kings” in a complimentary fashion. Aldo Leopold did so in “Falconry as the Perfect Hobby” and Roger Tory Peterson opined about man “emerging from antiquity with a peregrine falcon on his wrist”, alongside a myriad of thoughtful works, some hundreds of years old, put falconry in good stead with these deep thinkers, or as Tim Cahill referred to them as “poets!”
Those who have been active in MWF for any length of time know that the Montana Falconers Association was an active MWF affiliate from 1986 until 2003. MWF heartily welcomes MFA back into the MWF fold after a unanimous vote at the December 2009 MWF Board meeting. MFA’s stated purpose is to preserve and ensure the continuation of falconry, the raptors they love, and gamebird base they depend upon for their sport.
Falconry is one of only a few activities where wildlife can be kept in the home alive. This very fact has on occasion erroneously been used against this ancient sport, as quoted from Tom Boddio’s article “Sport of Kings” in The American Hunter Magazine:” Like all field sports, falconry is often under attack from ill-informed or sentimental anti-hunters. It also suffers from an “image problem” with other hunters, who condemn predators because of long-held prejudices or who fear falconers will take 'all the game'”. Falconry organizations are on a constant vigil to educate and maintain a connection with all conservation-minded hunters. The existence of Falconry can be scientifically traced back to a bas-relief from the ancient city of Khorsabad dated 722BC in the reign of Sarcon II of Assyria, but some believe that falconry’s history may even reach beyond that by 250-300 years to 1000 years BC!
To address some concerns for those unfamiliar with the sport; first, falconers are the most highly regulated hunters of any persuasion, and second, hunting with a falcon is the most difficult method to harvest game. Prospective falconers must go through a rigorous education process and apprentice under a master for two years before they can begin their pursuit, and then only IF they can find someone who will sponsor them. Falconry, despite the need for a live bird, is truly an ethical pursuit that conforms to sportsmen’s need to interact intimately with our wildlife. MFA strongly believes in the North American Wildlife Conservation Model and directly participated in the development of its tenets. In fact, falconry can be credited with direct hands-on restoration of DDT- decimated raptor populations identified in the 1960s and early 70s, especially peregrine falcons and bald eagles. They continue to actively work on gamebird habitat issues such as species of special concern like Sage grouse. The Peregrine Fund, headquartered at its World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho was founded by falconers and is responsible for establishing the Snake River Birds of Prey Conservation Area in Idaho and a myriad of raptor recovery projects world-wide. Their work is largely responsible for recovery of the peregrine to the point where it was removed from the Rare and Endangered Species List in 1999.
Ralph Rogers Vice President of the International Association for Falconry compares MFA’s mission to MWF’s mission statement, “ clearly, more than any other hunting sport, falconry is all about fair chase...there isn’t any way to shortcut with technology and if there were an instruction manual, it would begin...first, catch and train a raptor...that brings us right back to becoming an integral part of natural systems.’ MWF welcomes the return of the Montana Falconers Association. For more information you can contact their president Blair Andersen in West Yellowstone at 406-646-7234.
Affiliate’s Corner –February/March 2010
Anaconda Sportsmen Club (ASC - Anaconda Sportsmen are concerned that elk harvests in SW Montana are approaching over-harvest levels. By their estimate, elk numbers in the Big Hole Valley and surrounding Hunt Districts are dropping below FWP population objectives as outlined in the Montana Elk Plan. They attribute this reduction to be a result of legislation in 2005, HB42, sponsored by Dillon Representative Debbie Barrett requiring elk populations to be held at population objectives or below. ASC also takes issue with changing regulations from an “antlered bull” regulation to a “horn heavy” Brow-tine requirement.
Big Sky Upland Bird Association (BSUBA) – After BSUBA brought their annual sporting clay event, the Wing-shot Warm Up east of the Continental Divide to Silver City north of Helena, draw 33 gunners, they hope to continue this yearly event. The future of this event depends on having a suitable location available and will be discussed at an upcoming BSUBA Board meeting as per President Dennis Daneke. If you have any suggestions as for a location, he can be reached at 239-4515 or ubc0028@qwestoffice.net. Dennis informs us that he struggles to dedicate the necessary time and asks for any volunteers to replace him as president.
Billings Rod and Gun Club (BR&GC) – BR&GC has been active in access issues. They requested clarification on the legality of crossing from one parcel to another of public land connected at the corner; they also have been actively supporting eminent domain procedures on Cherry Creek Rd. near Big Timber. Provided input into FWP Hunt Proposals. Will also oppose the lead shot ban proposed in the proposals but support bundling archery hunt districts into a larger selection.
