Media State Issues Montana BHA Rallies Against Anti-Public Lands Legislation 3/28/2025 Last week, Montana BHA members showed up in full force at the state legislature, advocating for the conservation and stewardship of our public lands, wildlife habitat, and hunting... Tags: policy blog, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Take Action to Allow Montana to Offer Raffles AND Auctions for Big Game Tags 2/3/2025 Montana BHA has been tracking and engaging on a large number of bills during this legislative session, and we are urging you to support House Bill 283, which would allow Montana Fish, Wildlife... Tags: Montana Chapter, Montana action alerts
Media State Issues Protecting Access and Preserving Public Lands in the Crazy Mountains 10/25/2024 The Crazy Mountains in Montana have long been a battleground for public land access. As a cherished area for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation, the region represents a vital part of... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA 2024 Fall Newsletter 10/3/2024 It's the best time of the year! Take a look at what we’ve been up to the last three months at the Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: Montana BHA and their conservation... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues LETTER: Montana BHA Supports Montana to Idaho Wildlife Crossing Feasibility Study 8/16/2024 August 14, 2024 Honorable Pete ButtigiegU.S. Secretary of Transportation1200 New Jersey Ave, SEWashington, DC 20590 Subject: US-93 Darby, Montana to Idaho Wildlife Crossing Feasibility Study Dear... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA Comments on Mule Deer Management Plan Guiding Principles 8/6/2024 The Montana Chapter submitted the following comments to the FWP Mule Deer Citizen Advisory Committee in response to the Guiding Principles that MDCAC has developed to help shape a mule deer... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana Hunting and Conservation Groups Laud Legal Victories alongside the State of Montana in Defense of Elk and Game Management 7/29/2024 Joint Press Release by All Intervening Organizations In a major legal victory for the State of Montana, hunters, and conservation groups, a District Court judge has sided with the public and... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA 2024 Summer Newsletter 7/9/2024 Besides turkey and bear hunting, fishing, and camping, we've had a busy spring here in Montana. Take a look at what we’ve been up to the last three months at the Montana Chapter of Backcountry... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues BHA raffle raises record amount for mule deer conservation in Montana 5/20/2024 Montana BHA’s statewide mule deer raffle raised a record amount for mule deer conservation, and the lucky winner has been drawn!Last summer, we successfully argued in front of the Fish and... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Tribes, sportsmen groups warn against ballot initiative 5/8/2024 You may have seen them at the grocery store. Outside a gas station. Or walking around town. People are out collecting signatures for a number of proposed ballot initiatives. One in particular... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA 2024 Spring Newsletter 4/1/2024 Besides waterfowl hunting, ice fishing, and enjoying home-cooked comfort meals featuring wild game, here’s what we’ve been up to the last three months at the Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Governor Greg Gianforte unveiled the Montana 2024 Migratory Bird Stamp 2/26/2024 HELENA — On Monday, February 26, Governor Greg Gianforte unveiled the Montana 2024 Migratory Bird Stamp at the state capitol. Montana received over 70 submissions for this year’s contest. Florida... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Zinke debuts bill to limit privatizing public lands 2/20/2024 Congressman Ryan Zinke announced on Monday that he is putting forward the “Public Lands in Public Hands” bill to limit the privatization of public lands. Zinke introduced the public lands bill... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues How To Privatize a Mountain 2/13/2024 We had followed the trail for a half mile when it ran headlong into a fence. Signs nailed to the trees blared messages of unwelcome: “Private Property” and “No Forest Service Access.” They... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana Conservation Group Holds Open Raffle for Coveted Statewide Mule Deer Tag 2/13/2024 The Montana chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) is hosting a raffle for one of the Treasure State’s most coveted big game tags, and it’s open residents and non-residents alike. The... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues MONTANA BHA IS RAFFLING A STATEWIDE MULE DEER TAG 2/1/2024 The opportunity to hunt shouldn’t just be for the wealthy. At least, that’s how Montana BHA feels about it, and that’s what the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation says,... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Take Action: Help the BLM Refine Proposed Action for Left Coulee Access 1/29/2024 The BLM is proposing to create and open a Left Coulee Access Road, a 0.6-mile primitive route that would provide legal motorized access to a network of 51 miles of motorized roads through the... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues LETTER: Montana BHA comments on Cebull’s black bear amendments 1/29/2024 *** view and comment on Commission agenda items (amendments) here *** January 29, 2024 Chair Robinson, Commissioners - On behalf of the Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, we... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Objectors raise concerns regarding East Crazy Mountain land exchange 1/19/2024 Concerns that public lands proposed for trade to landowners along the east side of the Crazy Mountains will be developed — whether with condos, lodges and golf courses for the wealthy or mining —... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues FWP seeks members to serve on Mule Deer Citizens Advisory Council 1/17/2024 Ask any Montana hunter, and they’ll have a different response on the state of our mule deer herds and mule deer hunting. There’s certainly no shortage of complaints, nor ideas on what to do about... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Yellowstone Northern Range elk herd management to change after hunting district boundary modified 1/14/2024 This coming season, elk and deer hunters on the western side of the Yellowstone River, just north of Yellowstone National Park, will have a two-week longer season than their counterparts across... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues FWP Hosting Meetings to Discuss Upland Game Bird Regs 1/12/2024 Are upland game bird regulations about to be flipped on their head? Not exactly. Current proposals include nothing drastic. But FWP’s decision to host two meetings - and reminding the public that... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Roundup man's hunting privileges revoked for 10 years after elk poaching 1/4/2024 What began as a sweeping prosecution for three bull elk poached in Musselshell County ended last month with a conviction for a single elk killed out of season and a man's hunting privileges... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Smith River 2024 - What you need to know 1/3/2024 The application season for the prized Smith River float permits is now open, and things look a little different this year. 1) Non-residents are now limited to 10% of the launch permits, which... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA: 2023 Year In Review 12/21/2023 Here's a quick(ish) recap of what Montana BHA was able to accomplish in 2023, and what's on our minds as we head into the new year: Policy Efforts Every other year, Montana’s legislature is... Tags: Montana recap, the campfire, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Fish and Wildlife Commission nixes quota ranges for trophy-hunting districts 12/15/2023 The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission voted this week to scrap quota ranges in trophy-hunting districts, a decision that drew criticism from hunters concerned about politics steering the... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA Responds to New Elk Management Plan 12/12/2023 FWP’s new Elk Plan has been adopted. Last revisited in 2004, the long awaited plan has a lot to like, but falls short of expectations. Montana BHA participated diligently in the public scoping... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues TAKE ACTION: Support the Montana Headwaters Legacy Act 12/12/2023 Tags: Montana Chapter, access, Montana action alerts
