Montana 2025 Legislative Session

[Flynarrow]

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!!!

How do real sportsmen vote for legislators, land board including the Governor who ignores private property rights, while diminishing opportunity for perpetual open space and wildlife habitat?

 

[TheJason]

Interesting testimony by the bill sponsor for mule deer rut hunting.

When he cites long term averages, he looks at 10 year averages. That’s completely a shifting baseline phenomenon. If he looked at a 20 or 30 year average, things would look much different.

Mule deer bucks are hard to come by on public land, therefore let’s keep the season open during their most vulnerable time so we can kill more.

Lastly, it would appear the sponsor consistently referenced the working group as the mule deer advisory committee. In fact, I distinctly recall him talking about the appointment of such, then referring to a commonality of group membership.

I’m about 100% certain he is misrepresenting this situation entirely. Whether things deliberately done or he is just confused, I’m not sure. However, there is a distinct misrepresentation going on there.

 

[Straight Arrow]

How do real sportsmen vote for legislators, land board including the Governor who ignores private property rights, while diminishing opportunity for perpetual open space and wildlife habitat?

That, sir, is the question of this political era.

 

[Labman]

How do real sportsmen vote for legislators, land board including the Governor who ignores private property rights, while diminishing opportunity for perpetual open space and wildlife habitat?

Because we’re not all single issue voters, and the quality of hunting is so bad here that it doesn’t even make the list of things that matter when it comes time to vote. Also, we’ve witnessed the mindset of the other option and it isn’t a tough decision to make when November rolls around.

 

[Beignet]

Because we’re not all single issue voters, and the quality of hunting is so bad here that it doesn’t even make the list of things that matter when it comes time to vote. Also, we’ve witnessed the mindset of the other option and it isn’t a tough decision to make when November rolls around.

It’s that kind of mindset that keeps our elected officials from being held accountable for bad policy.

 

[INMT]

How do real sportsmen vote for legislators, land board including the Governor who ignores private property rights, while diminishing opportunity for perpetual open space and wildlife habitat?

Seems like they follow the national narrative over local issues. R vs D. The tribe can’t deviate. It’s frustrating.

 

[BourbonSnowCone]

HB240 is interesting:

“(6) The right of the public to make recreational use of surface waters does not include the right use the surface waters for access to islands or former islands owned, or claimed to be owned, by the state to hunt for animals other than waterfowl, except by means of a bow or crossbow, unless otherwise specifically permitted under rules adopted by the commission.”

Especially when you look at the sponsor’s social media. Oops.

 

[OntarioHunter]

I can hardly wait to see what's on the agenda this year. Doe mule deer hunting legal only in truck stop restrooms? Spring bear hunting with napalm?

 

[OntarioHunter]

HB240 is interesting:

“(6) The right of the public to make recreational use of surface waters does not include the right use the surface waters for access to islands or former islands owned, or claimed to be owned, by the state to hunt for animals other than waterfowl, except by means of a bow or crossbow, unless otherwise specifically permitted under rules adopted by the commission.”

Especially when you look at the sponsor’s social media. Oops.

View attachment 357116

That one is bizarre. Must be intended to lock up someone's pet honey hole. Sick.

 

[Schism]

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.

People in Montana should read this twice as I think @Hunting Wife is likely more accurate in her prediction than not. Austin Knudsen has been on local radio more than once here in ND and he is held in high regard by those that are trying take the last bit of access and ideas of conservation that we have left.

 

[Forkyfinder]

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.

WTF

This should make everyone rage pissed....

 

[Carnage2011]

Looks like we have a couple real dandy wolf bills

 

[rogerthat]

Looks like we have a couple real dandy wolf bills

Any chance you could synopsis’s them for me? Your own spin is fine. Trust ya

 

[Rie Bread]

HB240 is interesting:

“(6) The right of the public to make recreational use of surface waters does not include the right use the surface waters for access to islands or former islands owned, or claimed to be owned, by the state to hunt for animals other than waterfowl, except by means of a bow or crossbow, unless otherwise specifically permitted under rules adopted by the commission.”

Especially when you look at the sponsor’s social media. Oops.

View attachment 357116

One hell of a gobbler right there

 

[Carnage2011]

Any chance you could synopsis’s them for me? Your own spin is fine. Trust ya

One is an open season on wolves until the population is lowered to a certain level. The other is unlimited wolf hunting when population is above 450.

 

[rogerthat]

One is an open season on wolves until the population is lowered to a certain level. The other is unlimited wolf hunting when population is above 450.

Thanks. They both sound like a great way to get them back on the ESA

 

[SixPoint]

Probably pop extra popcorn for that hearing!

 

[MTelkHuntress]

Thanks. They both sound like a great way to get them back on the ESA

Especially in the details. Screenshots because I didn't want to type all that.

 

[Elktrack]

Thanks. They both sound like a great way to get them back on the ESA

Or it’s a good way to keep the numbers in check. They didn’t go back on the ESA when Idaho opened up seasons.

 

[BuzzH]

Or it’s a good way to keep the numbers in check. They didn’t go back on the ESA when Idaho opened up seasons.

So the wolf numbers are "in check" in Idaho? What numbers might those be?

I've never been a fan of hunting much of anything year round.