Conservation Hawks

BIGFORK, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Sportsmen have a new resource to protect fish and wildlife populations and hunting and fishing opportunities: Conservation Hawks is a new conservation group dedicated to educating hunters and anglers on the most important threats to our natural resources and outdoors traditions.

A non-partisan group run by passionate, dedicated sportsmen, Conservation Hawks’ mission is to “defend our sporting heritage and pass on a healthy natural world to future generations of Americans.”

Conservation Hawks believes climate change is this century’s most important threat to sportsmen. The group’s initial efforts will focus on informing and mobilizing the sporting community on the issue.

“It’s time to stand up and show we give a damn about our kids and our grandkids – and about our hunting and fishing,” said CH Founder and Chair Todd Tanner. “If we don’t get a handle on climate change, we’re putting everything we care about at risk.”

Conservation Hawks supports a science-based approach to climate change and climate change mitigation. The organization is convinced that America’s conservation legacy will evaporate and benefits from past habitat projects will disappear if future greenhouse gas emissions can’t be controlled.

Wildlife biologist William Geer, the climate change initiative manager for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and a former director of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, sits on the Conservation Hawks board of directors.

“As a biologist,” Geer stated, “I can tell you that climate change is real and that it’s already impacting our fish and wildlife. As a father and grandfather, I can tell you that global warming scares the hell out of me.”

Conservation Hawks is registered as a Montana nonprofit public benefit corporation and has received tax exempt status from the Montana Department of Revenue.

Learn more about Conservation Hawks and its vision for the future of hunting and angling.

Springtac Holsters Supports Wardell MO Volunteer Fire Dept Auction

Spring Tac Holsters

Wardell, MO --(Ammoland.com)- Springtac Holsters would like to invite anyone who may be in the southeast corner of the state of Missouri on Feb. 11 2012 to stop in and support the auction held by the Wardell volunteer Fire Dept.

Springtac Holsters is honored to be a part of their efforts.

Jason says: The Wardell Volunteer Fire Department is a member driven department in the rural southeast Missouri boot-heel region. We cover a large land area with mostly farmland and sparse establishments of homes that are mostly occupied with low income family.

We operate nearly entirely off of a budget made up of the proceeds from our annual Volunteer Dinner and Auction. This has allowed us to make payments on our station and the matches to our federal grants. This year’s auction which will be held February 11, 2012 is an especially important time as not only is it the 21st annual auction, it is the second year of making a payment on the match on our new apparatus and one of the last two payments on our station.

Thanks Jason Ward, and the Wardell Volunteer Fire Department, for allowing Springtac Holsters the opportunity to serve you.

About:
Springtac Holsters is the manufacturer of gun holsters designed to conceal carry firearms with lasers or TAC lights attached to the tac rail built into the weapon in font of the trigger guard. Visit them at www.springtacholsters.com

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

MALTA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wants to alert all hunters to important updates to the 2012 preseason calendar, especially new deadline and drawing dates.

The biggest change this year is the deadline for residents and nonresidents to apply for deer and elk permits – now March 15.

This date was moved up to allow hunters more time to prepare for hunts. Drawings for those permits will now occur in mid-April as opposed to July.

IMPORTANT PRESEASON DATES FOR HUNTERS

February 16

FWP Commission addresses hunting districts with pending quotas

• March 15: Deadline to apply for deer and elk permits (NEW)
• March 15: 2012 Season regulations available (ONLINE)
• Early April: 2012 Deer/elk/antelope regulations available (PRINTED)
• Mid April: Drawing for deer and elk permits
• May 1: Deadline to apply for moose, goat, sheep, and bison licenses
• June 1: Deadline to apply for antlerless deer B, elk B, and antelope licenses
• July 16: Drawing for antlerless deer B and antlerless elk B licenses

At the February 16 FWP Commission meeting, quotas will be finalized for hunting districts with pending quotas. It is important that hunters interested in applying for special deer and elk permits in districts with pending quotas wait until after February 16 to make their choices and submit applications.

The deadline to apply for moose, sheep, goat, and bison licenses remains May 1, while June 1 remains the deadline to apply for antlerless deer B and elk B licenses as well as antelope licenses.

FWP urges hunters to apply for licenses online. For more information, log onto fwp.mt.gov and click on “hunting.”

Retired FWP employees, freed from the institutional FWP muzzle, tell that FWP-tolerated wolves are turning the Montana landscape into a biological desert...

Montana Shooting Sports Association

Missoula, MT --(Ammoland.com)- The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks is reported to be running out of money because of decreased hunting license purchases, and is considering asking the Legislature for license fee increases.

This is the first obvious symptom of something known as agency “death spiral” for FWP.

Over the past two decades, FWP has come to focus on wildlife and biology, when it should have been focused on fish and game.

This includes FWP’s shocking tolerance and support for large predators. FWP’s total, willing, even eager cooperation with fostering excessive populations of large predator has long been predicted to end in a financial crash for the agency, as word unavoidably spreads that there is no game left to hunt so there is no reason to buy a license.

For too long, FWP leaders have leaned on the scales of public policy by making excuses for the devastation wrought upon game herds by large predators, by fudging game counts and census numbers, and by blaming any game population declines that could not be covered up on climate change, sunspots, lazy hunters, or aliens – anything but the truth.

This coverup culture has been fostered by senior staff, always near retirement, who knew they’d be long gone from the hot seat when the FWP financial bus blundered off a cliff.

If the overall FWP attitude had not been so Hell-bent on “ecosystem management,” “biological diversity,” “natural balance” and other similar catchy but terminal “green” ideas destined to end hunting, FWP managers would have predicted the current agency financial crisis years ago. Nobody at FWP noticed or cared several years ago when the editor of the NRA’s nationwide American Hunter magazine published a feature article about his fruitless elk hunting trip to southwest Montana, a trip where the only tracks he saw were wolf tracks. Nobody at FWP noticed or cared about the other hundreds of warnings from Montana citizens.

Worse, those warnings were even ridiculed by FWP in mad pursuit of its own elite agenda.

