Dear FWP and the Elk Management Citizen Advisory Group -
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on your ‘FWP Landowner Liaison’ proposal.
Sitting down to visit about shared problems is always a good idea, and FWP biologists and wardens have typically done this in the past, seeing value in it as well. In fact, FWP staff has a solid track record of doing this up until recently. This is likely a result in a change of leadership at the Department and/or the pandemic.
However, rather than hiring new FTEs which seems unnecessary & bureaucratic, we would encourage the department to revisit existing positions and roles and return to previous strategies of relationship building and sit-down meetings with landowners.
Thank you again for the opportunity to comment on your ‘FWP Landowner Liaison’ proposal, and we appreciate your careful consideration.
-The Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers