Montana 2025 Legislative Session

[Forkyfinder]

Odd cite for him to use, given that the BHA boogeyman he's citing in that instance wasn't the person writing the response. And in fact, said BHA boogeyman was originally in favor of the muzzy season before realizing/agreeing that these things should be left in the commission's hands. Not that it should require saying, but the green decoy nonsense about BHA has got to stop. It's one of the most politically diverse orgs out there, and Land Tawney has been gone for a while now. I suppose to Montana's new ultra-right contingent, any nonprofit group required to be nonpartisan by law is still somehow left wing. And if anyone is wondering, not a single BHA board member was on the mule deer citizen advisory committee.

Regardless, I've reached out to Rep Hinkle and hope to have a good conversation with him about a lot of this. To @Nameless Range's point, I can't say I'm all that surprised by this response. Change, particularly to longstanding traditions, is scary for a large portion of Rep. Hinkle's constituency. And right now he's looking at FWP's survey, which represents a far greater number of Montanans than just the HT crowd. As much as many here might not like it, he's going to represent the majority, and there's some work to do to get the majority aligned with what the mule deer group is trying to do.

I agree.

I wonder how 24 of 25 taxidermy customers are HAPPY with the status quo of mule deer.

Im sure - most hunters who have no awareness of budgets/funding/all else would love an easy answer to get better hunting. Blame the nr. Blame the landowner. Blame fwp. All cute slogans/thoughts. But not a solution.

 

[bigsky2]

View attachment 356938
Wasnt aware a lack of testicles did this?

Anyway.... Its still jan and i have a new years resolution to be nicer - so youll just have to imagine a witty joke regarding lack of testicles and/or brains.

Evidence that it is possible to kill mule deer in October.

 

[The Hedgehog]

Evidence that it is possible to kill mule deer in October.

Think of the children you selfish jerk.

 

[Elky Welky]

Its still jan and i have a new years resolution to be nicer

So when should we expect you back to form? Next month?

 

[cgasner1]

So when should we expect you back to form? Next month?

The walls are cracking he sent me some pretty funny texts

 

[SixPoint]

It appears the Legislature is going to take a swing at gutting Conservation Easements by eliminating any future easements in perpetuity, and putting petty sideboards on that will render them useless. Please be prepared for thoughtful and firm arguments on why we don't want the government infringing on private property rights. This is going to be a very long session at this rate...

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/lc/bill/2/LC2184

 

[shoots-straight]

It appears the Legislature is going to take a swing at gutting Conservation Easements by eliminating any future easements in perpetuity, and putting petty sideboards on that will render them useless. Please be prepared for thoughtful and firm arguments on why we don't want the government infringing on private property rights. This is going to be a very long session at this rate...

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/lc/bill/2/LC2184

Wondering out loud, Where is UPOM on this one?

 

[SAJ-99]

It appears the Legislature is going to take a swing at gutting Conservation Easements by eliminating any future easements in perpetuity, and putting petty sideboards on that will render them useless. Please be prepared for thoughtful and firm arguments on why we don't want the government infringing on private property rights. This is going to be a very long session at this rate...

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/lc/bill/2/LC2184

I wonder who is going to sue the state after this passes?

 

[Forkyfinder]

I wonder who is going to sue the state after this passes?

Wont pass.

 

[BourbonSnowCone]

Wont pass.

Especially after some wealthy landowners hear about it and realize the impact it could have on future tax breaks only allowed under perpetual easements. They probably already know about the bill and will let us burn some powder fighting it while distracted from something they actually want. Guess we know where Albus stands on this bill.

 

[Hunting Wife]

Wont pass.

You sure? It’s on the books already in other states. Check out North Dakota.

Not picking on you, but just an observation on this forum. People make statements like this all the time, about myriad issues. It can’t happen. Won’t happen. They won’t actually pass it because so and so will be upset. I can assure you, it’s passage is not far fetched. A lot of these laws, including this one, being introduced in the legislature in Montana are already on the books in other states. These aren’t coming out of thin air- people are looking at similar laws elsewhere, where there are similar issues and a similar populace, and bringing them here. I assure you, they can pass, and they will if we keep shrugging them off like this.

 

[antlerradar]

Regardless, I've reached out to Rep Hinkle and hope to have a good conversation with him about a lot of this. To @Nameless Range's point, I can't say I'm all that surprised by this response. Change, particularly to longstanding traditions, is scary for a large portion of Rep. Hinkle's constituency. And right now he's looking at FWP's survey, which represents a far greater number of Montanans than just the HT crowd. As much as many here might not like it, he's going to represent the majority, and there's some work to do to get the majority aligned with what the mule deer group is trying to do.