The stock mantra from FWP managers has been: We’re the professionals. We know best. The outcome that concerned citizens predict will never come to pass. The “evidence” of crashing game herds citizens offer is just “campfire stories” and is without merit because it doesn’t come from paid FWP “professionals.”

Yet when retired FWP employees, freed from the institutional FWP muzzle, tell that FWP-tolerated wolves are turning the Montana landscape into a “biological desert,” FWP dismisses such comments summarily.

For the last two decades, FWP has been busy digging a hole for itself. As it sees daylight disappearing around the edges of the hole, it still won’t quit digging.

Of course, the obvious solution for the bureaucratic-bound and reality-disconnected FWP will be to announce,

“We’ve been managing wildlife for the general public (including the non-Montana public) for years. Now we need the general public to pay the bills.”

FWP has so fouled its nest by wasting the Montana hunting resource on predators and inadvisably removing hunters from the economic equation that it will now go to the Legislature asking for relief, including increased fees that hunters simply won’t pay to access a vanishing resource, and, ultimately, asking for tax increases on the general taxpayer seeking a bailout from the results of its bad decisions.

You can bet that when FWP approaches the Legislature demanding an allowance increase as a reward for having flunked Econ 101, MSSA and thousands of Montana hunters will be there to say “Absolutely no way.” FWP has not only ignored the many warnings from Montana hunters, it has mocked and disrespected them. Also ignoring a state law requiring it to control large predators to protect game herds, FWP has bulled its way down a path surrounded with warning signs.

What FWP needs is not more or alternate sources of money, but a total change in attitude and culture. Until that happens, let FWP starve! It is not serving Montana.

About Montana Shooting Sports Association:
MSSA is the primary political advocate for Montana gun owners. Visit: www.mtssa.org

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Longtime volunteers of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Keith and Linda Ward of Huson, Mont., have finalized a deal to permanently protect 1,050 acres of area ranchland that serve as important habitat for elk and other wildlife.

On Dec. 16, the Wards placed their Checkpoint Ranch, some 20 miles west of Missoula, Mont., between Ninemile and Sixmile creeks, under conservation easement with RMEF.

The legal agreement restricts development in perpetuity even if land ownership changes.
Affected acres will always be, “much as they are today–farmland, ranchland and native wetlands, meadows and forests,” said Mike Mueller, lands program manager for RMEF.

RMEF brokered the deal, assisted with the legal processes and will monitor easement provisions annually.

“Checkpoint Ranch is one of the largest remaining private parcels in the area, and since it’s connected to adjoining federal and state lands, the conservation impacts of this easement are truly on a landscape scale,” said Mueller. “Habitat fragmentation is a real concern with the increasing subdivision in the Ninemile area. By protecting this ranch, we’ve helped secure the viability of habitat across a much larger area.”

Habitat on the ranch supports an area elk herd of 150-200 animals. Elk are most abundant on the ranch during fall rut, winter and calving season–in fact, biologists say the ranch is one of the preferred calving areas in the surrounding region.

Many other game and nongame species also are commonly observed.

The easement does not provide public access. However, in partnership with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Dept. (FWP) and RMEF, the Wards have developed an elk management plan and enrolled part of their property in a special FWP program that provides the public with limited, high-quality, herd-management hunting opportunities.

The 1,050-acre tract, part of the historic Scheffer Ranch now owned for 20 years by the Ward family, is actually protected via two different easements. One 890-acre easement was partially donated by the Wards and partially funded by the Missoula County Open Space Bond Program. An adjoining 160-acre easement, which covers the original Scheffer Ranch homestead, was fully donated by the Wards.

Combined, the value of the Wards’ donations is approximately $2.7 million.

David Allen, RMEF president and CEO, thanked the Wards for their generosity and credited three RMEF partners–Missoula County Commission, Missoula County Rural Initiatives and Missoula County Open Lands Citizen Advisory Committee–for “using open space bond funds to save an incredible piece of wild country in the kind of place that’s prone to future development.”

Supporters of the project included Lolo National Forest, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Montana Department of Transportation, Ninemile Wildlife Movement Area Working Group and Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Keith Ward, president of Bob Ward and Sons Sporting Goods, has served multiple volunteer terms on the RMEF board of directors. He is a past chairman of the board and has served a variety of leadership roles on committees. The Wards also are active in many other conservation and sporting organizations.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
RMEF is leading a conservation initiative that has protected or enhanced habitat on over 6 million acres–an area larger than Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain and Great Smoky Mountains national parks combined. RMEF also is a strong voice for hunters in access, wildlife management and conservation policy issues. RMEF members, partners and volunteers, working together as Team Elk, are making a difference all across elk country. Join us at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

HAVRE, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- A Havre-area man has plead guilty to multiple misdemeanor charges in connection with illegally guiding hunters and violating other state wildlife protection laws.

Kenneth Jay Wilson, 50, is a resident of Laredo, a tiny community located about 10 miles southwest of Havre.

He recently pleaded guilty in Hill County Justice Court to two counts of harassing/chasing a game animal with a vehicle; one count of soliciting a nonresident to hunt without landowner permission; one count of soliciting a nonresident to hunter without a waterfowl stamp; hunting game birds without a license; one count of soliciting the hunting of big game without a license; and two counts of acting as an outfitter or guide without a license.

For those convictions, Hill County Justice of the Peace Audrey Barger ordered Wilson to pay a total of $6,380 in fines, fees and restitution and sentenced him to four years in the county jail, all time suspended if he pays the assessment and remains law-abiding.

As part of that total, Wilson must pay $2,775 to the state for fees he received for illegal guiding activities. He also forfeited his privileges to hunt, trap or fish for two years. In return for the guilty pleas, 21 other related misdemeanor charges were dismissed.

In Chouteau County Justice Court, Wilson also pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor count of acting as an outfitter or guide without a license.

He was fined $835, must forfeit privileges to hunt, trap, fish or accompany anyone else in the field for two years, and must write an apology to an area landowner, whose property was hunted on without permission.

As part of a plea agreement, two other related misdemeanor charges were dismissed.

