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Gov. Bullock signs HB 73

February 13, 2013

We would like to thank Governor Steve Bullock, the Montana Legislature and Montana FWP for their support and enactment of HB 73. We were informed that Governor Steve Bullock signed the bill in a 9:30 am ceremony this morning. A special thank you to Kelley Flynn and Ted Washburn for sponsoring HB 73, Senator John Brendon for carrying the bill on the Senate floor and Senate President Jeff Essman for signing the bill without hesitation. This is a step in the right direction to facilitate recovery of impacted moose, elk and deer populations in the state of Montana.

Citizens for Balanced Use, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife Montana, Montana Guides and Outfitters and Big Game Forever would especially like to thank Montana’s Sportsmen and Livestock producers for your efforts in support of HB 73. The emails and phone calls to the Governor’s office and Legislature provided vital support for passage of the bill. We are encouraged by the strong support for HB 73. The bill passed with significant bi-partisan support; 96-3 in the Montana House and 45-4 in the Montana Senate.

We encourage Montana Sportsmen and Livestock producers to take a few minutes and send a thank you message to Governor Bullock, the Montana Legislature and Montana FWP for their support of HB 73.

Here are email addresses and phone numbers to convey a message directly:

Governor Steve Bullock
Phone: (406) 444-3111
email: governor@mt.gov

Montana Legislature
Phone: (406) 444-4819
Contact Form: online message form

Montana Department of Fish Wildlife and Parks
Phone: (406) 444-2535
Email: fwpgen@mt.gov

Thank you for your ongoing support of wildlife conservation in Montana.

Warm Regards,

Ryan Benson
Big Game Forever

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News From Western Montana Chapter Safari Club International

Montana Senators Need to Hear from Sportsmen Now!!

Our friend, Senator Scott Boulanger, has introduced a bill that will help preserve Montana’s hunting heritage for generations to come. Senate Bill 197 creates an apprentice hunting license, which permits an experienced mentor to take a newcomer hunting under restricted circumstances prior to the completion of hunter education.

This approach, called “Try Before You Buy,” has been implemented in 34 other states so far, including Idaho and Wyoming, and the new apprentice licenses are doing a great job recruiting young people and women! In fact, more than 782,000 since 2006.

The safety record has been incredible, actually four times safer than regular hunting because of the watchful eye of the mentor. That is why so many great organizations are behind this effort including Montana chapters of Safari Club International, Ducks Unlimited and the National Wild Turkey Federation. Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife are supporters too, along with the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association and the Mule Deer Foundation. Nationally, the program is supported by the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and the National Rifle Association.

Please contact the members of the Senate Fish and Game committee listed here. Ask them to support Senate Bill 197. Tell them it’s good for the future of hunting, and safe!

To email the Senate Fish and Game Committee, go to: http://leg.mt.gov/css/Sessions/63rd/legwebmessage.asp

Fill in your contact information.

Select the Senate Fish and Game Committee.

Fill in SB 197 for the bill number, and select that you are “For” the bill.

Leave a short message in the box below that.

Finally, hit send, and your message will be sent to the members of the committee.

Remember: your email will make a difference. Please take the time to send it today!

Other News….

Mark Your Calendars! – The 2013 Annual Western Montana SCI Banquet will be held Saturday, March 16th at the Holiday Inn Downtown in Missoula. Join us for this fun filled evening of drinks, dinner, silent auction, live auction, raffles, and much more! You can purchase your tickets online or call us to reserve your spot at 866-633-8110. Sponsor information can be found by clicking here!

Share your Hunting Story – We want to hear about your hunting season! Send us your story (with pictures, please) no later than March 15th. If we publish your story, you will receive a free SCI knife ($35 value). Articles can be submitted via email to editor@westernmtsci.org.
Have you “liked” us on Facebook? – We’d love to see your hunt pictures this fall. Take a moment, “like” us and participate on our Facebook page!