Media State Issues Montana BHA Comments on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Outfitter and Guide Project 12/11/2023 View and comment on the Outfitter and Guide Project Revised Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) here.The deadline is Dec. 18th. December 11, 2023 Beaverhead -Deerlodge National ForestAttn:... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Beaverhead-Deerlodge Outfitter and Guide Project 12/11/2023 The US Forest Service is proposing to increase guiding and outfitting use days 153 percent on our public lands found within the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. The comment deadline is... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Groups weigh in on new Montana elk management plan 12/10/2023 Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ recently released Elk Management Plan has drawn fire from sportsmen and landowner groups. Unveiled on Dec. 1 after three years of work, the new elk plan updates... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Legislative Council Splits Vote on Ballot Initiative to Extend Landowner Hunting Rights 12/8/2023 A proposed ballot initiative seeking to more broadly extend landowner hunting rights to private parcels in Montana — even for non-tribal members who own property on reservation lands — would... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Ballot initiative seeking to expand landowners’ hunting access met with committee opposition 12/6/2023 A ballot initiative seeking to allow landowners to hunt elk, deer and black bears on their property hit a setback Wednesday when the Environmental Quality Council voted not to support the... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Tribes, conservation groups pile on against ballot initiative on hunting 12/6/2023 Tribal officials and conservation groups on Wednesday raised their objections with an incoming ballot initiative that will soon go out for signature gathering. Initiative 193 would allow... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana EQC Votes on I-193 12/6/2023 Today, Montana’s Environmental Quality Council held a hearing to discuss I-193, the proposed ballot initiative that would prevent landowners from being prohibited from hunting black bears, deer or... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Surprise Ballot Initiative Would Allow Montana Landowners to Hunt Big Game Without Permits 12/5/2023 A proposed ballot initiative that could have broad implications for Montana’s elk management and tribal relations will be the sole subject of a surprise state oversight committee Wednesday... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana Chapter 2023 Holiday Gift Guide 11/20/2023 The Montana Chapter is extremely grateful for our business sponsors across the state that want to protect access to our public lands and waters. This holiday season, we encourage you to shop local... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA Objects to Draft Decision on East Crazy Inspiration Divide Land Exchange 11/9/2023 *** To learn more about this proposal and comment, click here. *** To read the Montana Chapter of BHA's objections submitted on November 9th, 2023, click here. Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA comments on 2024-25 Season Setting Proposals 11/9/2023 *** Review the proposals and submit your own comments here, by November 21st *** November 9, 2023Dear Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks:On behalf of the Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters &... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA Applauds Sen. Tester's Efforts to Restore Funding for Hunter's Ed 10/26/2023 Last Friday, Montana BHA board member Jake Schwaller had the privilege of joining fellow Montana hunters in thanking Senator Tester for his leadership and efforts in returning funding for... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Commission approves land purchase for new wildlife management area near Forsyth 10/20/2023 The first of what could be several land acquisitions by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks along the Lower Yellowstone River to improve public access was approved on Thursday. The Fish and Wildlife... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana hunters thankful for reversal on hunting education in schools 10/20/2023 BILLINGS — With the general rifle season set to kick off Saturday, Friday was cause for celebration for hunters like Evan Trewhella, who say that hunter safety taught in school is basically a rite... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Fish and Wildlife Commission votes to support purchase of Lower Yellowstone River property 10/19/2023 The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission unanimously voted today to approve the acquisition of a new wildlife management area proposed for the Lower Yellowstone River. According to Angie Grove,... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues COMMENT NOW - The Fish Creek Watershed Draft Recreation Strategy 10/13/2023 Speak up for quality hunting and fishing opportunities and productive fish and wildlife habitat in the Fish Creek watershed. Deadline to comment is October 20th. Right now, Montana FWP is... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA 2023 Fall Newsletter 9/28/2023 It's the most wonderful time of the year! Like most of us here at Montana BHA, we expect many of you are spending as much time afield or on the water as possible this fall. With that in mind,... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues East Crazy Mountain, Big Sky land exchanges advance with changes 9/28/2023 Acontentious land exchange on the eastern side of the Crazy Mountains and near Big Sky has been approved by the supervisor of the Custer Gallatin National Forest. The draft decision contains... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Forest Service Tentatively Approves Crazy Mountain Land Swap 9/28/2023 The U.S. Forest Service announced Wednesday that it has tentatively approved a land swap involving more than 15 square miles of land located in two Montana mountain ranges. The Custer Gallatin... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA Applauds Agreement to Retire Final Remaining Lease in the Badger-Two Medicine 9/7/2023 Late last week, news broke that the final remaining oil and gas lease in the Badger-Two Medicine was to be permanently retired! This area, US Forest Service lands adjacent to the Bob Marshall... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana residents generally happy with elk, mule deer management, survey finds 8/18/2023 Elk hunting has been an emotional topic for some Montana hunters in recent years, with rallies on the Capitol steps, special conferences between differing interest groups and bills introduced in... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA Comments on 2023 EMP Draft 7/31/2023 July 31, 2023 Montana FWP Wildlife Division 1420 East Sixth Avenue Helena, MT 59620 RE: Montana BHA Comments on the 2023 Montana Statewide Elk Management Plan Draft Mr. Northrup, Mr.... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Guest View: Proposed elk plan goes in circles 7/27/2023 Nearly 20 years have passed since Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks last updated its Elk Management Plan (out for comment now). The new EMP has some good ideas, like reviewing the plan every five... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues FWP's New Elk Management Plan - What's in it? 7/20/2023 Montana's new Elk Management Plan is out for comment now. It's nearly 500 pages. So what's in it? Well, there are some things to like, for example, the raising of objectives - now called goals -... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Conservation licenses required for fishing access, wildlife management areas 7/6/2023 Starting July 1, people using Montana fishing access sites and wildlife management areas who don’t already have a conservation license with their fishing or hunting license are supposed to buy one... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues TAKE ACTION: Support the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act! 6/27/2023 Tags: Montana Chapter, access, Montana action alerts
Media State Issues 50 landowners awarded free elk tags under hunting access program 6/10/2023 Fifty Montana landowners will be awarded 79 either-sex elk tags as an incentive to allow public hunters access to almost a half-million acres of land in the 2023 hunting season. The Fish and... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues FWP statement on corner crossing in Montana raises public land access advocates' hackles 6/1/2023 Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ deputy director has raised the hackles of some Montana land access advocates. A recent federal court ruling in Wyoming regarding public access at the corners where... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues LETTER: Montana BHA comments Re: Implementation of SB 280 - Bird Dog Training Licenses and Season Proposal 5/12/2023 Tags: Fair Chase, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues LETTER: Montana BHA Supports Petition to Conduct SB 442 Veto Override Poll with Partner Groups 5/8/2023 Tags: policy blog, Montana Chapter, habitat
Media State Issues TAKE ACTION: Fight Attacks on Federal Public Land & LWCF Funding! 5/1/2023 Tags: Montana Chapter, access
Media State Issues LETTER: Montanans Support SB 442 as Amended 4/13/2023 April 13, 2023 Montana State Capitol Building1301 E. 6th AvenueHelena, MT 59601 RE: Montanans Support SB 442 as Amended Dear Gov. Gianforte and Members of the Montana Legislature, Right now,... Tags: policy blog, Montana Chapter, habitat
