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Guest Profile

Clock is Ticking for Congressional Action on Public Lands, Wildlife

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winter capitol The midterm congressional election was bruising in Montana and nationwide.  Fortunately, conservation was one issue that was not a point of contention in these divided political times.  Montana saw the re-election of Senator Jon Tester and Representative Greg Gianforte, both of whom are on record supporting several important Montana conservation priorities. Immediately after the election, Congress returned to Washington for a “lame duck” session that will continue through adjournment in December.  MWF and our conservation partners will be watching closely and working tirelessly to get several Montana priorities enacted in this crucial window of time.

Restoring the Land and Water Conservation Fund

At the end of September, Congress allowed the 50-year old Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)  to expire. LWCF is one of the nation’s most important programs, funding the acquisition of public land and public access.  In Montana, the program has funded projects in every county of the state, including everything from wilderness lands to local soccer fields.  It has been crucial to our state’s unmatched access to the outdoors and abundant wildlife populations.

Unfortunately, the authorization for LWCF expired at the end of September, endangering future conservation projects.  Senator Jon Tester has long been a champion for permanent authorization and full funding for LWCF, and in recent months he has been joined by both Senator Steve Daines and Representative Greg Gianforte in supporting this important Montana priority. LWCF also enjoys broad, bipartisan support nationwide.

During the closing weeks of the year, MWF will be working with our partners in Montana and across the nation to secure permanent reauthorization and full funding for LWCF.

MWF Gears Up to Fight

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Photo by Marcus Strange.

The 2019 Legislature will, as always, be a busy one for issues that affect wildlife, habitat, and access for sportsmen and sportswomen, as well as recreationists. The session will be dominated by issues surrounding the state budget, Medicaid expansion, infrastructure funding, and education issues. But as always, natural resources bills will be prominent with Montanans.

In the state Senate, Republicans will hold a 30-20 majority, while in the House of Representatives, Republicans will have a 58-42 seat majority. Scott Sales, R-Bozeman, will again serve as Senate President, while Jon Sesso, D-Butte will be the Senate Minority Leader. In the House, Greg Hertz, R-Polson, will serve as Speaker, and Casey Schreiner, D-Great Falls, is Minority Leader.

As the majority party, Republicans will chair committees in both houses. The Senate Fish and Game Committee will be chaired by Senator Jennifer Fielder, R-Thompson Falls and the Senate Natural Resources Committee will be chaired by Sen. Jeff Wellborn, R-Dillon. In the House, the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee will be chaired by Rep. Bob Brown (R-Thompson Falls) and Natural Resources Committee will be chaired by Rep. Kerry White (R-Bozeman). MWF will be working closely with lawmakers of both parties to ensure that FWP’s budget is sound and that key conservation priorities get the staffing and funding needed to manage our public trust resources.

Our ability to give Montanans a voice at the Capitol depends on your support.  Please make a quick donation to help us speak up for wildlife, hunting and fishing, and public access in 2019!”

Block Management

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John elk

Montana hunters are in the heart of the general deer and elk season. Over the course of the year, hunters have been getting ready by sighting in rifles, organizing gear, and scouting areas to find a place with a chance to punch a tag.

Of course that critical element – a place to go – is vital for a successful hunt. Montana is blessed with millions of acres of public land, including national forests, Bureau of Land Management and state Wildlife Management Area lands that are open to the general public. Montana is also blessed with thousands of generous landowners who welcome hunters to their properties. Many landowners choose to open their gates through the popular Block Management program. A model throughout the country, Block Management has opened up more than 7.5 million acres across the state. Through the program, landowners allow public hunters onto their lands.

In return, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (through fees paid by hunters) provides services including enforcement, hunter management, and proper signage to help out landowners. The landowners also receive payments to help offset some of the impacts of hunters, including weed management. Each area has its own rules, and hunters need to check with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks for information on specific Block Management Areas. Block Management is mentioned by hunters throughout the West as a great partnership. Residents and non-residents alike have come to rely on these areas throughout the state. The program not only opens up private lands but in many cases also provides access to adjoining public lands. It’s been a huge success and one that the Montana Wildlife Federation strongly supports. If you get out on a Block Management area this fall, be sure to thank the landowner. Hunters are still guests on these areas, and without them, we’d have less hunting opportunity.