“A total disregard for hunting laws was revealed during this investigation,” said FWP Region 6 Investigator Lennie Buhmann. “The situation needed to be addressed, and it was.”

Steve Daines and daughter Caroline in Eastern MT

Gun Owners of America

Washington, DC --(Ammoland.com)- Dear Friend of the Second Amendment,

I hope you are enjoying this holiday season. Even as we reflect on the blessings of the past year, GOA is preparing for major battles in the crucial election year of 2012.

One of the most important elections is taking place in Montana, where Steve Daines is running for the state’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. Daines is a fifth generation Montanan, a successful businessman (an actual job creator) and an avid firearms enthusiast and sportsman.

I first interviewed Steve over the summer, after he had scored a perfect grade on the GOA survey. I’ve since spent time getting to know Steve and his wife of 24 years, Cindy, and I can tell you he’ll be a true warrior in the battle over the Second Amendment.

And based on what’s going on in Washington, we need people like him in Congress. Many members of Congress claim to support the right to keep and bear arms, but then go soft when they get pressured by their anti-gun colleagues, President Obama and the media.

Just this past year, following the shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, we’ve seen Republicans and Democrats alike attempt to pass gun control laws in an effort to “do something” about crime. And once again, the response to a shooting was to restrict the rights of the millions of Americans who had nothing to do with the violent act.

You and I know that “feel good” legislation restricting our gun rights only make us less safe, but that doesn’t stop the gun control crowd. And that’s why it’s important to elect strong allies who, once elected, can be relied upon to stand firm for our gun rights.

Steve Daines is that kind of person. He understands that law-abiding gun owners are part of the solution to crime in America, not part of the problem. Steve is a man of principle who will not support the Second Amendment one day, and then vote with Nancy Pelosi the next.

Gun Owners of America Political Victory Fund is proud to stand with Steve Daines for Congress, and we urge gun owners and sportsmen throughout the country to get behind this campaign as well. Once he’s elected, he’ll be battling for the Second Amendment rights of all Americans.

You also know that it takes a lot of money to run a successful campaign on television and radio, and the end of the year financial reporting is a particularly important time for Steve’s campaign.

So please consider making a year-end contribution to this pro-gun champion by clicking here.

Thank you for standing with Steve Daines and on behalf of your friends at Gun Owners of America, have a happy and safe New Year.

P.S. After you visit Steve Daine’s website, don’t forget to “Like” him on Facebook, too.

Paid for by Gun Owners of America Political Victory Fund. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

About:
Gun Owners of America (GOA) is a non-profit lobbying organization formed in 1975 to preserve and defend the Second Amendment rights of gun owners. GOA sees firearms ownership as a freedom issue. `The only no comprise gun lobby in Washington’ – Ron Paul

Montana and Idaho Adapting Wolf Harvest Strategies - Credit: Michael Cutmore,

Wildlife Management Institute

Gardners, PA --(Ammoland.com)- State wildlife agencies in Idaho and Montana are closely monitoring their respective wolf harvests and making adjustments midway through their second season managing wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains, reports the Wildlife Management Institute.

At a recent meeting, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) Commission extended the wolf-hunting season and made other adjustments to regulations to increase the effectiveness of hunting as a management tool.

In Idaho, the Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) is planning to use government trappers and aerial gunning to remove wolves in a remote wolf-harvest zone where public hunting and trapping have fallen short of the management objective.

The first modern wolf seasons in the northern Rocky Mountains occurred in 2009, following a ruling by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that removed wolves in Idaho and Montana from the list of threatened and endangered species. That year, Montana set a harvest quota of 75 wolves; Idaho’s quota was 220. Between August 2009 and March 2010, hunters killed a total of 72 wolves in Montana and 188 in Idaho. Neither state allowed wolf trapping during that first year.

A second season scheduled for the fall and winter of 2010-11 was blocked by a successful court challenge to the 2009 delisting rule. Congress reinstated the federal rule in April 2011, and precluded any further legal challenges to delisting in Montana and Idaho, setting the stage for the states to resume harvest. Idaho authorized both hunting and trapping for wolves, whereas Montana chose to continue hunting only.

Both states designed this year’s regulations to reduce overall wolf numbers, in response to concerns about the impact of wolves on livestock and big game in some areas. Montana adopted the same hunting season as 2009, September 1 to December 31, but increased the number of Wolf Management Units (WMU) from 3 to 14 to distribute harvest more effectively across the state. Because each WMU has its own quota, managers can achieve higher harvest in some areas, such as the upper Bitterroot drainage where elk numbers have declined substantially, and avoid overharvest in other areas with fewer wolves. Modeling predicts that a harvest equal to the quota of 220 would reduce the year-end minimum total wolf numbers approximately 25 percent, from 566 in 2010 to a predicted 425 in 2011.

The management objectives in Idaho are to reduce overall wolf numbers from a population in excess of 1,000 in 2011 to a level in balance with other big game species, to reduce attacks on livestock and domestic animals, and to keep wolves from encroaching on populated areas. Based on results of the 2009 season, Idaho set quotas for 5 of the 13 harvest zones to prevent localized overharvest, but set no upper limit for the statewide take.

Idaho’s 2011 wolf season began August 30, with 13 wolf harvest zones used to distribute hunting. The season will close in 2 zones on December 31. The season will extend until March 31, 2012 in 9 zones and until June 30 in the Selway and Lolo harvest zones. The late closure in the Selway and Lolo zones is intended to give spring bear hunters the opportunity to take wolves in those units, where elk numbers have declined substantially in recent years. Managers want to remove 60 wolves in the Lolo zone, because wolf predation is a major mortality factor for elk calves.

Idaho also authorized wolf trapping for the first time beginning November 15. Anyone planning to trap wolves must attend a special wolf trapper education workshop before purchasing a wolf-trapping license.

By the end of Montana’s general big game season on November 27, hunters reported taking only 100 wolves, with harvest quotas reached in only 1 of 18 WMUs. One additional WMU quota was met on December 5.

