New FWP Director

[Shed God]

Why, idk what she looks like. Just asking

 

[BuzzH]

I suppose you think Temple conducted the draw himself.

I was not real pleased with the botched draw, or when they issued to many sheep tags and had to say “kidding”. However I never cast a stone… one of my favorite quotes is “let he who is without guilt cast the first stone “

The director is supposed to be accountable...you know, Captain of the goddamn ship and all that.

 

[Shed God]

We gave those other 2 morons a chance. I think she deserves a chance. Director start with the mule deer in mt. Take the lead on that.

 

[DFS]

Historically who were some of the best directors and what did they accomplish?

 

[Shed God]

My guess whoever was director that made it brow tine bull in otc units. A while ago

 

[ismith]

For someone whose passion is agriculture and who prioritizes "expanding value-added opportunities", why would you agree to lead FWP if you weren't trying to change it? @Treeshark is already saving up for those landowner tags!

It’s almost like @Flynarrow set the stage for you!

 

[ismith]

Change ain't always good, it can always get worse...

Well, when Mule Deer go the way of Bretzia Nebrascensis here in Montana, the Mule Deer hunting won’t be getting any worse for awhile.

 

[TheTone]

Historically who were some of the best directors and what did they accomplish?

Probably one that supported fwp employees, gave them room to grow and develop, and put doing what’s right for the resource as a priority

 

[Forkyfinder]

Probably one that supported fwp employees, gave them room to grow and develop, and put doing what’s right for the resource as a priority

@Nameless Range had the best post here yet earlier - the director matters, but not a ton relative to the legislature or most importantly the people who give a damn engage and speak up.

There's things that can get messed up (like the draw) - but ultimately the most important for the role is that the employees of fwp feel/reap the benefits of competent leadership. Speculating - but that seems to have been a problem lately from what ive read here. Based on having already done it in another department - she'll at least move into the role with an understanding of department leadership.

By the way - 22 bills about hunting in que already. . . https://bills.legmt.gov/

For a comparison - there is 17 on "taxes".... seems inappropriate to me...Goes without saying at this point, know who your representatives are, their contact information, and be willing to contact them and encourage others who would agree to do the same. .

 

[Forkyfinder]

The director is supposed to be accountable...you know, Captain of the goddamn ship and all that.

Hopefully this director sees the benefit in having a 3rd party complete the draw.

 

[Hem]

Trump Fragrances

Trump Fragrances

gettrumpfragrances.com

When something stinks, Fight!Fight!Fight!

 

[Ben Lamb]

@Nameless Range had the best post here yet earlier - the director matters, but not a ton relative to the legislature or most importantly the people who give a damn engage and speak up.

There's things that can get messed up (like the draw) - but ultimately the most important for the role is that the employees of fwp feel/reap the benefits of competent leadership. Speculating - but that seems to have been a problem lately from what ive read here. Based on having already done it in another department - she'll at least move into the role with an understanding of department leadership.

By the way - 22 bills about hunting in que already. . . https://bills.legmt.gov/

For a comparison - there is 17 on "taxes".... seems inappropriate to me...Goes without saying at this point, know who your representatives are, their contact information, and be willing to contact them and encourage others who would agree to do the same. .
View attachment 352233

Having a director with legislative experience is important. Being able to interact and work with legislators has been where previous directors shone, including Dustin. @Forkyfinder is 100% correct that the Legislature is who sets the overall direction with the laws and budgets they create. The agency has to carry out those laws & those budgets.

22 is a pretty slow start, fyi.

 

[Mattwan99]

Historically who were some of the best directors and what did they accomplish?

I love this question! I noticed not many (or any) answers.

 

[Nameless Range]

Historically who were some of the best directors and what did they accomplish?

I think one of the better directors I’ve heard of at a state agency was a long time employee. Went from a division administrator to director and knew how to navigate the systems. Can’t speak to the history of FWP. I think they’ve had a lot of less than great directors from varying administrations depending on who you ask.


Division administrators, who are not appointed, interface with the legislature quite a bit and some agencies seem to be hiring Govt Affairs positions that basically serve as lobbyists on the agency’s behalf to engage with bills that would affect their business.

I don’t believe that, beyond laws agencies must follow based on bills from the legislature, directors don’t make many any big changes without the go ahead from the governor.

 

[Mattwan99]

I think one of the better directors I’ve heard of at a state agency was a long time employee. Went from a division administrator to director and knew how to navigate the systems. Can’t speak to the history of FWP. I think they’ve had a lot of less than great directors from varying administrations depending on who you ask.


Division administrators, who are not appointed, interface with the legislature quite a bit and some agencies seem to be hiring Govt Affairs positions that basically serve as lobbyists on the agency’s behalf to engage with bills that would affect their business.

I don’t believe that, beyond laws agencies must follow based on bills from the legislature, directors don’t make many any big changes without the go ahead from the governor.