Gov. Bullock Protected Habitat Montana

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Horse Creek Easement 5 Gov. Steve Bullock stood up for private property rights, sportsmen and sportswomen and wildlife habitat with his move today to protect conservation easements under the Habitat Montana program.

Bullock filed a lawsuit today against Attorney General Tim Fox challenging his official opinion that Habitat Montana conservation easements must be approved by the state Land Board. Bullock pushed for the Montana Supreme Court to rule on the case, saying with the clock ticking on three easements it is imperative for the landowners and the Habitat Montana program that it make a quick ruling on the case.

“The Habitat Montana program is crucial for protecting habitat and improving public access through partnerships between hunters and landowners,” said Dave Chadwick, MWF executive director. “The conservation easements that Habitat Montana funds are essential to our wildlife herds, our farmers and ranchers for their businesses and our hunters. We must continue this program to keep Montana’s strong hunting heritage for everyone into the future.”

“I’m not a lawyer, so I defer to the legal experts at FWP and in the Governor’s office.  We thank Gov. Bullock for his action to keep Habitat Montana conservation easements moving forward.  With several easements in the works that must be completed by the end of the year, we’re hopeful that we get a quick resolution to this issue to give certainty to our farmers and ranchers who spend years working with FWP to plan easements.”

The case arose when the Land Board indefinitely delayed the Horse Creek Complex conservation easement near Wibaux. The 20,000-acre project was approved by Bullock when he determined Board approval isn’t required for conservation easements. Fox, in an Attorney General’s opinion last week, determined Board approval is required. An AG’s opinion is law until overturned by a court. Bullock in his suit is seeking a quick ruling from the Montana Supreme Court, saying it is imperative for three easements in the works that must be completed by the end of the year.

New Bill Would Prevent Wildlife From Becoming Endangered

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Westfork BitterRootRiver068 Wildlife conservation in Montana has a great record of success.  When we provide wildlife managers with adequate resources and the authority to manage wildlife according to the best science and protect habitat, fish and wildlife populations bounce back. That’s how we brought big game like elk, mule deer, and pronghorn back from the brink of extinction to support Montana’s world-class hunting opportunities. It’s why Montana has blue ribbon fishing for abundant wild trout.

We know the same approach works with species that we don’t hunt or fish.  From salamanders to prairie dogs to songbirds, the principles are the same: protecting habitat and managing threats according to the best science keeps wildlife abundant. Preventing at-risk species from declining to the brink of extinction has another benefit: it can avoid the need to put species on the federal Endangered Species list, and all the regulatory headaches that come with that law.

For the last 20 years, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) has implemented a best-in-the-nation program to conserve nongame species that has done exactly that. And, in fact, these efforts have helped keep species abundant and prevent endangered species listings for animals like the Arctic grayling, black-tailed prairie dog, and northern leopard frog.

Unfortunately, current funding to prevent wildlife from becoming endangered is just a drop in the bucket and varies from year to year depending on the whims of Congress. For every success, there are dozens of more species waiting in the wings.

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would fix this situation and permanently increase funding to prevent wildlife from becoming endangered to the tune of $1.4 billion/year.

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is modeled after the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and Dingell-Johnson Sportfish Restoration Act.  These programs dedicate revenue from excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment and fishing tackle to state fish and wildlife agencies. Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson have been wildly successful over the last 80 years, reinvesting the taxes paid by hunters and anglers into managing game and fish species, sustaining our hunting and fishing heritage in Montana and nationwide. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would extend this model to the hundreds of species that aren’t hunted or fished.

When passed, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will mean about $30 million in new funding every year for FWP. This funding would mean FWP could do more to protect habitat, collect scientific data, and conserve species on public and private lands. By conserving wildlife before they become imperiled, this new funding would save taxpayers funds and hopefully reduce conflicts over the federal Endangered Species Act.

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act currently has more than 100 cosponsors from both parties. But Congressman Greg Gianforte has not yet agreed to cosponsor the bill. Send a message to him today asking him to cosponsor the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act to prevent wildlife from becoming endangered. It’s good for wildlife and people.

Jeff Lukas – MWF Elk Campaign Manager

Jeff Lukas

Conservation Director

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.