Given the low harvest rates, the MFWP Commission last month proposed extending the season to February 15 in the remaining 16 WMUs. MFWP Wildlife Management Section Chief, Quentin Kujala, reported that public comments on the proposed season extension were deeply polarized, as is typical with most wolf-management issues.

At its December 8 meeting, the MFWP Commission discussed the season extension and other regulation changes, including allowing the use of electronic calls, but could not implement some of those without amendments to state statutes. The Montana legislature next convenes in 2013. After taking additional public comment, and in the hope of enhancing harvest success, the Commission adopted the season extension and waived the requirement of 400 square inches of “hunter orange” above the waist.

At the same meeting, the MFWP Commission authorized the use of hunters to assist landowners and USDA Wildlife Services remove depredating wolves outside the normal hunting season dates. Although hunters will have to purchase a license and obey all hunting regulations, wolves taken as part of depredation-control efforts will not count against the hunting quota, because those limits take into consideration the likely number of wolves to be removed in control actions. Kraig Glazier, Wildlife Services’ District Supervisor in Helena, said that adding hunters to the toolbox gives his agency one more way to work with producers to protect livestock at a time when budgets are tight.

As of December 12, hunters in Idaho reported taking 155 wolves and trappers reported taking an additional 3. None of the zones with limited harvests had reached their quota, and only 6 wolves were reported taken in the Lolo zone. IDFG Regional Supervisor in Lewiston, Dave Cadwalladar, said the department is planning to use government trappers and aerial gunning in the Lolo zone to achieve the desired take. Although use of helicopters to remove wolves last spring was not cost-effective, due to lack of snow cover, Cadwallader believes success may be higher in mid-winter.

Some wolf-protection advocates claim that Montana’s season extension and Idaho’s plans to use government trappers and aerial gunning are evidence that the states cannot be trusted to manage wolves. In contrast, Montana Wildlife Federation acting Executive Director Ben Lamb described the WFWP Commission’s decisions as, “A great example of adaptive management.”

Managing wolves is a new endeavor for the Idaho and Montana wildlife agencies, but regulating harvest to achieve scientifically sound objectives is a long- and well-established practice. Quotas in all of Montana’s WMUs and some harvest zones in Idaho, combined with continued monitoring of the overall take will ensure that the total number of wolves killed does not jeopardize the population. Although both states want to reduce wolf numbers, neither wants to risk re-listing or loss of management authority.

About:
Wildlife Management Institute: Founded in 1911, WMI is a private, nonprofit, scientific and educational organization, dedicated to the conservation, enhancement and professional management of North America’s wildlife and other natural resources. Visit: www.wildlifemanagementinstitute.org

Montana Shooting Sports Association

Missoula, MT --(Ammoland.com)- A couple of you have asked for an update on the lawsuits MSSA is involved in. There are two in process and one maybe in the works.

Campaign spending. MSSA is a plaintiff in a lawsuit now before the Montana Supreme Court attempting to implement in Montana the Citizens United v. FEC decision by the US Supreme Court.

In the Citizens United case, the USSC held that corporations, as accumulations of individuals, cannot be prohibited from spending to influence the outcome of elections. Montana officials said that notwithstanding this USSC decision, Montana intended to continue enforcing its ban on corporate spending in elections. So, MSSA joined in a lawsuit in state court to force Montana to comply with the decision of the USSC.

In the Montana lawsuit, MSSA argued that it is a non-profit corporation under Montana law, specifically founded to play in politics. Further, MSSA argued, that MSSA members expect MSSA to spend their dues money to elect good and sympathetic people to office in Montana. Therefore, MSSA concluded, the prohibition on corporate spending prohibition should be ended in Montana for the same reasons given by the USSC in the Citizens United decision.

The state district court agreed with MSSA. The State of Montana appealed the district court decision to the Montana Supreme Court. The case has been argued there. We are now awaiting a decision by the MSC.

Montana Firearms Freedom Act. Most of you know that the Montana Firearms Freedom Act, invented and championed by MSSA and enacted in 2009, was designed to challenge federal power asserted under the power given to the federal government in the Constitution to “regulate commerce … among the states” – the Commerce Clause. The MFFA declares that any firearms made and retained in Montana are not subject to any federal authority under the Commerce Clause. Firearms are the vehicle for this exercise, but the subjects of the exercise are the Commerce Clause, federal power, and the Ninth and Tenth Amendments.

MSSA filed suit, along with the Second Amendment Foundation, in federal district court on October 1, 2009, the day the MFFA became effective, in attempt to validate the principles of the MFFA. This suit is MSSA v. Holder (U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder) We hope to reverse a half-century of bad Commerce Clause court precedent that currently gives the federal government carte blanche authority to regulate anything and everything, including non-commerce that happens wholly within one state. Because existing precedents are established by the U.S. Supreme Court, we must get all the way to the USSC to achieve the goal we seek.

The federal district court in Missoula ruled against us, as expected. We appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. MSSA and its many amicus partners have filed all the necessary briefs with the Ninth Circuit, and we’ve been waiting for the Ninth Circuit to designate a three-judge panel to hear the suit, and to set oral argument.

We just learned today that the Ninth Circuit has applied a stay of proceedings to MSSA v. Holder until it decides the case of Nordyke v. King, a Second/Fourteenth Amendment case that has been kicking around California for a decade. The question in Nordyke is whether the Second Amendment prevents a municipality in California from barring a gun show from the local public fairgrounds. Because the USSC ruled recently in McDonald v. Chicago that the Fourteenth Amendment causes the Second Amendment to restrict state and local governments, the Ninth Circuit has allowed a rehearing of a previously adverse decision in Nordyke.

Frankly, I don’t quite see the connection – why the Ninth Circuit thinks MSSA v. Holder is similar to Nordyke, so it should hold up looking at MSSA until it re-decides Nordyke. MSSA v. Holder is not primarily a Second Amendment case. It is primarily about the Commerce Clause and the Ninth and Tenth Amendments. By contrast, Nordyke is a Second/Fourteenth Amendment case.

