Plan for today, so we have time if it doesn't happen. Always assume that stuff like this will move fast, rather than let our guard down.
Waiting to hear from the chair what his plan is for the day.
HB 505 - Elk Need Your Help
- Thread starter Big Fin
- Start date
Plan for today, so we have time if it doesn't happen. Always assume that stuff like this will move fast, rather than let our guard down.
Waiting to hear from the chair what his plan is for the day.
Gerald Martin
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2009
- Messages
- 8,693
Keep up the pressure everyone!
Gerald Martin
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2009
- Messages
- 8,693
MThuntr
Well-known member
Another email sent. Reading the comments on how things went down really torques me...it's just like a couple years ago in Congress "how are we supposed to know what the bill says if we don't pass it". You'd think if they can only track down a handful of proponents (no hunters) and have a big list of opponents (all being hunters) that they'd table it and actually participate in the conversation being had by the Elk group that Schaaf sits on.
sacountry
Well-known member
FYI, it's SUPER easy to send a text to 10 hunting buddies with the swing vote reps cell phone numbers and ask them to text. I sent them a quick text of what HB505 is and let them know they needed to text these 5 reps stating their opposition. In a second text I sent the phone numbers only so they could easily be dropped into a text on their phone. Great way to multiply yourself.
MThuntr
Well-known member
I want to send another email tomorrow. I tend to ramble and spit sentence fragments...It's like Tommy Boy trying to explain Callahan brakes
Anyone got a really good bullet point list of what to include so I can formulate something better tonight?
Anyone got a really good bullet point list of what to include so I can formulate something better tonight?
1.) Don't exclude Hunters from the discussion. HB 505 eliminates a massive swath of people from consideration. This bill had no support from hunters. MT has the highest number of hunters per capita, and excluding them from this discussion is inexcusable.
2.) The conversation is already underway with the FWP rewrite of the EMP. This bill undermines actual collaborative work that must happen in order to find lasting policy decisions that enable everyone to participate.
3.) Montanans deserve to have leaders that bring people together, rather than drive us apart. HB 505 would create a permanent wedge between landowners & hunters.
Gerald Martin
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2009
- Messages
- 8,693
Dear Rep.... if you vote against HB 505 I would greatly appreciate it. If you intend to vote for it....
sacountry
Well-known member
Man, that Walkers Game Ear really works!!! From Helena to Michigan?!?!?!?! I'm gettin' me one of them.
mtnkid85
Well-known member
Done. This was my quick notes for the voicemail, feel free to use.
"I see that HB505 has been amended and want to continue to urge you to Vote NO on the bill.
HB 505 is a fundamentally flawed bill from its unfair treatment towards resident hunter draw odds, its attack against the North American model of conservation and its decades of wildlife management, its obvious attempt to privatize and commercialize wildlife and its lack of foresight for future management goals.
This bill will not be fixed with amendments, it is at its core fundamentally flawed and needs to be tabled."
Rep Reksten mailbox was full so she got a txt. Rep Durham answered and seemed open to the idea of a No vote, though he said he is undecided as he hasn't looked at the amendments yet.
Also Rep. Durham brought up an idea that is being talked about was eliminating all bull licenses in over objective areas to force cow take and provide incentive for landowners to allow public access. Interesting. Though I think that idea is separate from hb505.
MTelkHuntress
Well-known member
I feel like I'm slowly refining my email writing skills to be more concise thanks to the information in this thread. Hopefully more hunters join in to keep the pressure on. Ive spoken to a few people that are so frustrated but dont think our voices will do anything, I hope to prove them wrong.
FWP currently has the authority to do this, and it's in the current EMP, but has not been used due to political influence from legislators, outfitters & landowners.
timber_hunter
Active member
My email template:
Representative Duram,
I am writing to voice my opposition to HB 505. I believe HB 505 sets a dangerous precedent for the privatization of our wildlife. While the North American Model of Conservation is not a legally binding document, I believe it is important to reference in this discussion, as it has guided legislation and policy decisions for many years. Without the NAMC, our game populations would not be as robust and numerous as they are. The NAMC states that, “Science plays a key role in managing wildlife. Wildlife populations are sustained and scientifically managed by professionals in government agencies.” HB 505 is not founded in evidence-based wildlife management strategies, rather, it is a mechanism to bolster the income of the landowner and outfitters to the detriment of our elk. I am not against fortifying the economy of Montana and local businesses, but I believe there are better ways to achieve this goal. Please consider voting against HB 505 while continuing to advocate for the outfitters and landowners that have drafted this bill. Surely there is a better approach.