I also think that Rep Hinkle is looking at the progression of LE from West to East and understands change is coming to mule deer management in MT regardless of if we like it or not. He wants to get his preferred management locked in by placing it in the Montana Code.

 

[Forkyfinder]

You sure? It’s on the books already in other states. Check out North Dakota.

Not picking on you, but just an observation on this forum. People make statements like this all the time, about myriad issues. It can’t happen. Won’t happen. They won’t actually pass it because so and so will be upset. I can assure you, it’s passage is not far fetched. A lot of these laws, including this one, being introduced in the legislature in Montana are already on the books in other states. These aren’t coming out of thin air- people are looking at similar laws elsewhere, where there are similar issues and a similar populace, and bringing them here. I assure you, they can pass, and they will if we keep shrugging them off like this.

I hear ya. Ha - of all people i dont think ive heard anything disparaging, to anyone, from you.

I miss spoke and youre correct.

 

[Beignet]

I hear ya. Ha - of all people i dont think ive heard anything disparaging, to anyone, from you.

I miss spoke and youre correct.

There’s more seemingly related easement restriction bills queued up behind this one. They’re certainly going to give it a go. My inner cynic wouldn’t be surprised if some of the others are especially radical departures from the norm, making the less severe bills look like a more acceptable compromise.

 

[Hunting Wife]

I miss spoke and youre correct.

I don’t know about correct. Just remarking on a trend I see lots of places, not just here, where humans try to comfort ourselves into complacency. If we let ourselves get too far into that ditch, its not good.

Glad you didn’t take it personal. Commenting before I’ve had coffee can be a crap shoot

 

[Straight Arrow]

There’s more seemingly related easement restriction bills queued up behind this one. They’re certainly going to give it a go. My inner cynic wouldn’t be surprised if some of the others are especially radical departures from the norm, making the less severe bills look like a more acceptable compromise.

Likely that is how it will play out, with the potential for hamstringing FWP Habitat Montana CE program to the point that any serious landowner will partner only with national nonprofits such as Nature Conservancy or Montana nonprofits such as Montana Land Reliance, avoiding any entangement with the state money restrictions/limitations . Then the next legislative bogus move will be to attempt to shift the unspent Habitat Montana funds to the general fund. What a mess we Montanans have voted ourselves into!!!

 

[Gerald Martin]

Likely that is how it will play out, with the potential for hamstringing FWP Habitat Montana CE program to the point that any serious landowner will partner only with national nonprofits such as Nature Conservancy or Montana nonprofits such as Montana Land Reliance, avoiding any entangement with the state money restrictions/limitations . Then the next legislative bogus move will be to attempt to shift the unspent Habitat Montana funds to the general fund. What a mess we Montanans have voted ourselves into!!!

Just think of it as more hunting opportunity. It makes it feel less bad even though it doesn’t make sense.

 

[Straight Arrow]

Just think of it as more hunting opportunity. It makes it feel less bad even though it doesn’t make sense.

Fewer FWP CE's, less Habitat Montana money for access ... how does that result in more hunting opportunity? What am I missing?

 

[Gerald Martin]

Fewer FWP CE's, less Habitat Montana money for access ... how does that result in more hunting opportunity? What am I missing?

You’re thinking logically. Try thinking like upper management of FWP and their spokespersons. C’mon man…

 

[Hunting Wife]

Likely that is how it will play out, with the potential for hamstringing FWP Habitat Montana CE program to the point that any serious landowner will partner only with national nonprofits such as Nature Conservancy or Montana nonprofits such as Montana Land Reliance, avoiding any entangement with the state money restrictions/limitations . Then the next legislative bogus move will be to attempt to shift the unspent Habitat Montana funds to the general fund. What a mess we Montanans have voted ourselves into!!!

I’ll be curious to see if it stops at state CEs. The ND law restricts perpetual easements by all entities, though the Feds have played the federal trump card on it so far. But DU, PF, and others are prohibited from acquiring perpetual easements.

They are also barred from acquiring property in title as well, but that’s a different law.

If I read it right, the ND law also explicitly prohibits easements for hunting access- Hunting access rights may not be severed from the surface estate.

If we are going to see a CE bill in the legislature here, watch out for gems like these.