana’s rivers by causing direct loss of sagebrush habitat and creating disturbances from roads and infrastructure. The support shown in the poll underscores Montanans’ desire to remove the threat of leasing from Southwest Montana.

About the poll: The survey was conducted from July 15-21, 2024, among 500 registered voters statewide, with an additional 300 respondents from Southwest Montana.

View the poll here:

Montana Wildlife Federation Southwest Montana Key Findings

Montana Wildlife Federation Montana Statewide Key Findings
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Victory for Montana: BLM Finalizes Oil and Gas Rule to Protect Public Lands and Taxpayers

June 6, 2024 by Cameron Evans

The Montana Wildlife Federation applauds the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for finalizing its new oil and gas leasing rule. These long-awaited reforms represent a significant step forward for responsible energy development on public lands in Montana.

For too long, outdated leasing terms gave Montanans the short end of the stick. Over the past decade alone, Montanans have been deprived of a staggering $120 million in revenue due to loopholes. The BLM’s new rule addresses these issues head-on, ensuring a fairer return for taxpayers and responsible energy development that maintains wildlife habitat, and ensures oil and gas companies pay their fair share to clean up the messes they make on public lands.

How the BLM’s new rule benefits Montanans:

Hardworking Montana families vs. record profits for out-of-state companies: Stronger clean-up and reclamation requirements ensure companies pay to clean up any mess they make on public lands, preventing abandoned well sites and protecting Montana taxpayers from footing the bill for restoration.
A fair return for Montana taxpayers: The rule protects Montana taxpayers from unfair clean-up costs and ensures our public lands are better managed for local needs, not just oil and gas leasing and drilling. The new reforms provide a fair return to taxpayers by increasing fees for oil and gas development, bringing them in line with the levels required by Montana and other states like Wyoming and Texas.
Reduced impacts on Montana’s wildlife: The rule steers oil and gas development away from important wildlife, recreation, and cultural sites. It reduces “speculative leasing,” which allows the oil and gas industry to tie up land in leases where drilling will never occur due to limited resources.

These changes reflect the values of Montanans. A recent poll found that a resounding 93% of Montanans support requiring oil and gas companies, rather than taxpayers, to pay for all of the clean-up and land restoration costs after drilling is finished. Additionally, 65% of Montanans support only allowing oil and gas companies the right to drill in areas where there is a high likelihood to actually produce oil and gas.

By enacting these reforms, the BLM is listening to Montana communities and prioritizing responsible energy development that benefits us all.

The Montana Wildlife Federation and its members remain committed to defending the oil and gas rule from misguided attempts to turn back the clock. We urge all Montanans to join us in protecting these popular and long-overdue reforms so that Montana’s hard-working taxpayers and families can finally get what they deserve from the development of our publicly owned resources. Together, we can ensure a future where responsible energy development coexists with healthy public lands, thriving wildlife populations, and a strong economy across our great state.

New Federal Rule Transforms Oil & Gas Leasing on Public Lands

April 22, 2024 by Cameron Evans

The Department of the Interior recently announced a final rule to revise the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) oil and gas leasing regulations, marking a major shift towards conserving our public lands and wildlife habitats.

The long-awaited Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process rule represents a substantial advancement in responsible land management and a victory for conservationists, ranchers and all those who enjoy the outdoors—particularly in Montana, where public lands and wildlife are integral to our lifestyle and economy.

“We are thankful the Biden administration took action to protect the interests of Montana hunters and anglers. The oil and gas rule steers oil and gas away from wildlife habitat and family ranches and toward areas with existing resources and development, promoting intact migration routes,” said Frank Szollosi, Executive Director, Montana Wildlife Federation. “These common-sense reforms also protect Montana’s public lands and taxpayers from orphan and abandoned wells by requiring oil and gas companies to clean up any mess they make. The fair policies outlined in the oil and gas rule are long overdue for Montana wildlife and taxpayers.”

