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Bills Moving Forward

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Week2 LEG

With two weeks behind us, the wildlife bills are starting to move forward in the state Legislature. But hunters, anglers and wildlife enthusiasts are looking ahead to a very troubling bill that is up next week.

HB 161, sponsored by Rep. Brad Tschida, R-Lolo, would eliminate the requirement that the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission consider any input from the public other than landowners in wildlife decision making.

It’s an attack on the Public Trust of wildlife and would limit consideration to a very narrow group of people. HB 161 is one of the worst wildlife bills in years. We need as many voices at the Legislature as possible to kill this bill. Please attend the hearing on HB 161 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22 in room 172 of the state Capitol.

Clean-up Bills Advance

This week several clean up bills that are good for wildlife and hunters did advance out of committee. They included HB 94 is a clean-up bill for Block Management; HB 43, which allows a landowner a non-transferrable elk license or permit for allowing public hunters onto their property and HB 104, which provides a free prerequisite license for Block Management participants.

In addition, HB 143, which removed the sunset date on the non-resident upland game bird license, advanced.

On the Senate side, SB 79 was heard in the Fish and Game Committee. The bill simply cleans up how bonus points for hunters applying as a party are used, by averaging the points for each individual and then squaring them just like for individuals.

Legislative Social a Big Success

This week we also worked on outreach to state legislators and statewide elected officials. The Montana Wildlife Federation and our partners with the Montana Sporting Coalition, as well as the Sportsmen’s Caucus, hosted our legislative social on Wednesday at The Brewhouse. The event was a huge success, drawing more than 60 lawmakers, Gov. Steve Bullock, and numerous senior FWP staff. It was a chance for sportsmen and sportswomen and their organizations to talk directly to legislators about the importance of the Habitat Montana program.

MWF continues to update and refine our Bill Tracker, which is available at the top of our homepage. Become a member of our Legislative Action Team to get more frequent updates and action alerts as the session goes on and more bills come in.

 

Graveley-Warm Springs Conservation Easement Benefits Wildlife, Hunters

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WarmSprings
© NRDP

The Graveley-Warm Springs conservation easement will permanently protect more than 8,200 acres of prime wildlife habitat near Garrison. The property is a great mix of native grassland, wetlands, forested areas and aspen groves that sits along the eastern flanks of the Garnet Mountain Range. The project entails using $3.5 million in funding from the Natural Resource Damage Program, which was set up to compensate the state of Montana from the damage of mining in the Clark Fork River Basin.

But there’s more than just the land protection. The agreement includes permanent public hunting access to the property. That means more opportunity to pursue elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer and antelope for public hunters. It’s a great conservation and access project that will have lasting benefits for future generations. MWF commends the Graveley family, NRDP staff and the non-governmental organizations that worked to put together this solid land deal. View MWF Graveley-Warm Springs Conservation Easements Letter of Support .

Packed Rally, First Wildlife Bills Come Forward

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IMG 5957 If there’s one thing that has broad, overwhelming support among Montanans, it’s a love of public lands. For the third legislative session in a row, hundreds of enthusiastic Montanans packed the state Capitol Friday to celebrate our public lands and make it clear to legislators that we will reject any and all proposals that threaten them.

The event was highlighted by a speech from Gov. Bullock. He spoke about the importance of our public lands first and foremost for our quality of life. He talked about how public lands and the outdoor recreation economy they support pump more than $7 billion into our state’s economy, accounting for more than 73,000 jobs. And he talked about how Montanans stepping up to defend our public lands from efforts to transfer or sell them has made a difference in halting bad bills before the Legislature.

The rally drew more than 1,200 people who packed every level of the Capitol. It was put together by a broad coalition of conservation interests and business groups who rely on public lands.

We’re hopeful that the Legislature and Montana’s Congressional delegation hear the message, and not only refrain from pushing bad policies including the transfer of public lands, but also support important conservation measures. Those include renewal of the essential Land and Water Conservation Fund on the federal level, and not attacking the Habitat Montana program on the state level. If the decibels in the courthouse are any indication, the message should have been heard loud and clear.

But the rally wasn’t the only wildlife measure to be heard this week. The House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee heard two bills on Thursday that affect licensing for landowners who provide public hunting access to their property. The first heard was HB 104, sponsored by Rep. Denley Loge, R-St. Regis. It gives landowners who participate in the popular Block Management hunting access program the required prerequisite hunting licenses to apply for special permits. It’s a simple clean-up bill to show appreciation to landowners who welcome the public.

The second was HB 43, which would expand a program that gives landowners a non-transferrable elk license or permit for at a minimum allowing four public hunters onto their property. This program already exists, but hasn’t been used much, and expanding it to include the license in addition to special permits is being done to try to grow it and gain more public hunting access to private land. The last agreement Montana FWP worked out allowed a total of 49 public hunters for the one landowner permit issued. MWF supported both of these bills.

Expect the bills pertaining to wildlife, public lands, habitat, and public access to start coming quickly in the coming weeks. For more information, view MWF’s bill tracker. For more frequent updates become a member of  MWF’s Legislative Action Team.

 

Nick Gevock is the conservation director for the Montana Wildlife Federation.

Support for Proposed Buxbaum-Boulder Creek Ranch Conservation Easement

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ALEC3 A proposed conservation easement located near Philipsburg would secure more than 1000 acres of public hunting access if approved by Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The Buxbaum-Boulder Creek Ranch easement, brokered by Five Valleys Land Trust, would protect 1,193 acres and allow hunting access in perpetuity. The ranch supports diverse wildlife habitat including important big game winter range as well as non-game species habitat, native grasslands, forested draws, pocket wetlands, and aspen stands.

The easement will be purchased using funds from the Montana Department of Justice Natural Resource Damage Program (NRDP) and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Upon approval, the access portion of the easement would be transferred to FWP to administer hunting access. The proposed easement is adjacent to USFS lands.

MWF, Hellgate Hunters and Anglers, and Anaconda Sportsmen’s club wrote comments in support of the easement that will improve public hunting access and protect important wildlife habitat from development. Read the Letter of Support.

FWP will be accepting comments until January 18th.

MWF Capitol Report 2019

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Montana State Capitol Overcast 12 The 66th Montana Legislature convenes Monday and the Montana Wildlife Federation (MWF) will be there with our dedicated staff and volunteers to stand up for our outdoor heritage. Check out the MWF bill tracker for the most up-to-date information on bills and where they’re at in the process. MWF will put up every bill that affects wildlife, wildlife habitat, public access, scientific wildlife management, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Park’s budget, and more.

MWF will keep a close eye on every bill and work diligently to keep Montana’s hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts well informed. Join the MWF Legislative Action Team to stay better informed and help push out information to fellow conservationists.

And don’t forget, the Rally for Public Lands is this Friday, Jan. 11. Join us to celebrate the incredible outdoor heritage our public lands offer.

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.