Bitterroot Valley Houndsmen Association (BVHA) – BVHA continues to advocate for a comprehensive state-wide mountain lion plan currently being developed by FWP due out next year. BVHA had a booth at both the 2009 Darby Logger Days celebration and Bullarama events discussing conservation-based mountain lion management and soliciting membership. BVHA has been encouraging Bitterroot area hunters to avoid hunting the Sula area in response to recent news of disease outbreak in the area’s bighorn sheep in order to reduce stress to the remaining sheep.
Custer Rod and Gun Club (CR&GC) – Range improvements have finally been completed after four years of work; road improvements to the range are underway. CR&GC continues its outreach providing youth Trap League followed by five weeks of Women’s Trap League. The club had their annual banquet on January 16, 2010 and elected many new Board members. CR&GC sportsmen are assisting FWP Region 7 install game exclosure fences around haystacks in the Tongue River valley.
Dawson County R&G Club (DCR&GC) – DCR&GC was instrumental in providing $5000 in earnest money to purchase land for the Black’s Bridge FAS, the only public boat access to the Yellowstone River for 60 miles. In order to become functional the site will need a groomed access road and developed boat ramps; some issues remain regarding vandalism, safety and improvement funding that could be addressed by DCR&GC members and fellow citizens. Extended closures for muddy conditions are further frustrating local sportsmen. DCR&GC are working with FWP to resolve these challenges.
Flathead Wildlife Inc. (FWI) – FWI is making effort to stay involved with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes plans to gill-net the southern half of Flathead Lake to remove the non-native Lake Trout to benefit endangered Bull Trout. Scheduling conflicts have interfered with plans to meet with the CSKT Tribe and FWP where the club will represent sportsmen’s concerns with the project. FWI supports the idea of an EIS being done to further evaluate the issues and consequences of netting while maintaining that catchable fish should be available for sportspersons rather than removed from the lake. FWI is also concerned with a highly elevated number of incidences of vandalism of gates on private lands of Plum Creek Timer, StolzeTimber and other private companies.
Gallatin Wildlife Association (GWA) – GWA’s current focus is on the Draft FWP Bighorn Sheep Conservation Strategy and the commercialization of wildlife based proposal to place 88 wild bison on Ted Turner’s Green Ranch in the Draft Environmental Assessment for translocation of quarantine bison . GWA meets every Tuesday morning at 8AM for breakfast at the Wheat Montana restaurant on 12th Avenue in Bozeman; call President Glenn Hockett for details, 581-6352.
Great Falls Archery (GFA) – GFA is preparing their comments for the FWP Proposed Regulations for next year specifically the lumping of hunt districts for archery season. Winter competitions started on January 6, 2010 in Vaughn and their Sportsmen’s Banquet was held January 26, 2010. The first shoot of the year is traditionally called the “Foul Weather Shoot” held at their west range on Gore Hill on March 21, 2010. For more information about the club and shooting events go to the GF Archery website http://www.greatfallsarchery.com/index-1.html.
Helena Hunters and Anglers (HeH&A) – On February 3, 2010, HeH&A hosted a Wild Game Feast featuring youth and first-time hunters’ Campfire Tales of their 1st successful big-game hunts! HeH&A continues to respond to federal land managers’ fuel reduction and insect mitigation proposals emphasizing the need to prioritize protection of wildlife corridors and big-game winter range. HeH&A maintains pressure on FWP as to inadvisability of commercializing the wild Yellowstone Bison as currently proposed to relocate 88 disease-free bison from the quarantine facility at Corwin Springs to Ted Turner’s Green Ranch in exchange for 90% of the wild bison calves. HeH&A publicly lauded Superintendent of Public Instruction, Denise Juneau in an Opinion Editorial for her courage, wisdom, and ability to grasp the big-picture, long view on environmental conservation issues.
Hellgate Hunters and Anglers (HgH&A) – HgH&A has been intimately involved with the ongoing process to update MWFs Strategic Plan. With help from Corey Fisher HH&A submitted significant comments on the Bitterroot National Forest Draft Travel Plan coordinated with other western MT conservation-based organizations. Their 2010 Wild Night for Wildlife Event is scheduled for March 20, 2010; get ready for a great evening of food and fun.
Laurel Rod and Gun Club –Gearing up for their yearly raffle of 5 shotguns, rifles, and handguns to fund the club. Although the $2000proceeds goes into the general fund; LR&GC does then provide a free picnic and BBQ in May. LR&GC is in the midst of cooperating with Laurel Rifle Club and Kiwanis Club setting up a BB gun and small-bore youth shooting league with the intent to get today’s young folks into a lifetime of shooting, hunting, and fishing.
