Affiliate News

December and January have been busy months for MWF’s 23 affiliate clubs. Most affiliates had representation at the FWP December, Elk Summit and have been actively engaged in the FWP Tentative season setting process including support for the limited archery elk permits in the Missouri Breaks and nearby hunting districts, and for limited-permitted 900 antelope archery permits.

Anaconda Sportsmen Club Inc. (ASCI)

ASCI has been working with FWP to discourage a nearby elk harboring situation that is causing population management problems. Determined through the club’s deliberation, they will be engaging the FWP Commission to offer an extended season for antlerless elk to address the situation and encourage participation by the local landowners.

Big Sky Upland Bird Association (BSUBA)

BSUBA succeeded in getting an early youth pheasant hunt included in FWP’s 2008 proposed Tentative Regulations. In conformance with a resolution passed by MWF in 2006, BSUBA, GWA, and MWF have been actively engaging the FWP Commission in support of the measure. Additionally, BSUBA is exploring charitable grant opportunities to fund block management area(s) for youth pheasant hunters.

Billings Rod and Gun Club (BR&GC)

Once more Billings Rod and Gun Club is rewarding ranchers who allow public hunting on their property with free gate latches. This program has been utilized over a period of many years to show gratitude to those who welcome hunters onto their land. BR&GC has increased their family membership cap to 2000 memberships opening opportunities for more area sportsmen.

Bitterroot Valley Houndsmen (BVHA)

BVHA has been energetically working towards converting the current lion quota system in Region 2 to a permit system. This permit set-up was proposed by BVHA and MWF two years ago after a permit system was adopted for Region 1, but not for Region 2. BVHA and MWF succeeded in entering this permit option in FWP’s 2008 Tentative Seasons and Quotas currently out for public comment.

Custer Rod and Gun Club (CR&GC)

CR&GC hosted a public meeting that examined the BLM Pumpkin Creek Land exchange, which would consolidate scattered BLM parcels into one contiguous property, after a local sportsman raised the alarm about losing valuable accessible parcels with high hunting potential on and near the Tongue River. Forty people attended to voice concerns about the BLM, Miles City Office handling of the exchange process. CR&GC members strongly protested lack of public notice and public meetings. As the largest organization of sportsmen in the area, they were not even listed on the BLM contact list for the project. BLM accepted the comments and promised that such actions will “never happen again”.

CR&GC is meeting with Custer National Forest managers in Ashland within the next month to discuss the elimination of access roads or their conversion into administrative only roads, effectively limiting public access to the Forest.

Dawson County R & G (DCR&GC)

For the past several years, DCR&GC has sponsored and presented special appreciation awards at the FWP Region 7, Landowner Appreciation Dinner which honors Block Management cooperators. DCR&GC will do so once again in February. DCR&GC, along with MWF registered official protests to the BLM on the exchange of accessible BLM parcels within the Pumpkin Creek Land Exchange which were denied by the BLM State Director.

Flathead Wildlife Inc. (FWI)

FWI sent a recommendation to Flathead Co. Commissioners supporting streamside setbacks within a new county plan. Within Flathead County plans, the setbacks are designed to protect riparian habitats and provide opportunities for management of wildlife. On a similar note, the Church Slough boat ramp fought for last year by FWI may be installed this year (See article in Montana Wildlife April/May 2007). FWI members also joined with Libby Rod and Gun Club members in the bighorn sheep capture from Wild Horse Island in Flathead Lake for transplanting near Kootenai Falls south of Libby.

Gallatin Wildlife Association (GWA)

GWA continues to stay involved with issues relating to the management of wild bison in Montana.. They also toured BLM lands along the Madison where a new permit system is being considered by FWP and BLM. GWA actively pushed for the youth early pheasant season tentative with the FWP Commission.

Great Falls Archery (GFA)

GFA held their annual dinner January 19, 2008. Since a serious fall from a tree stand by a GFA Board member, tree stand safety was the subject of this and several future programs.

Helena Hunters and Anglers (HeH&A)

HeH&A’s January meeting concentrated on providing hunting/angling data for mapping efforts by MWF and Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) to address oil and gas impacts. By providing this information we get that much closer to determining where oil and gas exploration is not appropriate.

