MT - Changes in Hunting Regs/Units/Seasons coming this month

[SAJ-99]

Because he has a mandate to do this, and he's been a supporter of this since Kelly Flynn introduced the idea back in 2013 or 2015. None of the "solutions" being presented are new, they're just being passed without public support because of who the Governor is, and how he won't veto legislation that privatizes wildlife.

Nothing pisses me off more when any politician take a stand and then when pressed says “well, I haven’t read the bill”. WTF! That’s the job! We let them get away with it too much. I think more people on HT read 505 than in the MT legislature.

I guess the good news is they are monitoring HT.

 

[Ben Lamb]

Nothing pisses me off more when any politician take a stand and then when pressed says “well, I haven’t read the bill”. WTF! That’s the job! We let them get away with it too much. I think more people on HT read 505 than in the MT legislature.

I guess the good news is they are monitoring HT.

In 2021, there were over 1300 bills introduced in the Legislature in Montana. The one constitutional duty that the Legislature has is to pass a budget. 90% of those legislators don't read it, yet they will grandstand on it regardless of what their tribe or the other tribe did on it. I've seen legislators present bills they haven't read, completely misrepresent bills and not know what their bills even do, even though they directed LSO to write them a specific way. Lobbyists tend to write most of the bills, and hand them to legislators that they have relationships with.

The idea that we have statesmen and women representing us in our state capitals is laughable when you consider the entirety of those bodies. There are some legislators in both party's that are solid public servants that have diverse view points and approaches, and for the most part, they're the ones who run the show, but in MT, they've largely handed the committees over to the party faithful and ideologues rather than have people who bring interests together. This is largely an effect of term limits, as Montana has placed the institutional knowledge that comes from long serving legislators into the hands of special interests, politically appointed staff and bureaucrats.

They are monitoring this forum, no doubt. They're not terribly pleased that the peasants are revolting. Keep fighting.

 

[Gerald Martin]

Nothing pisses me off more when any politician take a stand and then when pressed says “well, I haven’t read the bill”. WTF! That’s the job! We let them get away with it too much. I think more people on HT read 505 than in the MT legislature.

I guess the good news is they are monitoring HT.

Man, this is the 21st century! Don’t tell me you expect politicians to consider the effects of bills they pass before they vote them through! They can read about it on Hunttalk after the fact.

“Ain’t nobody got time for that!”

 

[Gerald Martin]

A recap of the Sept. 7 Region 3 meeting as I remember it.

Due to work, I missed the first 45 minutes. Apparently this was not BYOB because I saw folks with beverages in hand even though I missed out on the Sammichs. I take back my earlier negative comments on leaving bad Yelp reviews about the food and drink.

When I arrived at 5:45 the topic was wolves. The general conversation from a well defined segment of the crowd is that FWP and the commission didn’t listen to the social sentiments expressed during the public comment session. It was the same old “ all the little wolfies are gonna get kilt” in various forms.

You could see the relief on the directors face when the topic switched to elk management. General sentiment was that the Commission completely ignored popular sentiment with expansion of shoulder seasons. FWP personnel did not defend the expansion but essentially said that the Commission did so because they could and they wanted to try something different to see if it would work.

I asked if FWP had any data to measure the effectiveness of shoulder seasons? Who was it that included 314 in the expansion onto public land? Had there been consideration of snowmobiles being used during the late muzzleloader season?

Unfortunately during my questioning I think I asked too many questions because the answer about data supporting the effects of shoulder seasons was overlooked during the director’s response. I don’t think it was necessarily intentional but there wasn’t any reference to studies or data that we can study to determine whether shoulder seasons are effective or not. I think this is a good question that it would be helpful for other people to ask in other meetings.

There were questions regarding stream flows and water rights. It was explained that in many cases FWP’s water rights are junior to older rights and they made the decision not to call any water rights on rivers that they didn’t actually have a senior right to and that would be defensible.

The director was asked about his stance on the recent lawsuit regarding crossbows for the handicapped in archery season. His response was that during the lawsuit he had been unable to comment, but now that it was settled, he was adamantly opposed to allowing crossbows during archery season.

There were a few more attempts at regenerating the wolf conversation but FWP personnel and most of the crowd made it obvious that topic had been beat to death and was settled for the time being.
The meeting changed from a formal question and answer session to an informal discussion between individual FWP personnel and the public @ 7:15 or so. Most people left soon afterwards but I was actually very favorably impressed by Director Worsech and Deputy Director Temple’s accessibility and willingness to talk afterwards.
Several of us stayed until about 9 pm discussing various issues, many that we have talked about here on Hunttalk.

I actually came away with the feeling that FWP is open and welcoming to ideas that might help them ease some of the conflict areas @ wildlife management.

