I-193 to exempt MT Landowners from elk/deer/bear regs

[Sytes]

Eh, wow? I would think this a HT prank though...

Who are the primary "representatives" to fire our calls / emails?
Bah... reading while working. Apologies from OP:
If you want to contact EQC members, here is the webpage. This also contains the "Referral letter" from the person submitting, along with the AG opinion letter of legal sufficiency. EQC web page is here - https://leg.mt.gov/committees/interim/eqc/meeting-info/

 

[Gerald Martin]

I would take it as rich nonresidents take whoever has a tag to their hunting lodge.

Or sounds like a good opportunity for leasing private property in LE units.

Pretty much negates any unit wide management strategy in LE areas. Permits would affect public land only.

 

[antlerradar]

All I can say is wow. Are the people pushing this really that desperate. Most of the stuff like this could not get through a friendly legislature and a Governor that is all on board with this crap. Do the backers really think they are going to get 50+ percent of voters to pull the lever for this. I predict that this will back fire. First this initiative is going down in flames and it will not be that close. The vote will then be used to beat down any legislator that proposes any similar legislation. Maybe I am wrong, but I don't think so.

 

[Gerald Martin]

All I can say is wow. Are the people pushing this really that desperate. Most of the stuff like this could not get through a friendly legislature and a Governor that is all on board with this crap. Do the backers really think they are going to get 50+ percent of voters to pull the lever for this. I predict that this will back fire. First this initiative is going down in flames and it will not be that close. The vote will then be used to beat down any legislator that proposes any similar legislation. Maybe I am wrong, but I don't think so.

I hope you are correct.

 

[OntarioHunter]

Montana is in the toilet! I've never been partisan voter but I will mark straight Democrat on the next ballot ... even if the party can only get dead corpses to run. Rotting bodies couldn't do a worse job.

 

[Gerald Martin]

Montana is in the toilet! I've never been partisan voter but I will mark straight Democrat on the next ballot ... even if the party can only get dead corpses to run. Rotting bodies couldn't do a worse job.

I thought you lived in Canada?

 

[OntarioHunter]

I thought you lived in Canada?

I'm still a US citizen and back here every year in November to hunt.

 

[Nick87]

Lee and Tiffany and the crew that bought first must feel they are entitled to tags every year.

Barf

 

[ismith]

I thought you lived in Canada?

Lots of Dem voters do.

 

[mtnkid85]

Wow, Im shocked this is being pushed out. We need to show up for this one!

 

[ismith]

Montana sure does have some special differently abled politicians.

 

[Hilljackoutlaw]

Holy cow...I feel it's dead in its tracks tho as antlerradar said. Still crazy to me it's even been initiated tho.

 

[Flynarrow]

Would this enable a poacher previously convicted and banned from hunting, but now ok to hunt as a "guest", lessor or landowner?

 

[Schaaf]

All I can say is wow. Are the people pushing this really that desperate. Most of the stuff like this could not get through a friendly legislature and a Governor that is all on board with this crap. Do the backers really think they are going to get 50+ percent of voters to pull the lever for this. I predict that this will back fire. First this initiative is going down in flames and it will not be that close. The vote will then be used to beat down any legislator that proposes any similar legislation. Maybe I am wrong, but I don't think so.

Completely agree.

 

[Nameless Range]

This is just a first step prior to combing the counties of Montana for signatures, correct? That's a difficult thing for far more popular ideas, and costs a hell of a lot of money. Seems very possible we won't even see this initiative on a ballot.

At this point, I don't think it coming to fruition is likely, but it will be interesting to see who shows up in support for it, if anyone.

 

[cgasner1]

Wow, Im shocked this is being pushed out. We need to show up for this one!

My only concern with this is if someone is trying to shock us first before they show the actual hand of what they want

 

[Bambistew]

Seems like they may struggle to get enough signatures?

If this is challenged in court and they have to change the language after it's submitted, do they have to start over collecting signatures? The language is poorly written and looks like it could easily be challenged. Can it be challenged if it's been approved by the AG or whoever has authority in MT?

I can't say that I'm surprised. Wildlife is a hot commodity that comes with hot property.

 

[RandanP]

Since the language reads “landowners, guests and lessors” I take it that outfitted clients will be accommodated with being included in that designation when hunting private lands?

Where does it say this?

 

[Gerald Martin]

Where does it say this?

@ item 7 in the full text. Granted, I may not be understanding the full meaning of this initiative. The language is very vague and confusing to me as it doesn’t clearly specify what the commission is not allowed to prohibit.
Other parts of this document specifically say the commission is authorized to set permit areas.

 

[Gerald Martin]

My gut feeling is in line with what @antlerradar posted. I don’t see this being a burning issue for 50% of Montana voters to pass into law.

If it does pass as vaguely as it is written it seems to me that there’s a whole lot of potential for unintended consequences that exceed the scope of the author’s intent.

Deer, elk, and black bear is a completely arbitrary distinction. If this is passed on the principle that landowners have the right to harvest wildlife without the restriction of permits then why stop there? What about that rancher over in central MT who was complaining about the number of bighorn sheep in his alfalfa fields?