But then, maybe the Ninth Circuit just hasn’t grasped that difference. Or, maybe the Ninth Circuit is taking seriously MSSA’s claim that the involvement of the Second, Ninth and Tenth Amendments in MSSA v. Holder will require the courts to apply a standard of review to Commerce Clause asserted power other than the historic and slam-dunk “rational basis” used for all prior Commerce Clause precedents.

If you want to know more about all of this, you may read a couple of short essays I wrote:

• Jury-rigging the Commerce Clause
• Making Sense of the Ninth Amendment and the Montana Firearms Freedom Act Interplay

So, now we wait for the Ninth Circuit to decide Nordyke (again) before it will consider MSSA v. Holder. Stay tuned, but don’t hold your breath.

Helena ban on possession of loaded guns. The Montana preemption law at 45-8-351 prohibits cities and counties from regulating firearms, except for narrow conditions defined in that law. Notwithstanding this prohibition, the City of Helena has a longstanding ordinance on its books that makes it a crime to possess a loaded firearm within the City of Helena. MSSA has written a letter to the City Attorney demanding that Helena amend this ordinance to cause it to conform to state law. We’re still waiting for an answer (that probably won’t come). Meanwhile, we are discussing with attorneys a lawsuit against the City of Helena to force the City to comply with state law.

That’s enough for now. Merry Christmas to all of you!

Best wishes,

About Montana Shooting Sports Association:
MSSA is the primary political advocate for Montana gun owners. Visit: www.mtssa.org

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

GLASGOW, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Winter can be tough on big game – especially deer and pronghorn antelope – and one way to make it easier for them is for private landowners and public land users to leave gates open so the animals aren’t blocked by fences.

“We’re asking farmers and ranchers to leave gates open wherever possible once their livestock and harvesting equipment has been moved out for the season,” said Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) Wildlife Biologist Kelvin Johnson.

“This is especially helpful for antelope, because in many areas they will soon be trying to migrate. And as we saw last winter in particular, fences, closed gates and other obstructions can keep antelope from successfully reaching their traditional wintering grounds.”

Most antelope try to avoid jumping fences. Where possible, they prefer to slide under the bottom wire of a fence to get to the other side. But when snow is deep and drifted, sliding under can become difficult and the animals can easily get trapped.

“It may seem like a small thing, but leaving gates open can make life a lot easier for animals that are trying to find areas with less snow, better cover and more reliable food sources,” Johnson said, adding that FWP is working in conjunction with the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to get the word out to permittees, partners and landowners.

“Keeping gates open on public lands in the winter clearly helps wildlife,” said Phoebe J. Patterson, the BLM’s new Glasgow field manager. “I think it’s a great opportunity for the two agencies to work together with our permittees, hunters and other recreationists to help make winters easier for these animals wherever we can.”

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is on record supporting a proposal to extend wolf-hunting seasons in Montana through the end of 2011, and beyond if necessary, until the harvest quota is met.

In a Nov. 28, 2011, letter to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department, RMEF President and CEO David Allen wrote, “RMEF believes that it is very important that hunters be allowed as much time as possible during these winter months to harvest the statewide quota of 220 wolves.”

Allen reminded the agency that elk and other big game herds in certain areas are being significantly impacted by burgeoning wolf populations, along with black bears, grizzlies and mountain lions. RMEF encouraged state officials to actively manage and control predators in these areas.

RMEF also suggested reviewing “means of take” regulations to maximize opportunities for hunters to meet harvest quotas.

“It is very unlikely that sport hunting will provide adequate control of wolf populations going forward. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the public should prepare for more aggressive wolf control methods, perhaps as early as summer 2012,” added Allen.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
RMEF is leading a conservation initiative that has protected or enhanced habitat on over 6 million acres–an area larger than Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain and Great Smoky Mountains national parks combined. RMEF also is a strong voice for hunters in access, wildlife management and conservation policy issues. RMEF members, partners and volunteers, working together as Team Elk, are making a difference all across elk country. Join us at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Montana Deer Harvest Picks up in Final Days

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

MALTA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Deer harvest picked up pace in the final week of big game season in west-central Montana, bumping check station reported harvests closer to 2010 than they were mid-season.

At the Darby hunter check station, more hunters brought home more deer than they had in the fifth and final week of the season since 2007. And at the Anaconda and Bonner check stations, deer harvest was comparable to the final weekend of the season in recent years.

“It was a busy final week of big game season this year, both in hunter numbers and harvest,” says Mike Thompson, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 2 Wildlife Manager. “We had a really slow mid season, but in the end, a lot of hunters decided to give it one more go last week, and the deer rut made conditions just right for upping the deer harvest during the final days of the season.”

For the season, region-wide check stations totals show a reported harvest 12 percent under 2010 totals for mule deer and 14 percent below for whitetails, and even further below the long-term average.

“We would have been a lot further behind if we hadn’t has such a good fifth week for deer,” says Thompson.

Thompson says that he expected deer harvest to be lower than the long-term average, due to low deer numbers in some parts of the region and corresponding limitations in antlerless hunting opportunity to help those numbers bounce back.

No place feels the tightening of the regulations more than the Bonner hunter check station where mule deer and whitetail harvest this year was half of what it was just three years ago.

“Season totals for mule and white-tailed deer harvest were significantly down again this season at the Bonner check station,” says FWP wildlife biologist Jay Kolbe, “Still, we checked some great white-tailed bucks during the last weekend and enjoyed seeing a number of youth hunters with their first elk or deer.”

Region-wide, elk harvest finished slightly below 2010 and 25 percent under the five-year average. Elk hunters did not see the same bump in harvest during the final week.

“Reports from hunters indicated that there was snow up high, but not enough to move the elk down to areas where they were more accessible,” says Thompson, “And those hunters that did make it to those areas found crunchy snow that made hunting really tough.”

The Anaconda hunter check station had the best season-end harvest numbers for elk. Ninety elk passed through the station this year—the highest reported since 2000 when the station tallied 98 elk. The station’s average over the past 30 years is 72 elk.

Overall, nearly 8 percent of hunters that passed through one of the three hunter check stations harvested deer or elk this season, up from 7 percent last year.

