Facing a repeal of federal sage-grouse conservation plans, the Montana Wildlife Federation led a coalition of Montana sportsmen groups in penning a letter to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and BLM Acting Director Brian Steed to save the sagebrush steppe landscape, an iconic bird, and 350 other species that calls this unique ecosystem home.
The 2015 Federal Sage-Grouse Plans were developed by local stakeholders in Montana and across the West to conserve sagebrush habitat, keep the sage-grouse off of the Endangered Species list, and protect habitat for mule deer and hundreds of other species. The Trump Administration is presently considering repealing the plans.
The Montana Wildlife Federation was joined by the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Montana Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Montana Trout Unlimited, Anaconda Sportsman’s Club, Laurel Rod & Gun, Hellgate Hunters & Anglers, Montana Bowhunter’s Association, Helena Hunters & Anglers, Gallatin Wildlife Association, and the Mule Deer Foundation. The groups, representing tens of thousands of Montana hunters demanded that the 2015 Federal Sage-Grouse Plans be kept intact, fully implemented, and given the necessary time to work.
President Trump will announce Monday his decision on shrinking Bears Ears National Monument. We cannot accept the shrinking of any national monument, as this will set a dangerous precedent, and could put into motion a waterfall of regrettable events that could eliminate access to stunningly beautiful and historic public lands. There has never been a president that has reduced the size of a national monument under the Antiquities Act, and this would be a violation of the Antiquities Act, a slap in the face of the native tribes involved in the fight for Bears Ears, as well as an irreversible disintegration of our shared values of public land access. Bears Ears – 1,351,849 acres controlled by BLM, and USFS – our land, preserved for as a legacy to share with future generations. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. If you have not laid your eyes upon this land, do nothing else until you view several photos and read about what is sacred there. There are 35,000 documented sacred native historical dwelling and spiritual sites, and possibly as much as 100,000 undocumented wonders. Five local Native American tribes are working together to protect this land for all of us to cherish and understand.… Pueblo, Navajo, Hopi, Ute, and Ouray tribes. It would be a travesty to shrink any portion of Bears Ears and lose any more historical artifacts and ancient ruins which define the very purpose of our country – to share land that is not just about one individual or company’s prosperity, but to preserve our past so we can celebrate our future. There is evidence of 10,000 years of Native American residence – longer than any current American community or neighborhood, and up to 3000 years of settlement communities. Bears Ears is also connected to other important sites such as Mesa Verde, Escalante, Canyon Lands, and Arches, where millions of visitors flock each year and support the parks, the land, and the local economies – families like yours and mine.
(Photo by John Fowler-Flick)
What an incredible loss it would be if these lands were disparaged for the short-term financial gain of one or two corporate entities, profiting from actions facilitated by a government that is more interested in the progress of a few than the preservation of lands for many to explore and enjoy now and in the future. The American people cannot allow this to happen as we are unique in the world for our values to protect shared public lands for each other’s benefit. There are areas in Montana, such as Missouri Breaks National Monument, which was considered for downsizing, yet another example of the unacceptable encroachment of our rights to explore and appreciate the wondrous landscape and culture of our country in exchange for short-term gain. Please stand up for your American heritage and fight this encroachment on your rights as a public landowner.
John Salazar is a Montanan, father, hunter, conservationist, and resident of Livingston. This piece by John originally ran in the Livingston Enterprise and Billings Gazette.
In a world where advances in hunting technology seem to be never ending, some of us are experimenting with going in the opposite direction. A small but dedicated group of Montana’s archery enthusiasts are learning and applying skills to make their own primitive archery equipment. There is both challenge and satisfaction in creating our own archery equipment similar to those used by our native Americans and early European ancestors.
Last summer, some volunteers from Traditional Bowhunters of Montana (TBM) organized its first Montana Selfbow Jamboree held near Three Forks. Along with some skilled Montana bow-makers, volunteers from Missouri, Oklahoma, and other states came to help at least 50 of us less skilled or total newcomers in selfbow making. A selfbow is the simplest bow of just a stick of wood fashioned into a bow and an accompanying string. While most of us chose to use the extremely tough osage orange wood native to Midwest, other native Montana woods such as pacific yew, juniper, chokecherry, and serviceberry have been used successfully.