The last time the government attempted to reform the DOI’s oil and gas leasing program was in the 1980s, but it failed to address many persistent issues. The new rule is designed to close loopholes that have allowed private companies to exploit public lands for increasing profits. This updated oil and gas rule modernizes our antiquated leasing system to ensure that taxpayers are given a fair share for the use of their public resources. Additionally, the reforms require oil and gas companies to be responsible for the cleanup of their wells post-production, preventing Montanans from facing costly cleanups that jeopardize our wildlife and cherished public lands.

Ending Speculative Leasing

The new rule does not prohibit new oil and gas leasing on federal lands, but will lead to a more balanced leasing process that provides a better return to taxpayers and focuses on oil and gas drilling in areas most likely to be developed. Under this new rule, the BLM will prioritize oil and gas leasing efforts in areas that already have infrastructure or show high potential for production, in an effort to prevent the unnecessary disturbance of pristine landscapes that are valuable for wildlife and ecological health.

In Montana, BLM Dillon field office Resource Management Plan (RMP) identified that about 1.2 million acres, or 86%, of the eligible lands in Montana, have low or very low energy development potential. For decades, oil and gas companies have had the opportunity to lease this land through speculative leasing practices, diverting critical conservation resources for wildlife habitat.

In the last decade alone, nearly 220,000 acres of Montana’s public lands were leased noncompetitively, including in crucial big game habitat and priority habitat for greater sage-grouse. Noncompetitive leasing took all those public lands off the table for other uses while generating nothing for taxpayers, but thankfully the BLM’s new rule will help eliminate the antiquated practice of noncompetitive leasing.

Financial Reforms & Ensuring Taxpayers Receive a Fair Return

The rule updates financial terms to ensure that taxpayers receive a fair return from the exploitation of public lands. It does this by modernizing bonding requirements for leasing, development, and production to ensure taxpayers do not bear the cost of orphaned wells on public lands.

Recent polls have shown that a staggering 96% of Montana voters are in favor of making oil and gas companies financially responsible for post-development clean-up and restoration. This sentiment was further echoed during the BLM’s comment period, where over 260,000 individuals, many of them Montanans, voiced their opinions, with a whopping 99% in favor of the proposed changes.

The rule includes an increase in the royalty rates for oil and gas from 12.5% to 16.67%, aligning these rates with those typically found on state lands. This adjustment ensures a fair return to the public for natural resource extraction and reduces the incentive for extensive oil and gas operations on federal lands.

Notably, the rule also updates bonding rates for oil and gas leases from $10,000 to $150,000, the first update to these rates in over 60 years. This adjustment reflects a more realistic estimate of the costs associated with drilling and the potential risks, ensuring that oil and gas companies bear the costs of any environmental damage, including the clean-up of orphaned and abandoned wells.

The increase in minimum bids from $2 an acre to $10 an acre, along with higher rental rates and a new $5 per acre expression of interest fee, aims to curb speculative leasing. This type of leasing often prevents proper conservation management as it locks up public lands without leading to productive use. The rule also eliminates noncompetitive leasing, which is frequently speculative and results in underutilized lands.

Prioritizing Conservation

This rule is part of a broader effort to ensure that public lands serve multiple purposes — not just resource extraction but also conservation, recreation, and cultural preservation. It limits lease extensions, imposing stricter controls on how long companies can hold onto leases without development, ensuring lands are not tied up unproductively.

This approach not only benefits the environment but also enhances the quality of life for all who rely on these lands for their livelihoods, recreation, and heritage. BLM lands are among the nation’s most iconic open spaces in the West, supporting local economies, providing homes for wildlife, offering access to nature, and preserving countless human stories.

The implementation of these reforms comes after a robust public engagement process where stakeholders, including hunters, anglers, and conservationists, provided input that significantly shaped the final regulations.

Looking Forward: A Balanced Approach to Land Use

As we move forward, this rule promises a more balanced and sustainable approach to oil and gas leasing, reinforcing the importance of our public lands in maintaining biodiversity, supporting local economies, and preserving our heritage. For Montana, this is a crucial step forward in safeguarding our landscapes for future generations, ensuring that our public lands continue to be a source of pride and natural beauty.

This landmark rule is a testament to the power of advocacy and the importance of governmental accountability, reflecting a significant shift towards prioritizing the health of our public lands and the communities that depend on them.