Hunter success was higher still on FWP’s Fish Creek Wildlife Management Area and surrounding public lands during the final weekend, where 14 percent of hunters passing through a new experimental game check station at the mouth of Fish Creek in Mineral County had a deer or elk in tow. FWP wildlife biologist Vickie Edwards tallied 420 hunters with 52 white-tailed deer, 6 mule deer and two elk on the last weekend.

At the season’s end, check station tallies showed 16,682 hunter visits compared to 17,890 in 2010 and a hunter harvest of 542 elk compared to 565, 173 mule deer compared to 197, and 554 white-tailed deer compared to 643. Twelve wolves, six black bears, four bighorn sheep, two moose and two mountain goats also passed through the stations.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

MALTA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- One week remains for big game rifle season, and so far hunter harvest totals for deer are about 25 percent behind this point in the 2010 season in west-central Montana, while elk harvest is only slightly down.

Deer harvest lags region-wide, due largely, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 2 Wildlife Manager, Mike Thompson, says to a low number of “B licenses” that are available to hunters. These licenses allow hunters to harvest an antlerless deer, in addition to the deer they can take with their general Deer A license.

FWP made a large cut to in these “B” licenses in 2010 and another slight cut this season because of decreases in mule deer and white-tailed deer numbers in many parts of the region.

“Right now our hunting regulations are prescribing a lower hunter harvest to help deer numbers bounce back in the areas where they need to,” says Thompson.

Antlerless “B” licenses for elk are also limited in many parts of the region, but overall, regional elk harvest totals are down just slightly from 2010 and 25 percent from the five-year average region-wide.

Most of the cut in elk harvest is coming from the southern Bitterroot valley, where hunting for elk is almost completely closed in the West Fork (HD 250) except for a few permit holders, Thompson says, and more limited in the East Fork (HD 270) than it used to be just a few years ago.

At the Anaconda station, elk harvest is up from 2010 and the long-term average and the Bonner check station’s elk tally of 88 is up slightly from 83 last year.

Fewer extra licenses in hunters’ hands seems to be translating into fewer hunters passing through the check stations day after day as well. Region-wide, hunter trips through the check stations are down 12 percent from last year.

“The deer rut and snowfall has some hunters excited to get back in the field and give it one more go this year,” Thompson says, “And many of those hunters are having success. But overall, folks are being more strategic about when they hunt and are not out there day after day, trying to fill the special tags like they have in some years.”

Overall, over seven percent of hunters that passed through one of the three hunter check stations harvested game, which is on par with 2010.

Hunter check stations are also recording the wolves that happen to pass through this season. The Darby station has checked nine wolves so far this season, and the Bonner and Anaconda stations have each seen one. Hunters are required to report their wolf harvest, and statewide, wolf harvest is at 89 of a 220 quota, and 18 of those were harvested in west-central Montana’s Region 2.

Overall, check station tallies show 12,391 hunter visits compared to 14,098 in 2010 and a hunter harvest of 412 elk compared to 427, 132 mule deer compared to 175, and 331 white-tailed deer compared to 451. Eleven wolves, six black bears, four bighorn sheep, two moose and one mountain goat have also passed through the stations.

Hunters are reminded that they must stop at all check stations that they pass on their way to or from hunting—even if they have not harvested any animals. The general rifle season for deer and elk runs through Sunday, Nov. 27.

This 7x7 bull elk was shot and killed by poachers last week off Clear Creek Road south of Chinook. (Photo courtesy Montana FWP)

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

CHINOOK, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- State wildlife investigators are seeking help from the public regarding the illegal shooting of a large bull elk south of Chinook in Blaine County, MT.

Havre-area Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Warden Ron Howell said the

7×7 bull was shot sometime between 5 p.m. on Sun., Nov. 6 and 7 a.m. on Mon., Nov. 7 off the Clear Creek Road. The elk’s head and antlers were left intact, and all of the meat was left to rot.

Anyone with information about the poaching case is asked to call Howell directly at 406-262-2407, FWP Region 6 Warden Sgt. Shane Reno at 406-262-3133, or FWP’s 24-hour TIP-MONT hotline at 1-800-847-6668.

Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward up to $1,000.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

HAVRE, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Mid-season figures compiled from the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 6 game check station outside Havre show a strong elk harvest this season but greatly reduced numbers of hunters and harvested deer and pronghorn antelope.

“The first four weekends of the Havre check station have seen a decrease in hunters and in harvest,” said FWP Havre-area Wildlife Biologist Scott Hemmer. “Hunter numbers so far are down 31 percent from last year.”

Hemmer said the decline in the number of hunters checked is likely the result of decreases in the numbers of licenses issued this year and reduced game numbers caused by last year’s extremely harsh winter and a summer outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease, commonly known as EHD.

Hemmer said the check station’s largest observed decline was in antelope harvest, which so far has been down 71 percent from last year and 79 percent from the long-term average.

“Hunter reports have been consistent that antelope numbers are far below normal,” Hemmer said.

While reports of sightings from upland bird hunter have been mixed, upland bird harvest has also been lower than last year, as well as lower than the long-term average. Generally, pheasant hunters have reported seeing fewer birds overall, but sightings have been more frequent in the northeast corner of the Region.

Hemmer said reports of sharp-tailed grouse and Hungarian partridge have been spotty. Some hunters reported seeing increased numbers of birds, while others reported fewer. The increased vegetative cover present in many areas this year also may be impeding harvest.

Check station information gathered so far shows mule deer harvest is down 46 percent from the long-term average, while the white-tailed deer harvest is down 38 percent.

“Hunters have reported seeing fewer deer for both species,” Hemmer said. “The warmer, windy weather has also impacted hunter participation and success for deer hunters. White-tailed deer hunters have reported observing and harvesting a large number of fawns without does, which is likely a consequence of the EHD outbreak. There has also been a large number of mule deer harvested this year with their antlers still in velvet.”

Hemmer said the Region 6 elk harvest has been the main bright spot this season. Elk harvest is up 127 percent from last year and 67 percent above the long-term average.

“Hunters have reported observing good numbers of elk, and they’ve noted that elk have been located in areas where they are more accessible than in past years,” Hemmer said.