I like the question as people complain endlessly about the fwp director but never name a good one. They talk about morale in the department etc but meanwhile my access has never been better so it’s hard to know what the truth really is

 

[Big Fin]

Historically who were some of the best directors and what did they accomplish?

Pat Graham, Director from 1993-2001, told us that if we wanted "pick your district" for mule deer that we needed to get support from hunters. So, in 1998 we went to every season setting meeting in Regions 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 to pitch the idea.

Every Region told us to GTF out of here with that stupid idea, other than Region 3. Jon Ensign, Region 7 big game manager at the time, called us to tell us to stay in our own Region. OK, duly noted.

Graham supported the idea for Region 3 and helped us get it passed at the Commission level. It worked, even if some people complained that it made it too hard to decide what district they wanted to hunt mule deer. Unfortunately, once mule deer started to rebound around 2005 or 2006, it was done away with under the premise of "the mule deer have recovered" and/or "it's too complicated for compliance."

Whether you like Graham or not, if you had an idea he would tell you to go out and get support for it. If you did, my experience was that he'd help get it through the Commission.

He established the Trappers Advisory Committee that helped MT integrate a lot of the Best Management Practices into trapping regs. He got a lot of heat for giving a voice to trappers and trapping, but he committed to giving trappers a fair shake. That was a pivotal point for trapping in MT.

He handled some very sticky issues with bison hunting and grizzly bear management. Most would say he worked hard to keep a good relationship with the ag producers.

He pushed to start using Habitat Montana money for acquisitions or easements that required hunting access. A lot of those got done on his watch, even when there was a "no net gain" current in the MT legislature. Unfortunately, Gov. Schweitzer set that program back at least a decade when he forced the Milk River Ranch purchase on his way out the door - https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/fwp-commission-bankrupts-habitat-montana.253219/

He didn't shy away from the legislative issues like his successors did. He engaged with legislators and fought for the Department and staff. Maybe that was latitude given to him by the Governor at that time, Marc Racicot. Once the other Governors told FWP to be there as "informational witnesses" only, the legislature grabbed that leadership vacuum and was happy to take over the reins. I don't see that changing under the current administration.

Graham was willing to come to local meetings to listen to local concerns. He attended a lot of them that I was at.

I didn't always agree with him, but he didn't hide in an office in Helena. He also had a good Governor who let him do his job.

 

[RandanP]

Historically who were some of the best directors and what did they accomplish?

Whoever the director was in 1973 that made the courageous decision to quit stocking fish in rivers. That was a big call and the right one.

 

[DFS]

Pat Graham, Director from 1993-2001, told us that if we wanted "pick your district" for mule deer that we needed to get support from hunters. So, in 1998 we went to every season setting meeting in Regions 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 to pitch the idea.

Every Region told us to GTF out of here with that stupid idea, other than Region 3. Jon Ensign, Region 7 big game manager at the time called us to tell us to stay in our own Region. OK, duly noted.

Graham supported the idea for Region 3 and helped us get it passed at the Commission level. It worked, even if some people complained that it made it too hard to decide what district they wanted to hunt mule deer. Unfortunately, once mule deer started to rebound around 2005 or 2006, it was done away with under the premise of "the mule deer have recovered" and/or "it's too complicated for compliance."

Whether you like Graham or not, if you had an idea he would tell you to go out and get support for it. If you did, my experience was that he'd help get it through the Commission.

He established the Trappers Advisory Committee that helped MT integrate a lot of the Best Management Practices into trapping regs. He got a lot of heat for giving a voice to trappers and trapping, but he committed to giving trappers a fair shake. That was a pivotal point for trapping in MT.

He handled some very sticky issues with bison hunting and grizzly bear management. Most would say he worked hard to keep a good relationship with the ag producers.

He pushed to start using Habitat Montana money for acquisitions or easements that required hunting access. A lot of those got done on his watch, even when there was a "no net gain" current in the MT legislature. Unfortunately, Gov. Schweitzer set that program back at least a decade when he forced the Milk River Ranch purchase on his way out the door - https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/fwp-commission-bankrupts-habitat-montana.253219/

He didn't shy away from the legislative issues like his predecessors did. He engaged with legislators and fought for the Department and staff. Maybe that was latitude given to him by the Governor at that time, Marc Racicot. Once the other Governors told FWP to be there as "informational witnesses" only, the legislature grabbed that leadership vacuum and was happy to take over the reins. I don't see that changing under the current administration.

Graham was willing to come to local meetings to listen to local concerns. He attended a lot of them that I was at.

I didn't always agree with him, but he didn't hide in an office in Helena. He also had a good Governor who let him do his job.

John Ensign did not like to be questioned, he told me fwp isn’t into knee jerk reactions after the bad winters of 2010-2012. Antelope and deer never came even close to back to what they were before. Doubt they ever will.

 

[TheJason]

He also had a good Governor who let him do his job.

Pretty key point here.