I came away with more understanding of the realization that hunters must be active on two fronts. We need to engage FWP personnel to advocate for our interests during the processes they are in charge of and we need to be politically active in lobbying our legislators and holding them accountable for the bills they are pushing through. I got a sense that FWP is also frustrated about some of the legislation they have to implement by law that is imposed by the legislature.

I am more convinced than ever that we need to organize to make the impact of our voices more compelling to those who set the policies that affect wildlife management. If we provide solutions, we get to help determine the future of the health of Montana’s wildlife.

If we stay silent and disengaged, that future will be determined by lobbies with goals that do not align with our interests as hunters.

 

[MTelkHuntress]

One of my friends attended the Billings meeting today. I'm not sure if anyone else here attended but there was something we discussed that caught my attention.

There was a discussion at the meeting about FWP role in decisions. It was said that FWP gathers public comments and scientific data and gives them to the commission and legislators to make their decisions. And while sportsmen's groups do give their opinion, they do not "have the whole picture". Essentially saying that groups like BHA or MWF do not represent landowners and other interests as well.

I think landowners are included in these discussions a lot and I understand it's essential to work with landowners to create better solutions. I can't help but believe that for "the whole picture", we need more than one group that seems to have a bigger say in matters sometimes. We need diverse voices.

The voices of hunters matter, and hopefully more people become interested in what's going on with wildlife management and choose to stay engaged. Coming up with solutions will definitely help in implementation of better policies and hopefully we can stay organized to deliver these ideas.

 

[MTLabrador]

One of my friends attended the Billings meeting today. I'm not sure if anyone else here attended but there was something we discussed that caught my attention.

There was a discussion at the meeting about FWP role in decisions. It was said that FWP gathers public comments and scientific data and gives them to the commission and legislators to make their decisions. And while sportsmen's groups do give their opinion, they do not "have the whole picture". Essentially saying that groups like BHA or MWF do not represent landowners and other interests as well.

I think landowners are included in these discussions a lot and I understand it's essential to work with landowners to create better solutions. I can't help but believe that for "the whole picture", we need more than one group that seems to have a bigger say in matters sometimes. We need diverse voices.

The voices of hunters matter, and hopefully more people become interested in what's going on with wildlife management and choose to stay engaged. Coming up with solutions will definitely help in implementation of better policies and hopefully we can stay organized to deliver these ideas.

I really wanted to attend the Billings meeting but I was unable to. I did talk to a family friend who has been with FWP for a long time the other day, and he is very unhappy with the way things are at that agency. They aren’t all drinking the kool aid.

 

[JLS]

They aren’t all drinking the kool aid.

No. Morale is VERY low for some.

 

[shoots-straight]

The biggest fear, that those working to privatize our wildlife resources have, is that some how the sportsmen of Montana, will actually come together, organize and vote for their own best interests and that of our wildlife. We would be the largest block of united voters, (by far) in the state.

 

[GKimPrice]

Here in Montana the DEMs are so sneaky and insidious that they have infiltrated the MT GOP posing as conservatives and TEA Party constitutionalists.

They have passed socialist policies like outfitter welfare, and attempted to insert crony capitalism into wildlife management by privatization of public trust resources.

They claim to be conservatives but they are just Deep State shadow operatives who take the money George Soros funnels through donors to the MT GOP.

Myself and other resident sportsmen are being quite adept at recognizing the actions of these faux conservatives.

Some of them have posed for campaign pictures on what they claim is public land but it was really private. One dude claims to love public land recreation but he also sued FWP to try and shut down a popular public recreation area that he built his house beside.
The DEM’s are running these deep state operatives so that Montanans get frustrated with the GOP and hand power back to them.

Wascals! Wascals, I tell you! Trickier than a long eared carrot chewing Wabbit that likes to call people ,”Doc.”

ABSOLUTELY TRUE what he says ...... here in OR we have become active in local county Republican politics and it has become clear to me why "R's" are losing so often, you HAVE to see the TREES in the forest, not JUST the forest .....
I think a big defining fact in today's divisive political dynamic is that the "R's" are scared not only of losing their positions but also their STUFF ....

 

[GKimPrice]

The biggest fear, that those working to privatize our wildlife resources have, is that some how the sportsmen of Montana, will actually come together, organize and vote for their own best interests and that of our wildlife. We would be the largest block of united voters, (by far) in the state.

In one way or another EVERYONE (or nearly everyone) is voting and stumping for their own "interests"

 

[Gerald Martin]

ABSOLUTELY TRUE what he says ...... here in OR we have become active in local county Republican politics and it has become clear to me why "R's" are losing so often, you HAVE to see the TREES in the forest, not JUST the forest .....
I think a big defining fact in today's divisive political dynamic is that the "R's" are scared not only of losing their positions but also their STUFF ....

Oregon and Montana are apples and oranges if you are making comparisons.