Duck harvest has also been up this year, even though warmer weather this fall has kept some hunters home. All reports have indicated near-record numbers of waterfowl in Canada this year, so there will be a potential for excellent waterfowl hunting with the onset of winter weather.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

MALTA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- West-central Montana check station totals were slow but steady for the first week of rifle season and showed a below average harvest for deer, alongside an above average elk harvest.

The above average elk harvest, according to Regional Wildlife Manager, Mike Thompson, is not consistent across all parts of the region. Elk numbers and hunter license opportunity are down in the southern reaches of the Bitterroot Valley, the northern Blackfoot Valley, and in much of the western part of the region, while the eastern parts of the region are at historic highs.

The Darby check station running total of 173 elk is on par with the five-year average, but a large proportion of these elk were harvested in southwestern Montana’s Big Hole Valley, not the Bitterroot districts. And elk hunting in the Blackfoot Valley is a mixed bag. Harvest totals reported at the Bonner check station are below the five-year average, but on par with last year.

Elk harvest has been strongest in the Upper Clark Fork near Deer Lodge and Anaconda, where elk populations are at all-time highs and hunting regulations have been liberalized accordingly.

Ray Vinkey, FWP biologist in the Upper Clark Fork, has already seen 44 elk through his check station near Anaconda this year. According to Vinkey, although the hunting season is only 25 percent complete, the elk harvest through Anaconda is already 66 percent of the total harvest for the 2010 season.

Thompson says that biologists are hoping to reach their desired hunter harvest in the Upper Clark Fork, but cautions that many of these elk are often concentrated on private lands, where hunters must have permission and exercise extra respect for the landowners.

“We really appreciate the landowners who are opening their lands to hunters this season,” says Thompson. “And we ask hunters to respect landowner rights and earn respect from the landowners in return.”

Harvest for mule deer and white-tailed deer is down from the long-term average in most parts of the region, due largely to a moderate decline in populations that has spurred tighter hunting regulations in many districts.

But that does not mean that hunters will not find deer in the usual spots.

“Our surveys show fewer deer overall across the region, but they are still in spots that hunters are used to finding them, and many will, especially once the snow starts to fly and the rut picks up even more.”

Biologists noted that the deer rut is beginning, and the Bonner and Darby check stations saw a few large bucks through this weekend as a result.

“We’ve checked a few very nice bucks through the Darby station, but overall our warm, dry conditions are keeping harvest slow,” said FWP Bitterroot biologist, Craig Jourdonnais. “Until conditions change to move the animals around and make them easier to track, we’re likely to see deer and elk just trickle through the check stations.”

Hunter check stations are also tallying the wolves that happen to pass through this season for the second time in Montana history. Hunters have taken 44 statewide since archery season opened Sept. 3, and 10 of those were harvested in west-central Montana’s Region 2. The state quota is set at 220 wolves, and hunters must report their wolf harvest within 12 hours.

Overall, during the first week of the season, nearly eight percent of hunters that passed through one of the region’s three hunter check stations harvested game. The stations tallied 5,593 hunters and a harvest of 266 elk, 47 mule deer, 124 white-tailed deer, three wolves and three black bears. During last year’s opening week 6,142 hunters reported 263 elk, 65 mule deer, and 146 white-tailed deer and six black bears.

Hunters are reminded that they must stop at all check stations that they pass on their way to or from hunting—even if they have not harvested any animals. The general rifle season for deer and elk runs through Sunday, Nov. 27.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

MALTA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Montana big game rifle season opened Saturday, and thousands of hunters headed into the wet western Montana weather to bring home an elk and deer harvest on par with last year and above the five-year average for elk.

For the second year in a row, youth hunters, ages 12-15 (and some qualifying 11-year olds, see the regulations), had the chance to hit the field a few days earlier for a youth deer hunt that began on Oct. 20. Extra opportunity yielded extra success for some youth.

“It was fun to see several young hunters with their first deer, and a few will have to be pretty lucky in the future to surpass the antlers they collected this year,” said Mike Thompson, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) Region 2 Wildlife Manager.

Overall, during the first weekend of the season, eight percent of hunters that travelled through one of the region’s three hunter check stations harvested game, which is a success total on par with the long-term average. Thompson noted that hunter numbers through the check stations were in line with last year’s opening weekend for the region and slightly above the five year average.

The check stations tallied 2,894 hunters and a harvest of 145 elk, 25 mule deer, 70 white-tailed deer, three wolves and one black bear. During last year’s opening weekend 2,835 hunters reported 137 elk, 26 mule deer, and 82 white-tailed deer.

Hunters that explored the Blackfoot hunting districts this weekend got wet, says Blackfoot-area biologist, Jay Kolbe, and also quite a few got elk and deer, despite more limited hunter opportunity.

The Blackfoot is feeling the effect of tighter hunting regulations that are more limiting for antlerless harvest for elk and deer. For the second year in a row, FWP eliminated the first eight-day either sex season for white-tails that had been tradition for nearly a decade.

These new regulations and changes in wildlife numbers and distribution is translating into lower than normal hunter participation in parts of the region, according to FWP Game Wardens.

But, the check stations still report strong hunter numbers overall, and by the close of hunting on Sunday, check station crews saw a few really nice bulls and hunters reported hot spots for deer and elk. Ray Vinkey, FWP biologist for the eastern part of the region near Deer Lodge and Anaconda, reported a strong opening weekend for elk at his check station near Anaconda, with a lot of cows checked and a high number of hunters in pursuit. Deer harvest was slow.

For the second consecutive season, opening weekend elk harvest at the Darby station set records, due to high numbers of elk checked from hunting districts in the Big Hole Valley. Workers at the Darby check station handled 86 of the region’s 145 elk harvested. According to FWP Bitterroot-area biologist, Craig Jourdonnais, although harvest out of the Big Hole Districts is strong, elk hunting opportunity and harvest is limited in much of the southern Bitterroot Valley due to elk numbers that are sitting below population objective.

The Darby station totals also include two wolves harvested on opening weekend in the Bitterroot Valley. One wolf harvested in the Swan Valley was checked at the Bonner station.