Media State Issues Q1 Newsletter from Montana BHA 4/11/2023 We’re entering the final stretch of Montana’s legislative session, which is where the majority of our time and focus has been this year. That said, there are things happening outside of Helena... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues LETTER: Montana Citizen Elk Management Coalition members and sporting groups request veto of HB 635 4/5/2023 April 5th, 2023 Governor Greg Gianforte State Capitol 1301 E. Sixth Ave. Helena, MT 59601 RE: Montana Citizen Elk Management Coalition members and sporting groups request veto of HB... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues LETTER: RE: Sportsman, Landowner, & Outfitter Support for SB 442, as currently amended 4/3/2023 April 3, 2023 MT Senate President Jason Ellsworth State Capitol 1301 E. Sixth Ave. Helena, MT 59601 RE: Sportsman, Landowner, & Outfitter Support for SB 442, as currently amended Dear... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues OPINION: Montana sportsmen groups oppose HB 635 3/26/2023 Montanans have long fought to make sure that hunting is available for all, equitably, and not just reserved for the wealthy and well-connected. This is so important that when many of us agreed... Tags: policy blog, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues A Closer Look at HB 635: What do Montana Hunters Get Out of This? 3/18/2023 Update: On April 21st, Governor Gianforte sent HB 635 back to lawmakers with amendments. One of those was to triple the number of licenses given to nonresident landowners owning 2,500 acres. So... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Dem's Bill Would Ensure Shed Hunters Can Be Prosecuted for Trespassing 2/27/2023 A bill in the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee would add penalties for criminal trespassing while collecting antlers, sheds, or horns. Rep. Jill Cohenour, D-East Helena, is... Tags: policy blog, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Bill awards large nonresident landowners with big game combination hunting licenses 2/24/2023 Fifteen percent of the available big game combination licenses would be set aside for nonresidents owning a minimum of 2,500 acres under a bill designed to spread out hunting pressure and reward... Tags: policy blog, Montana Chapter, access
Media State Issues Reducing acreage requirement for landowners proposed in elk hunting bill 2/24/2023 For two years without success, Rep. Marty Malone, R-Pray, has attempted to draw a landowner preference tag to shoot cow elk on his property in the Paradise Valley. In the Montana Legislature on... Tags: policy blog, Montana Chapter, access
Media State Issues Public Lands Rally Draws Hundreds to Protect Popular Fund 2/24/2023 Few things can motivate Montanans to stand outside for close to an hour in below-zero temperatures like rallying to protect public lands. That’s what more than 200 people from around Montana did... Tags: Montana Chapter, access, habitat
Media State Issues Hundreds "Rally for Public Lands" at Montana State Capitol 2/23/2023 On Thursday in Helena, hundreds of people braved below-zero temperatures and snow showers to “Rally for Public Lands” at the State Capitol. This was the fifth legislative session that conservation... Tags: Montana Chapter, access, habitat
Media State Issues Public lands advocates rally, testify for outdoor access funding 2/23/2023 Nearly 500 public land advocates rallied in sub-zero temperatures on the steps of the Capitol Thursday to voice support for conservation funding and Montana’s constitutional guarantee of a clean... Tags: Montana Chapter, access, habitat
Media State Issues Forever no more? Bill seeks to restrict state’s access to perpetual conservation easements 2/22/2023 A broad assortment of industry groups, conservation nonprofits, ranching families and hunting and fishing access advocates on Tuesday testified in opposition to a bill that would impose term... Tags: Montana Chapter, access, habitat
Media State Issues Bill seeks landowner preference for bison tags as big hunting season continues outside Yellowstone 2/22/2023 Montana lawmakers on Tuesday afternoon heard testimony in favor of and against a bill that would allocate 15% of the state’s special bison hunting licenses to private landowners near Yellowstone... Tags: Fair Chase, Montana Chapter, access
Media State Issues Bill bans sale of public land trail camera images for hunting 2/22/2023 The sale of wildlife trail camera images and location trail data for hunting on public lands would be prohibited under a bill that was heard and quickly advanced from committee Thursday. House... Tags: Fair Chase, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Lawmakers hear bill to increase fines for illegally blocking roads 2/17/2023 An effort long championed by access groups to increase fines for illegally blocking public roads made its return to the Legislature on Friday with a bill that could raise fines to up to $500 per... Tags: Montana Chapter, access
Media State Issues Libby lawmaker eyes legislative change to Lake Koocanusa selenium standard 2/16/2023 A Republican lawmaker from Libby on Wednesday spoke on behalf of a bill that seeks to strike the existing water quality standard for selenium in Lake Koocanusa and double the limit. Selenium is a... Tags: Montana Chapter, habitat
Media State Issues Bill would reduce hunting, fishing license costs for some nonresidents 2/16/2023 Some nonresidents would be eligible for lower-cost hunting and fishing licenses in 2024 under a bill presented to the Senate Fish and Game Committee on Thursday. Senate Bill 350 would... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Sportsmen Decry Bill Removing Marijuana Tax From Habitat Funding 2/14/2023 Conservationists are amassing to oppose a Legislative bill that would go against voters’ wishes and permanently cut marijuana tax money out of Montana’s popular habitat acquisition program. On... Tags: policy blog, Montana Chapter, habitat
Media State Issues Protecting Our Sporting Heritage 2/13/2023 Hunters are fired up in Montana right now. We’ve seen bull elk tags being given to large absentee landowners, an inability to address the crowding issues on the Madison River, hunting regulations... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA statement on HB 372 2/6/2023 Montana BHA strongly supports the right of every citizen to hunt, fish and trap. This should come as no surprise. House Bill 372 seeks to reconstruct this right in our state's Constitution. While... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues LETTER: Montana Sporting Groups Support for Conservation Funding from HB 701 (2021) 2/2/2023 February 2, 2023 Speaker of the House Matt Regier & Senate President Jason EllsworthState Capitol1301 E. Sixth Ave.Helena, MT 59601 RE: Montana sporting groups support for conservation funding... Tags: policy blog, Montana Chapter, public lands, habitat
Media State Issues MT Legislature set to take up fish, wildlife issues 1/23/2023 Will fish and wildlife issues again be some of the most hotly debated issues of this session, or will the 68th Legislature be marked by more consensus-building and agreement for a state known for... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Elk regulations top talks in Helena as 2 gatherings are planned 1/6/2023 Elk hunting is dominating discussions outside and inside the capitol this legislative session. On Jan. 14, eight organizations have announced a conversation concerning elk management at the... Tags: policy blog, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Public invited to hear panel of stakeholders discuss state elk management Jan. 14 1/6/2023 The event is set for Jan. 14, the final day of the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association Winter Convention, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Delta Colonial Hotel in Helena. It will include... Tags: policy blog, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA: 2022 Year In Review 12/20/2022 Here's a quick(ish) recap of what Montana BHA was able to accomplish in 2022, and what's on our minds as we head into the new year: Policy Efforts Along with other sportsmen's groups, we took... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues MT BHA comments during December 22 Commission Meeting 12/20/2022 Montana BHA delivered the following comments to the Commission on December 20th, 2022: “Chair Robinson, members of the Commission… my name is Kevin Farron and I’m the coordinator for the Montana... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Drastic Changes to Quality Elk Hunting in District 313 Proposed 12/16/2022 For an outfit that has repeatedly stated their desire to simplify and improve public engagement, a proposed last-minute change in FWP’s hunting regs seems mighty rushed. Long after the biennial... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Public Land Hunters Object to Land Swap in Montana’s Crazy Mountains 12/13/2022 A local conservation group and the U.S. Forest Service have proposed a land exchange that would put an end to decades of confusion over where the public can access the Custer-Gallatin... Tags: Montana Chapter, access
Media State Issues Opposing the East Crazies Land Swap: What You Need To Know 12/7/2022 We encourage you to comment on this proposal here by the December 23rd deadline. Only those who comment on this now will be allowed to comment further as the process proceeds. The USFS will... Tags: Montana Chapter, access
Media State Issues Montana Chapter 2022 Holiday Gift Guide 11/18/2022 Your Montana Chapter is extremely grateful for our business sponsors across the state that want to protect our access to our public lands and waters. This holiday season, we encourage you to shop... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana - squeal on pigs! 11/17/2022 Feral swine (sometimes called wild pigs, wild boars, etc) spell trouble for Montana's wildlife and habitat. They're incredibly destructive, invasive and hard to control. In the 39 states they're... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana Land Board Approves Purchase of Thousands of Acres of Prime Deer and Elk Habitat 11/1/2022 A recent vote by the Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation Land Board will set aside 5,700 acres of state-managed public land in the Big Sky State. The new public land will... Tags: Montana Chapter, access