Here in MT, R’s are so concerned about logging the trees so the fires won’t burn them they don’t have time to see the forest.

My original post that you quoted was entirely sarcasm BTW.

 

[MTBirdhunter]

ABSOLUTELY TRUE what he says ...... here in OR we have become active in local county Republican politics and it has become clear to me why "R's" are losing so often, you HAVE to see the TREES in the forest, not JUST the forest .....
I think a big defining fact in today's divisive political dynamic is that the "R's" are scared not only of losing their positions but also their STUFF ....

R's won gov. house, senate here in Montana. Not sure "scared" is the right word, but yes many conservatives our concerned about losing.....freedom, liberty, religious believes, all things the far left has targeted. Mind numbing how many times you far left libs try and paint all conservatives as being out to gobble up public lands, LMAO. How does one vote d? I can not imagine sending a rep. back to D.C. to keep nancy in power, damn. Obviously we think a lot differnetly, thank God...yeah, I believe in God, the Christian in me .

 

[shoots-straight]

In one way or another EVERYONE (or nearly everyone) is voting and stumping for their own "interests"

I have to disagree. I think that many voters are voting against their own best interest by just voting for a certain team. Tribalism is alive and well in the USA.

 

[Irrelevant]

R's won gov. house, senate here in Montana. Not sure "scared" is the right word, but yes many conservatives our concerned about losing.....freedom, liberty, religious believes, all things the far left has targeted. Mind numbing how many times you far left libs try and paint all conservatives as being out to gobble up public lands, LMAO. How does one vote d? I can not imagine sending a rep. back to D.C. to keep nancy in power, damn. Obviously we think a lot differnetly, thank God...yeah, I believe in God, the Christian in me .

What flavor was the koolaid? I was always partial to blue raspberry.

 

[Gerald Martin]

R's won gov. house, senate here in Montana. Not sure "scared" is the right word, but yes many conservatives our concerned about losing.....freedom, liberty, religious believes, all things the far left has targeted. Mind numbing how many times you far left libs try and paint all conservatives as being out to gobble up public lands, LMAO. How does one vote d? I can not imagine sending a rep. back to D.C. to keep nancy in power, damn. Obviously we think a lot differnetly, thank God...yeah, I believe in God, the Christian in me .

Is the proper stewardship of natural resources with responsible wildlife management policies and the protection of liberty and freedom mutually exclusive?

For the life of me, I can’t see how so called “conservatives” can stray so far from the principles that are the bedrock of conservatism.

Labels are meaningless.

 

[shoots-straight]

R's won gov. house, senate here in Montana. Not sure "scared" is the right word, but yes many conservatives our concerned about losing.....freedom, liberty, religious believes, all things the far left has targeted. Mind numbing how many times you far left libs try and paint all conservatives as being out to gobble up public lands, LMAO. How does one vote d? I can not imagine sending a rep. back to D.C. to keep nancy in power, damn. Obviously we think a lot differnetly, thank God...yeah, I believe in God, the Christian in me .

I know it's hard to fathom, but a lot of what your wrote is the very reason we're in the mess we're in. You vote for the perceived virtues that the church, and the don't "Tread on me" groups are preaching. Many religious people vote for religion to be instituted into our political arena. Not caring, or understanding why our forefathers chose to remove it from our politics. You're on the winning team right. What happens when your not on the winning team, and say the Muslims are in control. You going to pledge allegiance to the flag and Allah? Buddha? Trump?

You're not voting for Nancy, your voting for the person that best represents you and protects those things you mention.

Tribalism is alive and well, as demonstrated by your post.

 

[MTelkHuntress]

Public Comment Opportunities | Montana FWP

Fish, Wildlife & Parks offers various opportunities for the public to comment on issues, rules, grants, environmental assessments, land acquisition, development or enhancement projects, council recommendations, hunting and fishing regulations, etc. that FWP manages.

fwp.mt.gov

Hopefully my tiny phone is showing me an illusion....but the new map scares me. Lots to sort through.

 

[Nameless Range]

You will see this repeatedly:

The justification for combining these HDs is based on the regulation simplification directive.

Cuz we were told to. This is where we really need to pay attention, talk to your biologists, and do your best to be specific.

 

[Ben Lamb]

You will see this repeatedly:

The justification for combining these HDs is based on the regulation simplification directive.

Cuz we were told to. This is where we really need to pay attention, talk to your biologists, and do your best to be specific.

This. Comment on YOUR districts first and foremost. Those areas you know well and have intimate knowledge of relative to elk and deer movement, etc.

Some big changes going on in here. Some not so bad stuff too from a first glance. If you can find areas to be agreeable then do so, but don't sacrifice your concern for simple agreement.

 

[MTelkHuntress]

Well at least the map is interactive......