News - Montana Wildlife Federation

Stand up for Habitat Montana

March 30, 2021January 22, 2021 by Guest Profile

Habitat Montana is our best conservation and access program that benefits landowners, wildlife and public hunters. It protects working farms and ranches with conservation easements that open up thousands of acres of land to public hunting and recreation.

Now SB 115, sponsored by Sen. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, would add a layer of government bureaucracy into ranchers’ decision on their private property by requiring state Land Board approval for conservation easements under Habitat Montana. This can kill projects that have taken two years to work out with extensive planning, including for public hunting access.

Contact members of the Senate Fish and Game Committee and tell them to vote NO on SB 115. Tell them to support landowners’ private property rights, our farming and ranching economy and hunters’ access through the Habitat Montana program.

PLEASE WRITE YOUR OWN MESSAGE, but hit these points:

Habitat Montana benefits working farmers and ranchers with working capital to expand their operations, and they have private property rights to do what they want with their land.

This program improves relations between hunters and landowners, opens up access for hunters, and benefits wildlife management.

Habitat Montana is working better than it ever has, and there’s no need to add a layer of government bureaucracy to complete good projects that have taken years to work out.

Please vote no on SB 115 and support Montana’s landowners and hunters.

Call and leave a message for the Senate Fish and Game Committee at 406-444-4800.

Contact the Senate Fish and Game Committee HERE.

Fill out the form provided.
Select Committees
Select (S) Fish and Game
Select Bill Type (SB) and Bill Number 115
Select Against
Provide your message

Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

January 20, 2021 by Guest Profile

The Montana Wildlife Federation issued the following statement on the appointment of Martha Williams as Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:

“President Joseph R. Biden has made an excellent choice in appointing Martha Williams as Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,” said Tom Puchlerz, MWF board president. “Martha has a wealth of knowledge and experience in managing public wildlife, public lands and waters, and striking that balance between people and wildlife in the many complex issues around these incredible resources.

“Montana and all Americans will benefit from her two decades of experience at both the state and federal level in wildlife law and on-the-ground management of fish, wildlife and public lands.”

“We also urge Montana Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines to join MWF in supporting the historic nomination of Congresswoman Deb Haaland as Secretary of Interior.”

Contacts:

Nick Gevock, MWF conservation director 406-533-9432

Frank Szollosi, MWF executive director 406-417-9909

MWF 2021 Legislative Leadership Guide

January 15, 2021January 14, 2021 by Sonya Smith

A full list of legislators and relevant committees is available by clicking here.

Officers of Senate

President: Mark Blasdel, R-Kalispell
President Pro Tempore: Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton
Majority Leader: Cary Smith, R-Billings
Majority Whips: Doug Kary, R-Billings; Steve Fitzpatrick, R-Great Falls; Gordy Vance, R-Belgrade
Minority Leader: Jill Cohenour, D-Helena
Minority Whips: JP Pomnichowski, D-Bozeman; Pat Flowers, D-Bozeman; Diane Sands, D-Missoula

Officers of the House of Representatives

Speaker: Wylie Galt, R-Martinsdale
Speaker Pro Tempore: Casey Knudsen, R-Malta
Majority Leader: Sue Vinton, R-Billings
Majority Whips: Seth Berglee, R-Joliet; Dennis Lenz, R-Billings; Lola Sheldon-Galloway, R-Great Falls; Derek Skees, R-Kalispell
Minority Leader: Kim Abbot, D-Helena
Minority Caucus Chair: Marilyn Marler, D-Missoula
Minority Whips: Tyson Running Wolf, D-Browning; Laurie Bishop, D-Livingston; Derek Harvey, D-Butte

Who is your legislator?
If you do not know who your legislators are, you can search by your address at: https://www.leg.mt.gov/map/

How to Lobby the 2023 Montana Legislature

January 3, 2023January 14, 2021 by Sonya Smith

Important Resources

Legislative Services web site: http://leg.mt.gov/

Leave a Message for Legislators and Committees:

Phone messages: (406) 444-4800 from 7:30 am and 5 pm

Website messages: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/

Governor’s Telephone: (406) 444-3111 or via the web at governor.mt.gov/contact

MWF’s website provides the following useful information:

A brief description and update of priority bills.

How to Lobby

First, know what’s going on:

Visit MWF’s website at to follow the bills and issues in which you are most interested. Each high priority bill will have a description and link to help you learn more about how you can help.
Join MWF’s weekly Legislative Action Team ZOOM meetings every Monday at 7 p.m. to learn what’s going on, how you can be involved, and to ask questions. You can participate using a telephone or a computer.
Keep up-to-date by joining MWF’s email list so you can get alerts and our regular updates, as well as action alerts when we really need a large voice to speak up.