Hellgate Hunters and Anglers (HgH&A)

HgH&A hopes to match last year’s banquet success again on March 1, 2008. Senator Jon Tester has been invited to speak, but plans are yet to be confirmed. FWP Chairman, Steve Daugherty has been invited and will likely attend. A Beretta shotgun will be raffled and tickets for MWF’s Kimber rifle will also be available. Last year’s banquet attendance was over 200 people; with any luck, this year’s event will attract the same caliber of sportsmen and sportswomen. HgH&A also provided comments in the FWP Bighorn Sheep Strategy planning process and continues to engage BLM on oil and gas lease sale proposals.

Laurel Rod and Gun Club

LaR&GC has also participated with TRCP determining what lands are valuable for hunting and angling and shouldn’t be leased for oil and gas exploration. They are preparing for their spring membership drive and a banquet is scheduled for May 16, 2008 where several guns and other sporting equipment will be raffled.

Libby Rod and Gun Club (LiR&GC)

LiR&GC has finished a series of meetings/programs from various interests on the Scotchman Peaks proposed wilderness area. Interests as varied as the local snowmobile organization to Montana Wilderness Association to the Friends of Scotchman Peaks to retired FWP Biologist Gayle Joslin who studied the Mountain Goats in the “Peaks” that could be impacted by increased illegal motorized use of the area especially the recent trend for snowmobile “highmarking’ which challenges snow machine riders to climb higher up onto slopes exerting enormous stresses onto the wintering goats during their most vulnerable seasons. Because wilderness designation is a controversial issue, club policies dictate that a decision cannot be finalized during the meeting discussion; a vote to determine the club’s position is forthcoming at their February meeting.

President Don Clark and others assisted FWP biologists in capture efforts on Wild Horse Island in Flathead Lake where bighorn sheep were netted then transported to the Kootenai Falls area to augment that herd’s health.

Medicine River Canoe Club (MRCC)

MRCC is approaching its 2008 election of officers at February’s meeting. Projects for 2008 include installing and maintaining float-through gates on the Sun and Dearborn rivers, and organizing clean-up events on the Missouri and Sun rivers for May and June.

Park County R & G

A trap shoot and potluck dinner was held on New Year’s Day to kick off the new membership season, drawing 30 participants. PCR&GC continues to monitor the Ameya Preserve state land bank purchase proposed for the Bullis Creek area south of Livingston (see Montana Wildlife July/August 2007.)

Public Land/Water Access Association (PLAAI)

PLAAI continues to clarify public access opportunities in Montana. The Mabe Road that accesses the southern portion of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument is next on their list. Board members Bernard Lea and Ron Moody have performed the preliminary research on Mabe Road and are prepared to approach Fergus County Commissioners in the near future to request official recognition of the road as a public road. The Mabe road, where it penetrates the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, currently is designated as a numbered road which indicates an open refuge road for access purposes, the public status of other stretches through BLM and private land will soon be clarified if and when Fergus County Commissioners follow suit.

Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife Association (RCF&WA)

RCF&WA has consistently taken a proactive role in elk management in the Bitterroot Valley; several years ago they developed and entered their own local elk plan when FWP was within their 10 year Elk Plan process. RCF&WA is considering paying for an elk population study on the CV Ranch in HD 270. Because the ranch is large enough to impact local elk harvest, RCF&WA will request that the FWP Commission not include the number of elk on the ranch when calculating potential harvest for HD270.

Rosebud/Treasure Wildlife Association (RTWA)

RTWA has had five meetings in the last year on impacts to fish and wildlife by increased Coal Bed Methane exploration and they continue to be concerned. On February 5, 2008 they will confer with TRCP to determine what areas should be off limits to oil and gas exploration due to high fish an wildlife densities in their area.

Russell Country Sportsmen (RCSA)

RCSA continues its intensive participation in Forest Service travel planning in the Little Belts. Members are engaged with the Sun River Working Group which are developing options for addressing the sale of the Neill Ranch in the Willow Creek area near the Sun River Wildlife Management Area west of Augusta. The loss of this prime wildlife habitat to subdivision would be a serious impact.

RCSA will work with the Devil’s Kitchen Working Group to address impacts from last summer fires in the Gates of Mountains Wilderness, Beartooth Game Range, and Holter Lake areas.