The Montana Bowhunters Association sent out this fantastic action alert on SB 397. It's worth the time to read, then call 406-444-4800 and voice your opposition to SB 397.
April 7, 2013
Legislative Alert
Members:
Here’s what’s on tap for this week:
SB 397 “Establishing provisional hunting seasons for certain large predators.”
Hearing: April 9 at 3:00 pm in Room 152 – House Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
Oppose. Despite its seemingly limited scope, this bill impacts bear, lion and wolf hunting regulations as well as threatens multiple delisting actions. The MBA has supported increased harvest and expanded seasons during recent Tentatives cycles. Proper management of bear populations depends on responsible harvest and population monitoring to determine harvest impact. Proponents of this bill argue that we need to have more aggressive predator control measures. We believe the FWP has taken an effective and responsible approach to controlling predators.
Proponents attest that high predator numbers have suppressed calf recruitment and the rebound of ungulates. They state that the legislature must step in and create policy in order to meet biological objectives. In response to this, we respectfully remind proponents of the ramifications of past legislative actions. During the 2003 session, HB 42 was signed into law, instructing FWP to manage elk with the intent to reach “sustainable population numbers” by 2009. The Commission followed through with this directive, and in subsequent hunting seasons, increased antlerless quotas in many areas. In one such area, the West Fork of the Bitterroot, this resulted in the following harvest totals from 2004-2010.
Clearly, the objective of HB 42 was quickly met and then surpassed through liberal quotas in order to meet “biological objectives.” Interestingly, the West Fork is now “ground zero” of the predator discussion. In retrospect, we can say that at least some of the decline in elk populations in this area came as a result of the directive from the 2003 legislature. Management must rely on harvest rates and field studies to determine the cumulative causes of mortality. Ongoing research in the Bitterroot will reveal additional details regarding the effects of predation on elk, as well as other factors such as forage conditions, both of which will assist the FWP in making informed shifts in the management of predators. In recent years, the FWP Commission has done just that.
In response to mountain lion predation concerns, FWP has increased quotas and developed a hybrid season in Region 2. These actions have resulted in a 31% increase in mountain lion harvest during the 2011-12 season when compared to the 2008-2009 season.
According to the 2011 report, approximately 1,030 black bears were harvested in Montana annually between 1987 and 2006, with a mean population estimate for the state of 13,307 bears. In response to black bear predation problems, FWP has expanded hunting season dates in the spring and added an archery-only season in the fall. These actions have resulted in a 37% increase in harvested bears last year when compared to the previous 19 years. Proper management of bear populations depends on responsible harvest and population monitoring to determine harvest impact. We believe the current harvest practices are responsive enough to manage predation problems and that further legislation is not necessary.
In relation to wolf management, the bill may jeopardize wolves’ delisted status by changing how Montana carries out its management objectives. According to the delisting rule, the USFWS is actively monitoring Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming for five years beginning in 2011. The USFWS will examine any change in state laws to determine whether they will jeopardize the tri-state population. Additional scrutiny triggered by SB 397 will not reflect favorably on Montana. The rule clearly states that wolves can be relisted if a change in state law or management objectives would significantly increase the threat to the wolf population. We urge caution on the part of this legislature to avoid a review by USFWS and potential relisting. This season, 225 wolves were harvested through hunting and trapping, demonstrating that the Commission’s responsive and responsible management actions are working.
We present these points to demonstrate that much of what SB 397 asks for is already being done through Commission action. The experience in the West Fork is a lesson in the merits of careful and gradual management rather than directives for “quick fixes.” While we are not opposed to expanded seasons to assist in managing populations, we caution against an approach which will result in dramatic shifts in wildlife populations, jeopardize delisting actions, and sabotage our opportunity to hunt grizzlies.
April 7, 2013
Legislative Alert
Members:
Here’s what’s on tap for this week:
SB 397 “Establishing provisional hunting seasons for certain large predators.”
Hearing: April 9 at 3:00 pm in Room 152 – House Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
Oppose. Despite its seemingly limited scope, this bill impacts bear, lion and wolf hunting regulations as well as threatens multiple delisting actions. The MBA has supported increased harvest and expanded seasons during recent Tentatives cycles. Proper management of bear populations depends on responsible harvest and population monitoring to determine harvest impact. Proponents of this bill argue that we need to have more aggressive predator control measures. We believe the FWP has taken an effective and responsible approach to controlling predators.
Proponents attest that high predator numbers have suppressed calf recruitment and the rebound of ungulates. They state that the legislature must step in and create policy in order to meet biological objectives. In response to this, we respectfully remind proponents of the ramifications of past legislative actions. During the 2003 session, HB 42 was signed into law, instructing FWP to manage elk with the intent to reach “sustainable population numbers” by 2009. The Commission followed through with this directive, and in subsequent hunting seasons, increased antlerless quotas in many areas. In one such area, the West Fork of the Bitterroot, this resulted in the following harvest totals from 2004-2010.
Clearly, the objective of HB 42 was quickly met and then surpassed through liberal quotas in order to meet “biological objectives.” Interestingly, the West Fork is now “ground zero” of the predator discussion. In retrospect, we can say that at least some of the decline in elk populations in this area came as a result of the directive from the 2003 legislature. Management must rely on harvest rates and field studies to determine the cumulative causes of mortality. Ongoing research in the Bitterroot will reveal additional details regarding the effects of predation on elk, as well as other factors such as forage conditions, both of which will assist the FWP in making informed shifts in the management of predators. In recent years, the FWP Commission has done just that.
In response to mountain lion predation concerns, FWP has increased quotas and developed a hybrid season in Region 2. These actions have resulted in a 31% increase in mountain lion harvest during the 2011-12 season when compared to the 2008-2009 season.
According to the 2011 report, approximately 1,030 black bears were harvested in Montana annually between 1987 and 2006, with a mean population estimate for the state of 13,307 bears. In response to black bear predation problems, FWP has expanded hunting season dates in the spring and added an archery-only season in the fall. These actions have resulted in a 37% increase in harvested bears last year when compared to the previous 19 years. Proper management of bear populations depends on responsible harvest and population monitoring to determine harvest impact. We believe the current harvest practices are responsive enough to manage predation problems and that further legislation is not necessary.
In relation to wolf management, the bill may jeopardize wolves’ delisted status by changing how Montana carries out its management objectives. According to the delisting rule, the USFWS is actively monitoring Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming for five years beginning in 2011. The USFWS will examine any change in state laws to determine whether they will jeopardize the tri-state population. Additional scrutiny triggered by SB 397 will not reflect favorably on Montana. The rule clearly states that wolves can be relisted if a change in state law or management objectives would significantly increase the threat to the wolf population. We urge caution on the part of this legislature to avoid a review by USFWS and potential relisting. This season, 225 wolves were harvested through hunting and trapping, demonstrating that the Commission’s responsive and responsible management actions are working.
We present these points to demonstrate that much of what SB 397 asks for is already being done through Commission action. The experience in the West Fork is a lesson in the merits of careful and gradual management rather than directives for “quick fixes.” While we are not opposed to expanded seasons to assist in managing populations, we caution against an approach which will result in dramatic shifts in wildlife populations, jeopardize delisting actions, and sabotage our opportunity to hunt grizzlies.
