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 more importantly thanks to YOU! - we were able to successfully move the needle on many of the bills that were introduced this session. The final tally? 1,313 bills were introduced in less than 90 days! How's that for a whirlwind!? As you read through the recap below, please take note of how big of a ...

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 represent thousands of hunters from Montana and throughout the United States. We have a deep commitment to Montana’s public wildlife, public lands and the public sporting opportunities they provide. Our groups are the customers that purchase licenses, fund the Department of Fish, Wildlife and ...

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 Commission:   We appreciate your commitment and leadership to revise the elk management plan. We represent the interests of the Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. Our 3,000 dues-paying members care deeply about elk and how they’re managed. For years, we’ve been actively involved with issues ...

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 “catch-all” bill compiled of provisions that deserve more scrutiny. After passing the House earlier this month, House Bill 637 from Rep. Seth Berglee, R-Joliet, was heard and passed by Republicans on Thursday in the Senate Fish and Game Committee with Democrats opposed. HB 637 amends several sections of ...

If they can’t make the Capitol rotunda ring with shouts of “Keep It Public,” public land proponents are hoping that they can make legislators’ phones ring. On Tuesday, public land and wildlife organizations held a virtual Rally for Public Lands online to try to drum up opposition to several bills, which together would take millions away from public land projects and initiatives, said Rachel Schmidt, former Montana Office of Outdoor Recreation director. “And there’s also a bill that would ...