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Montana BHA's Annual Letter

Posted by | April 15, 2014



Greetings Fellow Montana BHA Member!


It has been another great and busy year for the Montana Chapter of BHA. In an effort to keep all members informed of what we have been up to we want to share a list of some of our major activities in 2013 and early 2014.  Many of the projects are ongoing while new opportunities are developing  as we write this letter.



  • UAV’s/Drones: MT BHA lead the effort to install regulation preventing the use of UAV’s/Drones in Montana for any hunting or scouting activities. MT BHA worked directly with FWP Law Enforcement Division on the language of the final regulations adopted by Montana Fish and Game Commission action in February 2014.

  • Kootenai National Forest: Filed a formal objection with the Kootenai National Forest regarding their Forest Plan Revision that would allow motorized trails to be established in road-less areas of the Silver Butte-Fisher River.

  • Hi-Line, Miles City and Billings BLM Resource Management Plans Submitted comments on the Hi-Line, Miles City and Billings BLM Resource Management Plans covering 5.6 million acres. We requestedprotecting present wilderness characteristics, improved grazing management to protect riparian areas and woody draws, containment of off road vehicles, and provisions to protect wildlife habitat in oil and gas development.

  • Bison: Supported allowing Yellowstone area bison to utilize public lands north of Yellowstone Park

 

  • Marias River WMA: Opposed additional road development into the Marias River WMA river bottom and trading away some of the WMA to acquire a right of way.
  • Wales-Chamberlain Area: Submitted comments on the proposed timber harvest and road expansion in the Wales-Chamberlain areaof the Garnet Range east of Missoula.
  • Sage Grouse: Submitted two letters requesting improvement in the Montana Sage Grouse Conservation Strategy being developed to prevent listing sage grouse as a Threatened Species.
  • Spotted Dog WMA: Submitted letter and met with FWP officials urging end to poor grazing practices and reduce excessive road network in the Spotted Dog WMA near Deerlodge.
  • Sweetgrass Hills: Objected to a proposal to allow an outfitter to operate on BLM lands on East Butte in the Sweetgrass Hills. The permit was denied.
  • Rock Creek: Supported using Natural Resource Damage Funds to help fund acquisition of lands at the mouth of Rock Creek east of Missoula.
  • Rocky Mountain Front: Testified at Congressman Daines’s hearing and submitted letter to editor in support of Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Protection Act.
  • Helena NF & Blackfoot Travel Plan: Met with Helena NF Supervisor, submitted comments and wrote guest editorial with other conservation groups on the Helena NF Blackfoot Travel Plans and proposed reduced protection of elk security.
  • Fish Creek State Park: Requested proposed Fish Creek State Park west of Missoula be developed as a primitive park with protection of Fish Creek fishery, Great Burn protection, and key winter ranges rather than a yearlong motorized activities with highly developed campgrounds and facilities as proposed.
  • Bitterroot NF: Requested Bitterroot NF dramatically reduce the existing road system on lands previously owned and logged by Darby Lumber Co.
  • Access: Sent Montana’sPublic Lands and Waters Association (PLWA) $250 to help pay for expenses incurred in the successful Montana Supreme Court case protecting hunters and fishermen rights to access public waters.
  • Whitefish Range: Participated in Whitefish Range Partnership effort resulting in stronger protection of backcountry and non-motorized opportunities for 300,000 acre Whitefish Range.
  • Trail Maintenance: Letters to Chief of Forest Service and Rep. Daines suggesting many opportunities to improve backcountry trail maintenance in Montana.
  • Chapter Campout: Held a weekend MT BHA Campout in June near Lincoln where 35 members and families enjoyed an evening BBQ, scavenger hunt, youth archery and short seminars on flint-knapping, backcountry winter travel and camping, as well as guest FWP biologist discussing wildlife management challenges.
  • Advertising: Advertised in two of 2013 Hunting Regulations pamphlets to educate hunters on collecting effective information to report off-road violations and highlight the BHA reward program. Thanks to Cinnabar Foundation for helping fund this project!
  • MT BHA Board: We recently expanded our Board to have representation across Montana:

We are an all-volunteer chapter. Contact us - let us know of issues you would like MT BHA to address and solutions you may have. We welcome any help you can offer.

Supporting MT BHA is an effective way to support Montana’s wildlife, wild lands and Montana sportsman. Any help you can offer is encouraged - whether it’s financial, goods for auction or services -  and goes a long way  to make our chapter stronger and more effective. We challenge you to sign up at least one more of your buddies as a BHA member in 2014. The gift of a membership as a great way to support BHA efforts and introduce new folks to BHA. Be sure to let us know of your email address changes as most of our communication with members occurs that way. Please join our

“Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Montana Chapter Facebook Group” as another way to stay up to date on MT BHA issues.

Thanks for your support of Montana’s Backcountry!

All the best,

John B. Sullivan III & Greg Munther, Co-Chairman Montana Backcoutry Hunters & Anglers

Greetings Fellow Montana BHA Member!

 

It has been another great and busy year for the Montana Chapter of BHA. In an effort to keep all members informed of what we have been up to we want to share a list of some of our major activities in 2013 and early 2014.  Many of the projects are ongoing while new opportunities are developing  as we write this letter.

 

  • UAV’s/Drones: MT BHA lead the effort to install regulation preventing the use of UAV’s/Drones in Montana for any hunting or scouting activities. MT BHA worked directly with FWP Law Enforcement Division on the language of the final regulations adopted by Montana Fish and Game Commission action in February 2014.
  • Kootenai National Forest: Filed a formal objection with the Kootenai National Forest regarding their Forest Plan Revision that would allow motorized trails to be established in road-less areas of the Silver Butte-Fisher River.
  • Hi-Line, Miles City and Billings BLM Resource Management Plans Submitted comments on the Hi-Line, Miles City and Billings BLM Resource Management Plans covering 5.6 million acres. We requested  protecting present wilderness characteristics, improved grazing management to protect riparian areas and woody draws, containment of off road vehicles, and provisions to protect wildlife habitat in oil and gas development.
  • Bison: Supported allowing Yellowstone area bison to utilize public lands north of Yellowstone Park.
  • Marias River WMA: Opposed additional road development into the Marias River WMA river bottom and trading away some of the WMA to acquire a right of way.
  • Wales-Chamberlain Area: Submitted comments on the proposed timber harvest and road expansion in the Wales-Chamberlain area of the Garnet Range east of Missoula.
  • Sage Grouse: Submitted two letters requesting improvement in the Montana Sage Grouse Conservation Strategy being developed to prevent listing sage grouse as a Threatened Species.
  • Spotted Dog WMA: Submitted letter and met with FWP officials urging end to poor grazing practices and reduce excessive road network in the Spotted Dog WMA near Deerlodge.
  • Sweetgrass Hills: Objected to a proposal to allow an outfitter to operate on BLM lands on East Butte in the Sweetgrass Hills. The permit was denied.
  • Rock Creek: Supported using Natural Resource Damage Funds to help fund acquisition of lands at the mouth of Rock Creek east of Missoula.
  • Rocky Mountain Front: Testified at Congressman Daines’s hearing and submitted letter to editor in support of Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Protection Act.
  • Helena NF & Blackfoot Travel Plan: Met with Helena NF Supervisor, submitted comments and wrote guest editorial with other conservation groups on the Helena NF Blackfoot Travel Plans and proposed reduced protection of elk security.
  • Fish Creek State Park: Requested proposed Fish Creek State Park west of Missoula be developed as a primitive park with protection of Fish Creek fishery, Great Burn protection, and key winter ranges rather than a yearlong motorized activities with highly developed campgrounds and facilities as proposed.
  • Bitterroot NF: Requested Bitterroot NF dramatically reduce the existing road system on lands previously owned and logged by Darby Lumber Co.
  • Access: Sent Montana’s  Public Lands and Waters Association (PLWA) $250 to help pay for expenses incurred in the successful Montana Supreme Court case protecting hunters and fishermen rights to access public waters.
  • Whitefish Range: Participated in Whitefish Range Partnership effort resulting in stronger protection of backcountry and non-motorized opportunities for 300,000 acre Whitefish Range.
  • Trail Maintenance: Letters to Chief of Forest Service and Rep. Daines suggesting many opportunities to improve backcountry trail maintenance in Montana.
  • Chapter Campout: Held a weekend MT BHA Campout in June near Lincoln where 35 members and families enjoyed an evening BBQ, scavenger hunt, youth archery and short seminars on flint-knapping, backcountry winter travel and camping, as well as guest FWP biologist discussing wildlife management challenges.
  • Advertising: Advertised in two of 2013 Hunting Regulations pamphlets to educate hunters on collecting effective information to report off-road violations and highlight the BHA reward program. Thanks to Cinnabar Foundation for helping fund this project!
  • MT BHA Board: We recently expanded our Board to have representation across Montana:

We are an all-volunteer chapter. Contact us - let us know of issues you would like MT BHA to address and solutions you may have. We welcome any help you can offer.

 

Supporting MT BHA is an effective way to support Montana’s wildlife, wild lands and Montana sportsman. Any help you can offer is encouraged - whether it’s financial, goods for auction or services -  and goes a long way  to make our chapter stronger and more effective. We challenge you to sign up at least one more of your buddies as a BHA member in 2014. The gift of a membership as a great way to support BHA efforts and introduce new folks to BHA. Be sure to let us know of your email address changes as most of our communication with members occurs that way. Please join our “Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Montana Chapter Facebook Group” as another way to stay up to date on MT BHA issues.

 

Thanks for your support of Montana’s Backcountry!

 

All the best,

John B. Sullivan III & Greg Munther, Co-Chairman Montana Backcoutry Hunters & Anglers

About Caitlin Thompson

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