The fact that I can buy an elk tag for a very modest amount of money and hunt on our public lands for free stirs a deep sense of patriotism in me. Suddenly, the great American tradition of elk hunting is under attack. An extended, state-wide season from August 15th-February 15th and allocating more tags than there are elk in this state is a surefire way to demolish our elk herds. And then we will be fighting to bring them back.
Thank you for considering my perspective.
Respectfully,
Will Dean
Bozeman, Montana
Representative Duram,
I am writing to voice my opposition to HB 505. I believe HB 505 sets a dangerous precedent for the privatization of our wildlife. While the North American Model of Conservation is not a legally binding document, I believe it is important to reference in this discussion, as it has guided legislation and policy decisions for many years. Without the NAMC, our game populations would not be as robust and numerous as they are. The NAMC states that, “Science plays a key role in managing wildlife. Wildlife populations are sustained and scientifically managed by professionals in government agencies.” HB 505 is not founded in evidence-based wildlife management strategies, rather, it is a mechanism to bolster the income of the landowner and outfitters to the detriment of our elk. I am not against fortifying the economy of Montana and local businesses, but I believe there are better ways to achieve this goal. Please consider voting against HB 505 while continuing to advocate for the outfitters and landowners that have drafted this bill. Surely there is a better approach.
The fact that I can buy an elk tag for a very modest amount of money and hunt on our public lands for free stirs a deep sense of patriotism in me. Suddenly, the great American tradition of elk hunting is under attack. An extended, state-wide season from August 15th-February 15th and allocating more tags than there are elk in this state is a surefire way to demolish our elk herds. And then we will be fighting to bring them back.
Thank you for considering my perspective.
Respectfully,
Will Dean
Bozeman, Montana
Redside
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2016
- Messages
- 365
Sent another email to the committee via @Gevock advice earlier in the thread. Here is a snippet on how. Please keep posting the numbers, emails ect so its easy to find. I also sent to 5 hunting friends to do as well. Thanks for all the useful info here. I doubt I would have done much otherwise.
https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/?e...00-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}
https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/?e...00-0000-000000000001&ceid={{ContactsEmailID}}
- Fill out the form provided.
- Select Committees
- Select (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
- Select Bill Type (HB) and Bill Number HB 505
- Select Against
- Provide your message
Hunting Wife
Well-known member
I pointed out the irony of Worsech’s comments of the Public Trust Doctrine trumping NAMWC but FWP circumventing citizen input via the Elk Working Group in managing those trust resources in favor of ill-conceived legislation with no public input and little support.
Hunting Wife
Well-known member
Steer them to this thread. It feels a lot less hopeless when you see you aren’t alone, and to get the coaching some folks here are really good at
Schaaf
Well-known member
The bonus points amended down to 1? Gee, who could have predicted that?
Nameless Range
Well-known member
I have received a few responses now that boil down to, "What is your solution to elk overpopulation?"
I want to say, "Remove the gun from my head, and we can talk."
What I am doing instead is referencing the Citizens Elk Group, highlighting how complex an issue this is, and how the conservative way forward would be not to rush the largest change to elk management in MT history without any public input.
I want to say, "Remove the gun from my head, and we can talk."
What I am doing instead is referencing the Citizens Elk Group, highlighting how complex an issue this is, and how the conservative way forward would be not to rush the largest change to elk management in MT history without any public input.
L
longbow51
Guest
Is this being too much pointing out the politics? I did it anyway lol.
"I write again in opposition to HB 505. I listened with interest to the entire hearing. The North American Model states that, “Science plays a key role in managing wildlife. Wildlife populations are sustained and scientifically managed by professionals in government agencies.”
FWP has already been working on a coordinated proposal to modify the EMP with the input of all stakeholders.
I'm not sure why, early in the Governor's administration, there is such an urgency to pass a bill which will alienate a large majority of the sportsmen and women of Montana.
I thank you for your consideration."
"I write again in opposition to HB 505. I listened with interest to the entire hearing. The North American Model states that, “Science plays a key role in managing wildlife. Wildlife populations are sustained and scientifically managed by professionals in government agencies.”
FWP has already been working on a coordinated proposal to modify the EMP with the input of all stakeholders.
I'm not sure why, early in the Governor's administration, there is such an urgency to pass a bill which will alienate a large majority of the sportsmen and women of Montana.
I thank you for your consideration."
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