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FWP To Keep Hunting and Trapping Open Near Gardiner

FWP Headquarters • 1420 E. 6th Ave. • Helena, MT 59620-0701
Phone: 406-444-2535 • Fax: 406-444-4952 •
http://fwp.mt.gov/default.html” fwp.mt.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 25, 2013
Contact: Ron Aasheim: 406-444-4038; raasheim@mt.gov

FWP TO KEEP HUNTING AND TRAPPING OPEN NEAR GARDINER
State wildlife officials today canceled a Jan. 29 conference call to reconsider a recent court-challenged decision to close the wolf hunting and trapping seasons in two areas north of Yellowstone National Park.
The areas were closed by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission on Dec. 10, in response to concern about the harvest of wolves with collars that supply scientific information to YNP researchers. The seasons, however, were reopened by the district court in Livingston in response to a lawsuit brought by several sporting groups and a state representative from Park County.
FWP officials said today that the best course of action is to fully follow the judge’s Jan. 18 order that prohibits FWP from enforcing the wolf hunting and trapping closure.
“The judge clearly stated that FWP would have to return to the court to apply for an order to dissolve the injunction and have proof that requisite public notice was given. We have simply run out of time,” said Ron Aasheim, FWP’s spokesman in Helena.
Aasheim noted that wolf hunting and trapping season is set to end in 34 days, on Feb. 28, and that obtaining a hearing and court action prior to the end of the wolf hunting season would be unlikely.

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Speak Up For Public Land Access

1

Keeping the Public on
Montana Public Land and Water.
(Now and Forever!)

Speak Up For Public Lands Access

Sign the petition to the Montana House Judiciary Committee by clicking on our logo above. It will take you to change.org.

Corner Crossing Petition

It is rare when the sportsmen and women of Montana have been offered a chance to greatly increase our access to public lands. HB 235, currently being heard by the House Judiciary Committee, offers such an opportunity. HB 235 would allow corner crossing where a person could cross over the top of a property corner from one property that was public or they had permission on to another property that was public or they had permission on.

HB 235 is sponsored by Rep. Hill-D and co-sponsored by Rep. Kerns-R who is the Chair of the House Judiciary Committee. Due to this bi-partisan support the bill has the very real possibility of passing.

For many, many years, sportsmen have bemoaned our lack of a specific statute that allowed access to public land from another piece of public land by crossing over the corner of said properties. With the advanced GPS technology, including land ownership software, available today it is possible to determine property corners with a high degree of certainty.

We may get only one shot to pass a bill such as this. Add your name to this roster and fight for the right to increase our access to public lands

To:
Judiciary Committee of Montana State Legislature
TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE:

HB 235-AN ACT REVISING LAWS RELATED TO TRESPASS; PROVIDING FOR AUTHORIZATION TO REMAIN LAWFULLY AT CORNER OF PARCELS creates a unique opportunity to increase access to public lands by allowing corner crossing where a person could cross over the top of a property corner from one property that was public or they had permission on to another property…
TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE:

HB 235-AN ACT REVISING LAWS RELATED TO TRESPASS; PROVIDING FOR AUTHORIZATION TO REMAIN LAWFULLY AT CORNER OF PARCELS creates a unique opportunity to increase access to public lands by allowing corner crossing where a person could cross over the top of a property corner from one property that was public or they had permission on to another property that was public or they had permission on.

When one looks at the various BLM and National Forest maps for Montana it becomes apparent the amount of “checker boarding” that exists between public and private lands. The hunters, hikers etc. of Montana for years have wanted a statute that allowed for corner crossings. As it exists today, it is a grey area where we do not know the legal ramifications of corner crossing. This only hurts law abiding citizens as the person intent on trespassing will do it wherever they want whether it is at a corner on in the middle of private property.

Please consider the many advantages of corner crossing including increased access to public lands by all; disbursement of hunters to eliminate overcrowding in certain areas; and increase harvest of elk herds in areas over objective. For sportsmen and women, access, or actually lack of access, has been a critical issue for many years. As Montana’s population continues to grow, this problem will only get worse. Montanans are well known for their love of the outdoors and all kinds of outdoor activities. We are seeing many more conflicts between the various user groups. Anything we can do to provide more opportunity benefits all Montanans.

We ask that all the Committee members seriously consider supporting HB 235 and the benefits it provides. All we are asking is to be allowed to access public lands from adjacent/touching public lands. We look to you as leaders to do what is right for the people of Montana.
Sincerely,
[Your name]