Libby Rod and Gun Club (LR&GC) – After extensive construction, the new LR&GC clubhouse, owned by Lincoln County on leased Kootenai NF property is finally completed and appears to be attracting a higher membership, especially for the Scattergunner’s Committee of LR&GC who held their BBQ, doubled their membership numbers and were featured as a full size spread in Western News. At their January meeting, Brian Baxter of Flathead Valley Community College presented a seminar on identification of animal tracks in the snow to a capacity crowd of over 40 people. Through track identification, anecdotal evidence has been gathered around Libby indicating that endangered Canadian Lynx numbers are increasing in NW MT. LR&GC is pleased with their new facility and glad it is bringing more attention to their club.
Medicine River Canoe Club (MRCC) – MRCC will hold their annual meeting and election of officers on February 12, 2010 when they’ll start developing a floating schedule for the coming year. Long-time MRCC educator Jim Meade will be conducting canoe classes at the Heisey Natatorium on Fridays and Saturdays in March. Call the Natatorium for more info.
Montana Falconers Association (MFA) – MFA is providing expert input into FWP’s regulatory process to retain last year’s decision to allow the highly-regulated taking of a limited number of peregrine falcon nestlings from the wild. Although falconry is one of the only activities that allows live wildlife to be taken, MFA believes fully in the UN definition for the sport that falconry is “an intangible cultural heritage”.
Park County R&G –PCR&GC is pretty much shut down for the winter as they get started with new-year memberships. Between efforts by MWF and PCR&GC the proposed Ameya Preserve state land bank purchase proposed for the Bullis Creek area south of Livingston (see Montana Wildlife July/August 2007.) has gone dormant. It is unlikely any action on this project will go forward as originally planned.
Public Land/Water Access Association (PLWA) – Some news regarding PLWA ‘s work to establish legal access on the Mabee Road near Roy, MT that the County Attorney recommended the County Commissioners do not pursue the legality of the road despite PLWA’s records research that confirms the road existed before homesteading patents were filed making it a public road as per the federal RS 2477 statute. Once again, Attorneys for the rancher dispute RS2477 status so PLWA is moving forward seeking people who have traversed the Mabee Road unrestricted in past years to establish public use patterns. We encourage your contact with PLWA, President John Gibson, 406-656-0384 jcgibson@imt.net; you may be asked to sign an affidavit to the effect that your statement is genuine. PLWA has been encouraging the Custer National Forest who is planning an eminent domain action to open a road into the Cherry Creek drainage south of Big Timber. PLWA is supporting development of the Holmgren Fishing Access Site which cuts the required floating time on the Yellowstone River in half
Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife Association (RCF&WA) – RCFWA continues to be involved with issues that involve Mitchell Slough, the waterway declared as state water open to access by the MT Supreme Court. Signs were posted by rocker Huey Lewis and financier Charles Schwab giving notice that waterfowl are being fed on their properties rendering the slough off-limits to waterfowl hunting. While this practice is essentially legal, Lewis and others stated publicly that the feeding is intended to stop hunting and not necessarily to benefit birds. Other Mitchell Slough residents requested a hunting closure and were denied by the FWP Commission. RCF&WA has been in negotiations with REG. 2 FWP to develop portage routes around barriers on Mitchell Slough. For more about RCF&WA and their activities, visit their new website www.rcfwa.com for more.
Rosebud/Treasure Wildlife Association (RTWA) – RTWA had a successful Christmas Party in December. RTWA continues to work with Forsyth based Game Warden, Matt Hagedorn on the disposition of confiscated big game carcasses. The meat is then made available to financially disadvantaged folks in Treasure County; RTWA has been funding the meat-processing costs for those recipients who can’t afford to cover expense, particularly the elderly.
Russell Country Sportsmen (RCSA) – RCSA continues its intensive participation in sportsmen’s issues in the Great Falls area. RCSA is actively seeking a walk-in only regulation for up to the first 10 days of the horn-hunting activities when the Sun River WMA opens on May 15, 2010. Some In recent years motorized and horse riding horn hunters have disrupted cow elk in their early stages of calving on the winter range. The FWP Commission has responded with a soft opening that is walk-in access only for the first 3 days. RCSA has been pursuing time extensions for hunt camps on FS land. RCS is active is deliberations involved with the Missouri Breaks Monument grazing lawsuit. RCSA remains vigilant with both the State Land Banking process and Habitat Montana concerned that habitat in central and eastern Montana will suffer due prioritization of western Montana land purchases.
RCSA has succeeded in securing increased hunting opportunities for disabled hunters. They had 15 meetings and made 4 trips to the Lewis and Clark National Forest to identify and develop and open hunting routes. Six disabled hunters were supplied maps and information on the 5-6 new roads/areas in the Little Belt Mountains and the Rocky Mountains Front.
RCSA has an active Board that remains involved in numerous projects to protect hunting and fishing activities. For more, contact President Dave Pavlicek by phone at 406-7878-5151 or by email at david.pavlicek@bnsf.com.