Second, know how to testify remotely:

If you want to testify remotely you must register on the legislative services website by 12 pm (noon) the day before the hearing. You can register to testify here: https://leg.mt.gov/public-testimony/ When you register you must fill in the box regarding written testimony. You can include written testimony or attachments when you register but you do not have to do so even though you do have to put something in that box for written testimony. Instead, you can write in the box that you have no written testimony.
The registration form allows you to say whether you want to testify via phone or computer. If you register to testify via computer the committee will not see your video feed only your name and Zoom profile photo if you have one. If you want to add a photo to your Zoom account so that legislators can see you (it adds a personal touch to an impersonal online format), login to your Zoom account on the web, click “Profile” and add a photo by clicking “change” and then upload the photo you want to use.
After you register you will receive a receipt via email. This only confirms your registration. The day of the hearing you will receive the Zoom link or phone number for the hearing.
The day of the hearing, click on the link that was e-mailed to you that day (if you do not receive the email, check your spam folder).
During the hearing they will ask for proponents of the bill followed by opponents. You will need to click on the “raise your hand” function at the bottom of the screen when they call for proponents or opponents. To raise your hand on the phone hit *9.
When the hearing administrator calls on you to testify, you must unmute yourself. To unmute on Zoom, click the microphone button on the lower left of the screen so the red line through the microphone image disappears. On the phone you can unmute yourself by dialing *6.
When you testify always address your comments to the Chair and the Committee, followed by your name, how to spell your name, and where you are from. For example, start your testimony by saying, “Mr./Madame Chair, members of the committee, my name is —-, that is spelled —. I am from —.”
When testifying try to limit your comments to 3 minutes (about one typed page double-sided). Try not to repeat what others have said. Use personal stories whenever possible.
After you testify, stay until the hearing is over in case a committee member has a question for you. If you get asked a question always respond by addressing the committee Chair first followed by the Mr. committee member who asked the question (i.e., “Mr. Chair, Senator —, thank you for your question”).

Contacting legislators before or after a hearing:

You can contact legislators through the legislative services phone number and email at the top of this page or you can use the legislature’s website to find their direct e-mail and phone number. You can also send them your comments in writing to:

Montana Senate, P.O. Box 200500, Helena, MT 59620, or
Montana House of Representatives, P.O. Box 200400, Helena, MT 59620

When You Call to a Legislator

Have a script of what you would like to say. You are likely to get their voicemail. Please be respectful and keep your message short
If you talk to a legislator or they call back, address them as Senator or Representative
Say your name and where you are from
Provide a bill number and a very brief description
Be brief, honest, explicit, and courteous
Try to provide a personal perspective
Don’t overstate your case and always admit if you don’t know an answer
Thank them for their time
Follow-up with any information you promise to provide

It’s up to us to stand up for our public wildlife, lands, waters and public access to enjoy them.

Montana Wildlife Federation Objects to Insurrections at Capitols

February 11, 2021January 13, 2021 by Frank Szollosi

The last week has been a challenging time for our entire nation. The deadly, unprecedented attack on the U.S. Capitol by a mob was totally unacceptable and a direct assault on our Constitution and values as Americans. And now law enforcement is reporting credible threats that more violence could be coming, including here in Montana. This must stop, immediately. This is not who we are.

For eight decades, MWF has engaged in vigorous public engagement in the democratic process. We were founded when a handful of average Montanans decided to stand up to the Robber Barons who pulled the strings at the State Capitol – and for 85 years we’ve fought special interests to protect the right of every Montanan to enjoy our outdoors and natural heritage.

We have never been shy about disagreements or leading peaceful protests. We know that fights in our Republic are settled by vigorous but peaceful debate, not violence, nor even the threat of violence. Armed intimidation of lawmakers is contrary to the values of our state, our citizens and our community. Remember, just a few years ago, MWF co-led a thousand Montanans to peacefully and legally rally in our Capitol – without a single act of violence or vandalism. We support free and fair elections, and the results of those elections, regardless of partisanship. The election of 2020 is no different: some candidates won, some lost, and there has been no evidence whatsoever of widespread irregularities in Montana nor across the country. We at MWF pride ourselves at reaching across the aisle to both Republicans and Democrats in Helena and Washington to advance our mission in support of wildlife, habitat and access. We fervently believe that conservation brings people together. The safety of law enforcement, journalists, local, state and federal employees, lawmakers and their staff and of course, the public, should never be in jeopardy as they carry out the People’s business.

During this trying time – and whatever times are ahead – know that MWF will continue to support our country, the rights enshrined in our Constitution, and the right and responsibility of all Montanans to participate in the democratic process.

Sincerely,

The MWF Board of Directors