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One Montana and The Master Hunter Program

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Montana Wildlife Federation is humbled to be able to share that an MWF Board Member and Artemis Sportswomen Co-Founder, Kathy Hadley, MWF Field Coordinator, Morgan Marks, and an MWF Ambassador and Founder of D.E.E.R Camp- MT, DeAnna Bublitz, all successfully completed the Master Hunter program through One Montana and are 2022 Master Hunter Program graduates.

If you’re not yet familiar with One Montana (1MT) and the Master Hunter Program, we think you should be. 1MT is an organization that is working to sustain a vibrant Montana by connecting people in both rural and urban communities, building relationships and aggregating expertise and resources. One of their programs is Common Ground and within that scope, is the Master Hunter Program which is a program that provides advanced hunter education to increase skills, competence, ethical behavior and knowledge of agriculture and stewardship.

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Photo taken by Morgan Marks, MWF Field Rep.; photo shows the Helena and Havre Master Hunter Program cohorts at their Rendezvous event for skill testing at the infamous Boone and Crockett Club’s Rasmuson Wildlife Conservation Center outside Dupuyer, Montana.

Creating a network of highly skilled, likeminded, ethical and safe hunters as well as hunters that are mindful of fostering and establishing positive relationships with private landowners is the goal. 1MT wants to see and support more knowledgeable hunter voices on issues affecting sportsmen and women. Tensions have been high between landowners and sportsmen and women and 1MT is working to foster and build trust and working relationships between both landowners and sportsmen and women. 

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Photo taken by Master Hunter, Dave McVeda of Great Falls; photo shows Bruce Rich, 1MT staff and instructor, explaining the tracking and trailing test to participants in the Master Hunter Program with the Rocky Mountain Front in the background.

“The Montana Master Program is a unique and rigorous course that includes classroom and online instruction, and fieldwork. The program offers skills mastery combined with conservation and stewardship education, and specialized ballistics and marksmanship training.  Instructors include ranchers, farmers, landowners, university faculty, professional shooting instructors, wildlife managers, wildlife biologists, first aid personnel, as well as backcountry survival and equipment experts.” – 1MT’s website.

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Photo taken by Master Hunter, Dave McVeda of Great Falls; photo shows Bruce Rich, 1MT staff and instructor, explaining the tracking and trailing test to participants in the Master Hunter Program.

Topics covered include the following hunter competences and critical areas of knowledge:

  • Conservation history and ethics
  • Wildlife biology and habitat
  • Farm and ranch management
  • Landowner/sportsmen relations
  • Hunting skills
  • Shooting competencies
  • Pre-hunt planning
  • After the kill

The program is thorough with two full weekends of learning curriculum, sharing in group activities, and skills being tested for competency for navigation, shooting, and tracking and trailing. 

And – the program is a lot of fun! With many opportunities for learning and growth, days spent outside testing your skills and throughout, meeting new people, the program is designed so that participants can build a network of fellow hunters who care about ethics and landowner relations. The goal is to create leaders and advocates in the hunting space and a network of individuals that share skills and an ethical mindset around hunting and landowner relations. 

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Photo taken by Bonny Richard with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Lewistown; Photo is of participants in the Master Hunter Program, MWF staff, an NWF staff person, and BLM staff standing in front of their haul willows that had been cut for the implementation of beaver dam analogs.

Every Master Hunter must perform service work annually to maintain their certification with One Montana. The service projects allow hunters to cultivate and build relations with landowners, understand challenges landowners face, and expand their knowledge of conservation and stewardship, and wildlife management while giving back at the same time. 

Mark your calendars — applications for the Master Hunter Program 2023 will open in October 2022!



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Photo taken by Morgan Marks, MWF Field Representative; Photo is of participants in the Master Hunter Program during the trailing portion of testing having successfully tracked a deer.

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Photo taken by Blake Towarnicki; Photo is of participants in the Master Hunter Program during the trailing portion of testing having successfully tracked a deer.

By North-Central and Eastern Montana Field Representative Morgan Marks.

Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) Camp

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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.

shown is MWF Field Representative Morgan Marks helping a BOW participant with casting their fly rod.

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!

women walking across the Lubrecht campus where the BOW event was held this past August to attend their first learning workshop.
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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.



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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.

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shown is MWF Field Representative Morgan Marks helping a BOW participant with casting their fly rod.

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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.