Media State Issues MT Land Board Acquires Large Property for Public Use 10/26/2022 The Montana Land Board has approved acquiring a new piece of land to become a Wildlife Management Area. In a four-to-one vote, the board acquired more than 5,000 acres, at the base of the Big... Tags: Montana Chapter, access
Media State Issues FWP News: Partnership announced to promote hunter behavior 10/19/2022 HELENA – In Montana, good relationships between hunters and landowners are integral to our opportunities, lead to proper wildlife management and ensure that our hunting traditions... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues OCTOBER '22 MONTANA ELK UPDATE 10/17/2022 It's 70 degrees today, rifle opener is on the horizon, fall colors are peaking and mountain snow is in the 10-day forecast! Things are changing rapidly in Montana, and elk management is no... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Land Board approves purchase of Big Snowy Mountains Wildlife Management Area 10/17/2022 The Montana Land Board on Monday approved the state’s purchase of a nearly 5,700-acre property in the Big Snowy Mountains north of Ryegate for a new wildlife management area. The board, made up... Tags: Montana Chapter, access
Media State Issues Hunting groups say Rosendale misfired on gun tax repeal 10/14/2022 Pro gun, anti tax. The candidate who takes those positions in a Montana election usually avoids a lot of criticism, but not this year. Hunting groups and the firearms lobby are displeased with... Tags: policy blog, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA Fall '22 Newsletter 10/3/2022 Fall is in the air! Waterfowl is back, fall fishing is in full force, pheasant and rifle antelope begins this weekend, archery and upland seasons continue and some of us are already finding... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA comments on Elk Management Citizen Advisory Group Recommendations 9/30/2022 Just in time for peak rut, 15 elk-related recommendations were released for public comment from FWP on September 15th. Developed by FWP's hand-selected Elk Management Citizen Advisory Group, the... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Proposed Holland Lake Lodge Expansion 9/30/2022 A proposed expansion to Holland Lake Lodge is proving quite controversial. The existing special use permit holders - along with POWDR, a large ski resort operation - are proposing to tear down... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Free Kalispell, Libby clinics to teach hunters how to collect their own CWD samples 9/20/2022 Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) is offering free clinics to teach hunters how to collect lymph node samples from animals to have them tested for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) as hunting... Tags: Montana Chapter, r3
Media State Issues SEPTEMBER '22 MONTANA ELK UPDATE 9/15/2022 We're in the thick of it now! September is here and with each bugle that raises the hairs on our arms, we're reminded why elk and elk hunting are so important to us. So with that, here's an update... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Outdoor groups get stake in elk management lawsuit 9/15/2022 Last week District Court Judge Heather Perry granted a motion from a coalition of outdoor groups allowing them to intervene in a lawsuit filed by a property rights group charging Fish, Wildlife... Tags: Montana Chapter, access
Media State Issues Land deal will increase public access and benefit Shodair 9/12/2022 A plan that's over two years in the making is in its final step. Shodair Children's Hospital was given an almost 6,000-acre plot of land in the Snowy Mountains several years ago. They were given... Tags: Montana Chapter, access, habitat
Media State Issues Judge allows conservation groups to intervene in elk regulation lawsuit 9/2/2022 A Fergus County district court judge has granted the request of hunting and access groups to intervene in opposition to a lawsuit seeking to overturn Montana elk hunting regulations. Judge... Tags: policy blog, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Votes to Approve Controversial Pheasant Stocking Program 8/25/2022 The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Park (FWP) Fish and Wildlife Commission has voted to approve a controversial new pheasant stocking operation for select public lands in the state. The vote occurred... Tags: Fair Chase, policy blog, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Fish and Wildlife Commission approves Big Snowy Mountain land purchase 8/25/2022 In a unanimous vote, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission on Thursday approved the purchase of 5,677 acres in the foothills of the Big Snowy Mountains, north of Ryegate. The measure must... Tags: Montana Chapter, access, habitat
Media State Issues Commission approves release of pheasants reared at Montana State Prison 8/25/2022 The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission on Thursday approved the release of up to 50,000 pen-raised pheasants annually onto wildlife management areas, adding a stipulation that wildlife managers... Tags: Fair Chase, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana Fish & Wildlife August 2022 Meeting 8/22/2022 The Fish and Wildlife Commission is meeting on Thursday, and it's a doozy. Included in the agenda are pen-raised pheasant releases, further delaying outfitter caps on the Madison River, amending... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana Chapter's Cast or Blast Summer Raffle! 8/22/2022 The Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is proud to present a "Cast or Blast!" summer raffle! With two packages to choose from, you can snag tickets for one or both, if you're feeling... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues August '22 Montana Elk Update 8/16/2022 We've changed out our field tips and are tuning our broadheads. Archery elk season is just around the corner. Here's what we've been up to related to elk management, elk habitat and elk... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana Is on the Brink of Destroying One of Its Most Successful Conservation Programs 8/4/2022 STEEN ANDREASEN is running out of options to keep his central Montana ranch in his family. The 54-year-old is raising his own two sons along with his two nephews on the 23,000-acre family place... Tags: Montana Chapter, habitat
Media State Issues Forest Management Bill to Reverse ‘Cottonwood Decision’ Clears Senate Committee 7/24/2022 Billed by Montana’s congressional delegation as a top forest-management priority, a measure to roll back a federal appellate court ruling known as the “Cottonwood Decision” has advanced through a... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana’s Controversial Pheasant Stocking Program Moves Forward 7/23/2022 Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks is moving forward with a controversial program to stock pen-raised pheasants on state-owned lands in an effort to recruit more hunters. FWP is now seeking final... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues July '22 Montana Elk Update 7/22/2022 For the most part, we know our draw results and our fall hunting plans are beginning to take shape. Even though we're six weeks away from archery opener, elk still dominate the news here in... Tags: policy blog, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Bill overturning 'Cottonwood' decision advances 7/21/2022 With a temporary measure set to sunset next year, a bill that would permanently reverse an appellate court’s decision on when federal agencies must consult on endangered species advanced from a... Tags: policy blog, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Reroute: Coalition appeals ruling over Crazy Mountains public access rights to Ninth Circuit 7/19/2022 A coalition of conservation and sporting groups are appealing a federal district court judge’s decision over public access rights in the Crazy Mountains, the organizations announced last... Tags: policy blog, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues FWP pheasant stocking program moving forward, despite opposition 7/15/2022 Birds will soon hit the ground under a Fish, Wildlife and Parks program aimed at increasing the number of youth hunters by stocking pen-raised pheasants on state-owned land across Montana,... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues American Prairie opens 9,300 acres of new Musselshell ranch to hunters this fall 7/13/2022 American Prairie has announced that access to 9,300 acres of its newly acquired ranch along the Musselshell River will be open to hunters this fall through the state Block Management... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA responds to 'pick your weapon/season' proposal 7/12/2022 FWP's elk advisory group deserves our thanks for their sincere, well-intended efforts to improve elk management in Montana. On July 7th, members forwarded a recommendation to 'pick your... Tags: policy blog, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues MT BHA Summer 2022 Newsletter 6/29/2022 The high country is beckoning and Hike to Hunt is in full force! Here's a summer update from your Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers! Q2 Recap Elk hunting in Montana is under... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Wildlife commission OKs free elk tags for 28 landowners under revised process 6/22/2022 Thirty-seven landowners will be awarded 47 free elk hunting tags only good on their property during this fall’s hunting season under a newly devised process, the Fish and Wildlife Commission... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA Commission Comments June '22 6/22/2022 These comments were delivered on June 22nd during the Fish & Wildlife Commission meeting in Helena, MT. Madam Chair and members of the Commission, good morning, my name is Thomas Baumeister. I... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Conservation groups, FWP disagree over defense against elk regulation lawsuit 6/19/2022 In the weeks following the filing of a lawsuit seeking to have Montana’s elk hunting regulations overturned, both the state and conservation groups have sought to oppose the litigation while... Tags: policy blog, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues A Flood of Support for Father's Day 6/17/2022 As we head into Father's Day weekend, it's impossible to ignore all who are hurting in Montana right now due to this week's historic floods. Below is a list of gift ideas that will stoke out dad,... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues June '22 Montana Elk Update 6/17/2022 We've been busy shooting our bows, hitting the rifle range, doing some preseason scouting and watching our freezers empty one package of elk steaks at a time. Elk are on the mind, and we're not... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Can prison-farmed pheasants save hunting? 6/16/2022 A spring day in the Bitterroot Valley’s Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge brings a cacophony of birdsong. The bugling of sandhill cranes, the familiar honking of Canadian geese, and the throaty... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Is Headwaters Legacy Act 'far-sighted' or 'federal overreach'? 6/10/2022 For the past two years, Sen. Jon Tester has led an effort to extend federal protections to some of the most loved free-flowing rivers and streams in Montana. If signed into law, Tester’s “Montana... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Why do we want to Keep Elk Public? 6/10/2022 1. Why did Montana hunting and conservation groups formally file to intervene in the lawsuit by United Property Owners of Montana? The coalition’s members – Montana-based hunting and... Tags: the campfire, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Private property group alleges FWP fails to manage elk; sportspeople seek to intervene 6/10/2022 A lawsuit alleging Fish, Wildlife and Parks is failing to manage elk seeks “a radical departure” from the law and from an earlier court decision about the status of wildlife in Montana, according... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Report: 8.3M acres of public land in limbo due to questions over legality of corner crossing 6/9/2022 Access to 8.3 million acres of public land in 11 western states is in limbo due to questions over the legality of crossing from one corner of public land to another, known as corner crossing. The... Tags: policy blog, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Working together: New trail will open up thousands of acres of Bitterroot Forest lands 6/2/2022 It’s not every day when private, county, state and federal folks come together to open up thousands of acres of public access for hikers, bikers and horseback riders. On Sunday, many of those... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Avian influenza outbreak stirs concerns over Montana pheasant release 6/2/2022 As June arrives, the U.S. poultry industry is breathing a sigh of relief that the worst of the most recent outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) appears to be over. HPAI is a highly... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Vanishing Trails, Part 1: The Battle For One of the West's Most Beloved Mountain Ranges 5/31/2022 “Vanishing Trails” is a series of articles about prescriptive easements and public access in Montana. On October 21, 2021, during a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing, New... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Coalition renews request for fisheries task force as drought worsens 5/26/2022 For the second year, a conservation coalition is asking Montana’s governor to create a task force to protect the struggling streams and fisheries of southwestern Montana. With the current drought... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues FWP advisory council spars over free landowner elk tags 5/26/2022 To reduce elk populations on private lands in Montana, landowners need to be given incentives to allow public hunters onto their property, Eric Albus said last week. “I want to see elk killed to... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Groups, businesses double down on request for cold water fisheries task force in Montana 5/26/2022 A coalition of conservation organizations and fly-fishing businesses are doubling down on efforts to compel Montana’s governor to form a cold water fisheries task force. Upper Missouri... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Game wardens seek information about illegal turkey killing 5/25/2022 Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks game wardens are seeking information on a person of interest suspected in illegally killing a turkey south of Roundup around 5:30 p.m. May 2. According to the game... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues “Bulls for Billionaires.” Are Montana’s 454 Permits a Step Toward Privatizing the State’s Elk Herd? 5/23/2022 On the face of it, the deal that billionaire Dan Wilks got last fall from Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks Department last fall was underwhelming. Wilks, the non-resident owner of one of Montana’s... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues MT BHA Responds to Reassignment of MT FWP's Wildlife Division Chief 5/20/2022 Earlier this week news broke that longtime FWP’s Wildlife Division Chief, Ken McDonald, has been “assigned different responsibilities.” This seems to fit a recent pattern of demotions,... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana Property Owners File Lawsuit to Force FWP to “Remove, Harvest, or Eliminate Thousands of Elk” 5/17/2022 A lawsuit filed in April by a group of Montana property owners accuses wildlife officials of breaking a state law that requires elk populations to be maintained at sustainable levels, squandering... Tags: policy blog, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Bird flu discovered in wild turkeys for first time ever 5/16/2022 Wildlife managers across the country are wondering what’s next after a deadly strain of bird flu was discovered in wild turkey flocks for the first time ever. “Highly pathogenic avian influenza”... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Pheasant chicks hatching at Montana State Prison as state grapples with avian flu protections 5/12/2022 The first crop of pheasant chicks are hatching at Montana State Prison’s new rearing program, as wildlife managers offer assurances that safety measures are in place given the recent outbreak of... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues LETTER: Montana BHA comments on the 'Pheasant Release for R3' 5/5/2022 These comments were submitted in response to the proposal to release 'Pheasants for R3' in front of the Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission. You can learn more and comment yourself here. May 5,... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Cleanup planned for state land near Logan 4/30/2022 State trust land by the Logan Landfill has become popular for recreational target shooting, but increasingly, users have left behind trash, spent shells and target waste. That’s why the Montana... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Benefactors aid children's hospital with land donations; recreationists could also benefit 4/21/2022 In 1881, a 19-year-old Louis Shodair stepped off a stagecoach in Helena, a small mining community only two years older than him. He arrived with his mother, widowed when Louis was 8, to care for... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Free landowner elk permit process OK'd, deadline to apply moved back to June 1 4/19/2022 Citing a short timeline for notifying participants, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission on Tuesday approved a deadline change and a new process for landowners to apply for free either-sex elk... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues FWP outlines proposed new policy for free landowner elk tags 4/13/2022 New guidelines and timelines for Montana landowners to apply for a free either-sex elk hunting tag will go before the Fish and Wildlife Commission for approval on April 19. Prior to that, the... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA 2022 Q1 Newsletter 4/4/2022 The skwalas are out and we're just 11 days from turkey and black bear opener; spring is definitely in the air! As we wrap up the first quarter or 2022, here's a quick recap of what the Montana... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Judge upholds magistrate's findings on Crazy Mountain access dispute 4/1/2022 Crazy Mountain access proponents suffered another defeat on Wednesday after U.S. District Court Judge Susan P. Watters adopted “in full” a February ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J.... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Forest Service defends cutting access to Mont. trails 3/18/2022 The Forest Service is defending a federal judge's decision last month that recommended the dismissal of a 2019 lawsuit by hunting and angling groups that accused the agency of failing to protect... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues TAKE ACTION: Let's Fix the 454 public elk hunting access agreements 3/16/2022 On March 22, the Environmental Quality Council (EQC) will meet to discuss the Contractual Public Elk Hunting Access Agreements, commonly knows as '454 agreements.' Made infamous last fall by... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues MT BHA's 'Fill Your Freezer' Raffle Package 3/7/2022 The Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers presents a 'Fill-Your-Freezer' raffle package! We're bringing you 75-85 pounds of delicious, grassfed, field-harvested, Montana bison, cut and... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Could closing four Mont. trails cut off access elsewhere? 2/23/2022 A federal judge issued a blow to hunting and fishing advocates in Montana on Friday, recommending the dismissal of a lawsuit that accuses the Forest Service of failing to protect public access to... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Federal judge sides with Forest Service in Crazy Mountains access lawsuit 2/22/2022 The federal magistrate judge considering a lawsuit over the Forest Service’s handling of access disputes in the Crazy Mountains has issued a preliminary order favorable to Forest Service... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues LETTER: Montana BHA Comments in Opposition to Pen-Raised Pheasant Releases 2/22/2022 Deb O’Neill Special Projects Director Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks PO Box 200701 Helena, MT 59620 doneill@mt.gov RE: Programmatic Pheasant Release EA Comments Dear Ms. O’Neill: The Montana... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues In Crazy Mountains lawsuit, judge recommends ruling against trail access advocates 2/21/2022 In a blow to public access advocates that has drawn national attention, a federal court judge has recommended ruling in favor of the Custer Gallatin National Forest and private landowners on the... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues LETTER: MT BHA Comments to Expand Hunting at Fort Peck 2/14/2022 February 14, 2022 US Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha DistrictOperations Division, Natural Resources Section1616 Capitol Ave.Omaha, NE 68102 RE: Scoping Comments Fort Peck Project Master Plan Dear... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA responds to 2022/23 season-setting regulations 2/11/2022 Here's a recap on some of the statewide season-setting proposals that were decided on during last week's Fish & Wildlife Commission meeting. Overall, we were pleased with some of the discussions... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana elk season proposal approved to the disappointment of many 2/5/2022 Ending a chaotic public process lasting six months, the Fish, Wildlife & Parks commission voted in favor of several big changes to Montana’s elk and deer seasons, including limiting hunters to... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission adopts new elk hunting regulations — with amendments 2/4/2022 Hunters will have new regulations for taking elk in the 2022-23 seasons, but the changes won’t be as dramatic as earlier proposed with an amended and unanimously approved update Friday by the Fish... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Wildlife commission adopts elk regulation changes 2/4/2022 Elk regulations for the next two years are set following a marathon meeting of the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission on Friday that saw commissioners navigate widespread confusion and temper... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues The Custer Gallatin National Forest’s new guiding doc 2/4/2022 After six years and tens of thousands of public comments, one of the largest and most popular national forests in the Northern Rockies has a new forest plan to guide its management for the next 15... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Controversial elk hunting regs on Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission agenda Friday 2/3/2022 If elk were dimwitted and equally distributed across Montana, setting rules for hunting them might be easier. But the ungulates can apparently figure out where to elude bullets and arrows, and in... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues OPINION: Can Landowners Really Not Hunt Their Own Land? 2/2/2022 With all this madness surrounding elk management in Montana lately, and with likely more to come in the days ahead, we keep hearing the director at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Hank Worsech,... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues FWP to draft elk plan after elk season changes 1/27/2022 Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will draft a new elk management plan by fall, so some hunters question the need to pass such drastic season changes now. FWP leadership spent two days this week... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Insanity in the Crazies 1/27/2022 A potentially dangerous precedent is playing out in a federal district court in Montana, where hunters, anglers and public lands users of all stripes have launched a Hail Mary in order to protect... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Land Swap in the South Crazy Mountains Completed 1/20/2022 A land swap between the Forest Service and two ranches at the southern end of the Crazy Mountains has officially closed. The Custer Gallatin National Forest has completed the South Crazy Land... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues A Public-Access Lawsuit in Montana’s Crazy Mountains Claims Forest Service Is Catering to Private Landowners 1/19/2022 The U.S. District Court in Billings, Montana, convened yesterday to hear arguments in a lawsuit regarding public access to established hiking trails in Montana’s Crazy Mountains. The lawsuit—which... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Crazy Mountain access, trails dispute argued in federal court 1/19/2022 The Custer Gallatin National Forest’s rights to access historic trails in the Crazy Mountains “died” because landowners successfully blocked access denying the public for five years, Assistant... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Poacher Busted For Killing Bighorn He Thought Was an Elk 1/7/2022 A Montana poacher has been fined more than $5,000 after illegally killing a bighorn ram that he says he believed was an elk. Harold Horine, 45, of Deer Lodge, Montana, shot and killed a mature... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA 2021 Year in Review 1/5/2022 2021 was a year of action. From the halls of the state capitol to the sagebrush steppe in southwest Montana, all the way from the remote trails of the Bob Marshall Wilderness to the comfort of our... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Forces Clash Over Future of Iconic Elk Herds 12/22/2021 On Dec. 6, 2021, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks announced a proposal to restructure the way it manages some of the state’s most iconic elk herds. The proposal would open up a handful of... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA Clarifies R3 Efforts 12/21/2021 In a recent MeatEater podcast (Ep. 304), guest Dr. Matt Rinella suggested that the Montana Chapter of BHA has ceased efforts to recruit, retain and reactivate conservation advocates (R3). This is... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues American Prairie buys Musselshell ranch that BLM had eyed 12/21/2021 After a Bureau of Land Management purchase fell through in August, the nonprofit conservation group American Prairie stepped in to buy the 32,000-acre 73 Ranch along the Musselshell River. The... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Wildlife commission advances tentative elk hunting regulations; limited permit proposal dropped 12/16/2021 Following the withdrawal of a controversial proposal dealing with limited-entry elk permits, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission on Tuesday advanced tentative regulations for the 2022 and... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues ‘Firestorm’ of public comment leads FWP to rethink elk management proposals 12/15/2021 Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has backpedaled on a controversial elk management strategy after a public response that FWP Director Henry “Hank” Worsech described as a “firestorm.” Even after... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues FWP pulls back limited elk permit proposals ahead of commission meeting 12/13/2021 State wildlife managers will not move forward with a controversial proposal in eight hunting districts to eliminate limited-entry hunting permits for bull elk on private land in favor of general... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Elk management must return for all Montanans 12/13/2021 Elk hunting is everything to Montanans. We guard our vacation days with jealousy in anticipation of elk camp deep in the forests or Breaks country. We choose our sick days wisely and work hard for... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Hunters form statewide coalition to tackle elk management 12/13/2021 After almost a year of watching political decisions degrade some of Montana’s wildlife management, hunters have come together to see if public involvement still has the power to sway policy. Over... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA comments on FWP's proposed new, limited elk season structure 12/11/2021 December 11, 2021 Chair Robinson; Vice Chair Tabor; Commissioners Waller, Byorth, Walsh, Cebull and LaneMontana Fish Wildlife & Parks1420 East Sixth AvenueP.O. Box 200701 Helena, Mt... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues State commission considers changes to bull elk permits 12/10/2021 Hunters, anglers and others who enjoy spending time in the outdoors of Northwest Montana may want to consider taking a careful look at some of the proposals on the Montana Fish and Wildlife... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana FWP proposal privatizes elk hunting 12/7/2021 Once again, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is considering a proposal that would separate the 'haves' and the 'have nots' when it comes to elk hunting in Montana. If you recall, HB 417, introduced... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues 2 more ranches given free bull elk tags for providing public access 10/28/2021 Despite the fact that Montana’s general rifle season is almost a week old, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission approved two more public elk hunting access agreements for landowners during... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues LETTER: MT BHA Opposes Refuge Waterfowl Habitat Acreage Loss for Admin Facilities 10/26/2021 To whom it may concern Northwest Montana Wetland Management District PO Box 6 Charo, MT 59824 FW6NorthwestMontanaWMD@fws.gov Re: Draft Environmental Assessment: New Northwest Montana Wetland... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues EVENT RECAP: John Owen FAS Clean Up At Stevensville Bridge 10/21/2021 River access sites across the state are getting more use than ever. Many are undeveloped or not built with this kind of traffic in mind. However, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks staff in Region 2... Tags: Montana recap, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Daines would add wilderness removal to Tester’s Blackfoot Clearwater bill 10/20/2021 Sen. Jon Tester is once again pushing to pass his Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act, but he’s getting little support from Montana’s other senator, Sen. Steve Daines. On Tuesday, the Public... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana fishing advocates, businesses call for river preservation task force 10/13/2021 For those wanting the state to take more action to preserve coldwater fisheries in southwestern Montana rivers, this summer demonstrated the need. But the governor has yet to heed their call for a... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Managing Montana's elk wealth is causing heartburn for landowners, FWP and hunters 10/10/2021 Elk have become a political animal in Montana. For decades, predators like grizzly bears and wolves were the ones to incite political passion. Yet slowly, as elk populations have grown and... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Forest Service: Prescriptive easements on Crazy Mountain trails ‘likely non-viable’ 10/5/2021 A 2019 lawsuit brought by public land access advocates over the Forest Service’s handling of four disputed trails in the Crazy Mountains is nearing resolution, and the result could have national... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues MT BHA 2021 Q3 Newsletter 9/30/2021 "And all at once, summer collapsed into fall." - Oscar Wilde September - Public Lands Month - flew by this year! We hope you had ample opportunity to get out in the field to chase elk with your... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Landowner access agreements stir up commission, elk hunters 9/29/2021 Divisions among Montanans regarding how elk should be managed on private lands were center stage in a short Sept. 24 Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting. At issue was the commission’s approval... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues FWP Recommends Acquisition of Forestland Near Columbia Falls For Bad Rock Canyon Wildlife Management Area 9/14/2021 After collecting and reviewing public input, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is recommending the acquisition of 772 acres of forestland along the Flathead River near Columbia Falls to protect... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana FWP director talks hunting regs, other changes at Bozeman meeting 9/8/2021 The director of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks said in front of a fiery crowd in Bozeman that he is focused on simplifying deer and elk hunting regulations going into this year’s biennial... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA Welcomes New Chapter Organizer 9/3/2021 Veronica Corbett has a degree in wildlife, fisheries and conservation biology and has spent the last decade working in natural resource management. Her experience includes tracking B-run steelhead... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues New FWP director talks public access, grizzlies in Northwest Montana 8/31/2021 New Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Director Hank Worsech discovered the passion of hunters, trappers and anglers from Northwest Montana at a meet-and-greet event last week in Kalispell. Worsech... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Elk shoulder season added in Paradise Valley; other shoulder seasons extended 8/26/2021 Hunters can participate in a new antlerless elk shoulder season in the Paradise Valley this winter after Montana officials voted to adopt it at a meeting last Friday. The Montana Fish and Wildlife... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana OKs emergency haying and grazing on more wildlife management areas 8/25/2021 Montana officials approved plans to temporarily expand emergency haying and grazing on various wildlife management areas in support of livestock producers affected by drought. The decision... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues LETTER: Montana BHA Comments on Emergency Grazing & Haying on WMAs Proposal 8/6/2021 August 6, 2021 Rick Northrup, Habitat Bureau Chief Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks PO Box 200701 Helena, MT 59620 rnorthrup@mt.gov Re: EMERGENCY GRAZING AND HAYING LEASES ON SELECT FWP WILDLIFE... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues MT BHA member tip leads to illegal OHV use citation 7/29/2021 During the spring of 2020, Montana BHA life member Hannah Nikonow was hiking in an area she hunts quite a bit in the fall. She was surprised (and upset) to hear the whine of engines getting... Tags: Montana Chapter, OHV
Media State Issues EVENT RECAP: Horse Prairie Fence Pull, July 17 7/19/2021 Early last year, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) launched a six-year study called the Montana Pronghorn Movement and Population Ecology Project with the goal of identifying migration... Tags: Montana recap, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues FWP wants feedback on public land elk shoulder season hunts 7/16/2021 Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is asking the public if elk shoulder seasons should expand onto additional public lands in some hunting districts. The agency issued a supplemental request for... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA Q2 Newsletter 7/1/2021 After carrying a heavy load this legislative session, Montana BHA was able to lighten our packs just a bit as we strode into summer. Here's a quick recap on what we've been up to and what's on... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues EVENT RECAP: Trail Clearing with Wild Montana, June 18-20 6/25/2021 Last weekend (June 18th-20th) the Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers teamed up with Wild Montana to clear trail in the Sapphire Mountains of western Montana. In two-and-a-half days,... Tags: Montana recap, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana Sen. Jon Tester Introduces Bill to Protect 385 Miles of Rivers in State 6/24/2021 In June of 2021, Montana Sen. Jon Tester reintroduced the Montana Headwaters Legacy Act which aims to designate 385.4 miles of Montana's rivers as Wild & Scenic, nearly doubling the state's... Tags: the campfire, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues EVENT RECAP: Montana Cabin with a Cook | June 18-20, 2021 6/22/2021 In January 2021, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers hosted our first ever Winter Extravaganza, a 3-day live virtual event featuring stories, seminars, policy updates, fun competitions and an online... Tags: Montana recap, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues EVENT RECAP: Montana BHA 2021 Camp Cookoff 6/14/2021 One of our favorite events at BHA's annual Rendezvous is the Camp Chef Cookoff, where BHA members from across the country represent their local chapters and compete against one another for the... Tags: Montana recap, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues New Law Reignites Debate Over Money’s Role In Hunting Opportunities 5/17/2021 A last-minute addition to a Montana fish and wildlife bill signed into law on Friday reinvigorated a long-running debate over the role of money in hunting in Montana. House Bill 637 is sprawling;... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues 2021 Montana Legislative Session Recap 5/13/2021 Congrats, Public Land Owners! We made it through the 2021 Montana Legislative Session! Thanks to the tireless efforts from our volunteer leadership team and paid lobbyists in the Capitol - and... Tags: Montana recap, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Debate over outfitter licenses continues past Montana Legislature 5/9/2021 As the dust settles after the 67th Montana Legislature, one thing is for certain: the debate over nonresident hunting licenses and the role of outfitting is far from over. Montana’s system for... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana Hunters Request Governor Veto Outfitter Tags Bill 5/5/2021 May 5, 2021 Gov. Greg GianforteMontana State Capitol1301 E. Sixth Ave. Helena, MT 59601 RE: Sporting organizations request for veto of HB 637 Dear Gov. Gianforte, Our organizations collectively... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues South Crazy Mountains land exchange OK’d 5/4/2021 It’s a small step that took years of work, but the south end of the Crazy Mountains will have two fewer sections of private land inholdings, allowing easier access to public lands. Under a... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues LETTER: Montana BHA comments on Elk Management Plan Guiding Principles 4/27/2021 April 27, 2021 RE: Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Comments on the Montana Elk Management Plan Guiding Principles Employees of FWP and Members of the Fish & Wildlife... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Hunting Bills Stall In The Legislature 4/21/2021 A debate over the role of money in deer and elk hunting in Montana has fizzled out in the Legislature. Senate Bill 143 would have created a $300 early drawing system for nonresident elk and deer... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues FWP 'clean-up' bill draws debate 4/16/2021 Legislation characterized by supporters as a “cleanup” bill for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to tweak language in several areas of law saw pushback from opponents this week who saw it as a... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Committee tables bill tapping hunting license dollars for wildlife crop damage 4/6/2021 A bill that would have tapped hunter license dollars to pay for elk damage to crops in areas well over population objectives and limited permits passed an initial vote in the House on Tuesday... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues LETTER: Montana Sporting Coalition opposition to HB 697 4/6/2021 April 6, 2021 Speaker Wylie GaltMontana State House of RepresentativesState Capitol1301 E. Sixth Ave.Helena, MT 59601 RE: Montana Sporting Coalition opposition to HB 697 Dear Speaker Galt and... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Principles outlined to guide new elk management plan 4/1/2021 Change is coming to elk hunting in Montana. What form those changes may take and when they may be implemented are still uncertain, but a group of volunteers has outlined some guiding principles... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues LETTER: Sportsmen oppose HB 505, committed to addressing elk problems 3/24/2021 Dear Chair Fitzgerald and members of the House FWP Committee, Our organizations represent thousands of Montana hunters. We include statewide organizations and local sporting clubs who all care... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Sportsmen ask for veto on land board control over FWP easements 3/24/2021 A dozen sportsmen’s groups are asking Montana’s governor to veto a bill that would allow the state Land Board to veto conservation easements that would benefit hunters and wildlife. Last week, the... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montanans: Thank Legislators for Listening to Hunters 3/19/2021 Montana hunters finally have something to smile about this session! First, the big win on House Bill 505, which would have given 10 non-resident landowner-sponsored elk tags to landowners with... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues LETTER: Sportsmen request veto on SB 115 3/19/2021 March 19, 2021 Gov. Greg GianforteMontana State Capitol1301 E. Sixth Ave.Helena, MT 59601 RE: Veto request of SB 115 requiring state Land Board approval for conservation easements Dear Gov.... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues 2021 Legislative Recap - Transmittal Break 3/4/2021 We're halfway through the legislative session, meaning it's time to catch our breath, lick our wounds, and get a clearer picture of where things stand. At this 45-day mark the non-revenue bills... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana BHA Assists Property Enrolled in Block Management 8/13/2020 Paradise Ranch and Giant Warm Springs in central Montana is a favorite swimming hole for locals in the summer, and the private ranch is enrolled in Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' Block Management... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Montana Take Action: Nez Perce-Clearwater Forest Plan Revision 3/31/2020 Our Idaho neighbors are currently undergoing a Forest Plan revision for the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest. Last written in 1987, this plan is overdue for some guidance, and will guide the... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Speak Up for Reasonable Elk Management in Montana 1/13/2020 The Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is deeply concerned about the manner in which Elk Shoulder Seasons (ESSs) are being used to manage elk in Montana. The Shoulder Seasons were... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Senate Bill Could Reopen Fort Keogh Boat Ramp 11/4/2019 Despite growing uncertainty for the prospects of a 2020 appropriations deal, the U.S. Senate just passed a bill with a measure that effectively sidesteps the bureaucratic nightmare impeding access... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues EVENT RECAP: MT BHA tackles fencing project at Dome Mountain 2019 7/29/2019 The BHA volunteer fencing project on the Dome Mountain WMA was a big success! A number of public land owners rolled up their sleeves on a beautiful Saturday to help our friends at Montana Fish,... Tags: Montana recap, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues LETTER: MT BHA Custer Gallatin USFS Forest Plan Revision Comments 6/6/2019 Forest ServiceAttn: Forest Plan RevisionCuster Gallatin National Forest10 E. Babcock, P.O. Box 130Bozeman, MT 59771 June 6th, 2019 To Whom It May Concern: The Montana Chapter of Backcountry... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues LETTER: Montana Sporting Coalition opposes HB 265 2/5/2019 Feb. 5, 2019 The Hon. Rep. Bob BrownChairman, House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee State Capitol1301 East Sixth Ave.Helena, MT 59601 Dear Chairman Brown and members of the House FWP... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues LETTER: MONTANA SPORTING COALITION OPPOSES HB 161 1/22/2019 Jan. 22, 2019 Rep. Bob Brown, Chairman House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee Montana Legislature State Capitol 1301 E. Sixth Ave. Helena, MT 59601 Dear Chairman Brown and Committee... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues LETTER: Montana BHA Supports Graveley-Warm Springs Conservation Easements 1/7/2019 January 7th, 2019 Greg MullenNatural Resource Damage ProgramNRDP@mt.gov (406) 444-0205 Re: Graveley-Warm Springs Conservation Easements Funding To: Greg Mullen and relevant parties, The... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues LETTER: Montana Sporting Coalition encourages Land Board to remove uncertainty from proposed conservation easements 10/15/2018 Oct. 15, 2018Montana State Land Board1539 Eleventh Ave.Helena, MT 59601 Dear Montana Land Board members, The Montana Sporting Coalition is comprised of a dozen hunting and angling organizations... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Conservation groups, foundation adopt a trailhead 7/12/2018 By the Independent Record - July 12, 2018 - Originally published in the Independent Record. Conservation groups, foundation adopt a trailhead On Monday, June 25, two public land and conservation... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Backcountry group shares tails and trails 7/5/2018 By Justin Harris - July 5, 2018 - Originally published in the Sanders County Ledger. It is not a "wilderness group," but their interest in the continued reasonable use of wild lands is second on... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Sportsmen Praise Badger-Two Medicine Action 3/4/2016 Montana hunters and anglers are thanking Sen. Jon Tester, the Department of the Interior and the Blackfeet Tribe for their continued commitment to conserve some of the finest big game habitat and... Tags: the campfire, Montana Chapter
Media State Issues Background on the Durfee Hills Land Exchange 7/2/2015 The BLM has consistently determined that exchanging the Durfee Hills from the public domain is, "not in the best interest of the American people." Yet, the relentless push by the Wilks brothers to... Tags: Montana Chapter, keepitpublic
Media State Issues LETTER: MT BHA Asks Governor Bullock To Ensure Sage Grouse Protections Supported By Science 2/6/2014 Dear Governor Bullock Re Montana Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Strategy The 350 members of Montana Backcountry Hunter and Anglers include many well informed hunters who are concerned about the... Tags: Montana Chapter
Media State Issues LETTER: Ban Drones for Hunting in Montana 5/9/2013 May 9, 2013 To: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission From: Montana Chapter, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Issue: Regulating Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems (Drones) in... Tags: Montana Chapter