After a selfbow is completed, it can become a goal to use it successfully to harvest an animal. In that case, the next step is fashioning arrows and arrowheads. To replicate Native American equipment, creating a straight shaft from a shrub shoot may be the most challenging step. Straight, rather straight shoots or branches from rose, chokecherry, red osier dogwood need to be cut and dried for months. Once dried, they can be stripped of bark and further straightened by bending over heat. Then notches for fitting onto the string and to accept the points are cut and fletching is attached using sinew from elk or deer hamstring tendons. Again, to be authentic, wing primary feathers from wild birds need to be obtained and modified to be fletching. Legally obtainable feathers can be gathered from your harvested geese or turkeys. Arrowheads can be fashioned from numerous kinds of rock (obsidian, chert, flint) or can be shaped from bone or even hardened wood.
Broadheads made from sharpened bone on arrow shafts from chokecherry shoots.
Making your own primitive archery equipment helps acquire knowledge of using Montana’s plants and animals, as well as giving us a better understanding of how our ancestors were able to develop their hunting tools from materials found in their surroundings. The hunting experience is greatly extended in the lengthy process of making your own equipment and potentially using it to harvest an animal.
Hunting with a primitive bow and arrows also requires the ultimate in getting close to your quarry. A twenty yard shot is likely the furthest most of us would feel comfortable with our primitive equipment. However, some of us love the challenge of self-limiting our hunting effectiveness, forcing us to fully utilize our hunting skills to have close encounters with Montana’s wildlife.
Editor’s Note: This fall, Greg Munther completed his decades long quest of harvesting a big game animal with self-made primitive archery equipment.
Today, the Montana Wildlife Federation sent in formal comments on the environmental impact statement scoping process for the Black Butte Copper Project, a proposed mine in the headwaters of the Smith River. In our letter, MWF explained how the mine is “a threat to the Smith River watershed, its fishery, recreationists and the local outdoor economy.”
Winding its way through rangelands and its iconic canyon, the Smith River gives recreationists an experience that they will never forget, not to mention some amazing fishing. Bringing $10 million to the local economy each year, the Smith is a serious economic driver, employing guides, outfitters, and supporting other small businesses. For all of these reasons, it’s easy to see why the Smith is held as one of Montana’s greatest treasures.
When snow blankets vegetation in the foothills and mountains, big game animals like mule deer, elk and pronghorn depend on sagebrush lands, the same habitat that sustains greater sage-grouse. Wildlife biologists point out that healthy habitat is key for healthy wildlife populations. For sportsmen and women who roam sagebrush country each fall, the connection between sage-grouse and other wildlife is clear. They know what’s good for the bird is good for the herd. That’s why they want to conserve sage-grouse and their habitat.
Sage-grouse used to number in the tens of millions across the West, but now number an estimated 200,000 to a half-million. Sage-grouse are seen as a bellwether species for the health of sagebrush lands. And sage-grouse conservation plans developed by the states, Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service with input from locals on the ground are the way forward for Western big game.
Sage Grouse by Bob Wick, BLM
But the fate of all the work and collaboration that went into the plans is uncertain as the Trump administration considers major changes. These plans helped convince the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that sage-grouse didn’t need to be added to the endangered species list. Failure to move forward with the conservation efforts could lead to the very outcome the plans were intended to avoid – a listing of the bird and the restrictions that come with it. Governor Bullock and other Western governors have said wholesale changes to the conservation plans aren’t needed and have voiced support for focusing on sage-grouse habitat to rebuild the bird’s population
The Bureau of Land Management is collecting public comment on the sage-grouse conservation plans until December 1st. It is important that they hear from sportsmen and women from around the West. Tell them that they should give the plans a chance to work. Go to: nwf.org/beherdforthebird to take action.
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.