Montana’s only other wolf hunting season was held in 2009. Hunters must report their wolf harvest within 12 hours, and rifle hunters marked a statewide harvest of 10 wolves on opening weekend. Eleven additional wolves were harvested during Montana’s early archery and backcountry rifle seasons.

Thompson cautioned that as hunters get into their routines for the season, a few lessons learned on the opening weekend are important to keep in mind. “Check station crews saw a few instances where the tags came off of deer on the way to the check station. Hunters should make double sure to fasten tags securely,” Thompson said. “And hunters should be sure to check their hunting district for regulations changes and make sure they have a special license where needed to hunt for antlerless deer or elk.”

Safety precautions for hunting in bear country should also be on the top of hunter’s minds, Thompson cautioned. “We had a hunter report a grizzly bear that snatched a nice buck from a pole where it was hung.” Bears are often out and active through the duration of big game rifle season.

Hunters are reminded that they must stop at all check stations that they pass on their way to or from hunting—even if they have not harvested any animals. The general rifle season for deer and elk runs through Sunday, Nov. 27.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

MALTA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- A three yearlong investigation and prosecution that led to the conviction of a licensed Montana outfitter has now led to the Montana Board of Outfitters suspending the outfitters license for two years and an administrative fine of $2,500.00.

Details of the board’s order are as follows: Greslin’s two year suspension is stayed for 18 months. During the 18 months his license will be on probation and he shall have no further violations of statute or administrative rule.

Also, he must complete the Advanced Outfitter Class before he completes the transfer of his business.

“The case began during the fall of 2005 when three mule deer bucks were found wasted in a dumpsite near Polson, MT, and a spoiled mule deer buck was brought into Broadus Meats for processing. All of the deer had a license on them belonging to outfitter sponsored hunting clients of Kenneth Greslin, owner of Powder River Outfitters,” said Lennie Buhmann, a Fish, Wildlife and Parks Regional Investigator.

A two yearlong investigation by several Montana Game Wardens discovered numerous violations by outfitted clients, including the killing of two antelope without valid licenses, the loan and transfer of licenses and archery clients hunting without a valid archery license.

Information about the two unlawfully killed antelope, which were transported over state boundaries, was turned over to Brian Lakes, Special Agent with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Officer Lakes issued a violation notice to outfitter Kenneth Greslin for violating the Lacey Act and he paid a fine of $2,025.00 in United States District Court.

Greslin was also cited in Powder River and Lewis & Clark County Justice Courts for several violations of an outfitter misrepresenting services to clients and for failing to submit complete and accurate records to the Montana Board of Outfitters. Dan Guzynski from the Attorney General’s Office reviewed the case and filed the complaints in Powder River and Lewis & Clark County Justice Courts. The final result was a plea agreement where Greslin pled guilty to one count in each court. He paid a total of $1,070.00 in fines for the two convictions.

“The Board of Outfitter’s final order brings to a close a lengthy investigation and successful prosecution that was a result of hundreds of man hours by several game wardens, the Attorney General’s Office and county prosecutors”, Investigator Buhmann said.

Armed American Radio

Atlanta GA --(Ammoland.com)- Nationally syndicated Armed American Radio announces continued growth with affiliates added in Milton/Pensacola FL, on WEBY 1330 AM, Kalispell MT on KJJR Newstalk 880 AM and Abilene TX on KWKC Talk Radio 1340 AM.

Syndicated host Mark Walters said, “I’m pleased to welcome three new cities to the rapidly expanding network of affiliates across America carrying the broadcast. Listeners in Milton/Pensacola FL, Abilene TX and Kalispell MT can now fill their prescription for freedom on the Armed American Radio Network”!

Adding affiliate stations at an unprecedented pace since its syndication two years ago, AAR now airs in dozens of markets across America from Florida to Alaska every Sunday evening from 8-11pm ET, 5-8 pm PT and is the fastest growing nationally syndicated, pro-gun radio broadcast in America. Focusing on the right to carry a firearm, Mark Walters and the Armed American Radio Network bring listeners the news, information and truth about the right to carry that the mainstream media simply ignore!

For more information, or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Mark Walters
Host

Armed American Radio is syndicated on the Salem Radio Network. For media kit information, please visit www.srnonline.com/talk/talk-walters.shtml

About:
Armed American Radio is the most free-thinking, politically incorrect radio station in the U.S.A. We discuss liberty, self-defense, weapons, family, friends, and life. Visit: www.Armedamericanradio.org

Letters to the AmmoLand Editor: Got something on your mind? Let us know and you can see it here.

Montana --(Ammoland.com)- I firmly believe that the wild bison of the Yellowstone Ecosystem should not be slaughtered simply because a few ranchers outside of the historic entrance to Yellowstone National Park think that wild bison spread disease, which has not been proven scientifically.

What has been proven is that domestic animals spread disease to various types of wildlife.

Furthermore, I firmly believe that all wild bison should be hunted without roaming restrictions and I support efforts by Montana Dept. of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to relocate wild bison to various public land masses. I also support the relocation of excess wild bison to other state, tribal and federal land systems.

Wild bison are not cattle or other domestic animals and should never be managed by the Montana Dept. of Livestock. They are not livestock.

As a Montana hunter, I firmly believe that excess wild bison should be hunted under the rules of Fair Chase and that wild bison should be allowed to roam outside Yellowstone National Park without being slaughtered by paid shooters.

For years I have supported the permit hunting of wild excess bison within the boundaries of Yellowstone National Park during a special hunting season. Money collected from these hunting licenses would then go back to the management of wild bison. I also support the legal hunting of wildlife within the boundaries of other national parks where populations of some wildlife are in excess of the land’s carry load, such as the elk population of Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.

I do not support the introduction of wolves to national parks to control excess wildlife populations of cervids and believe that the natural reproduction of wolves in the wild is the appropriate way to allow wolves to thrive. I also believe that excess populations of wolves must be reduced through legal hunting, not sharpshooting.

In the spirit of Theodore Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold, Ding Darling, Horace Albright and those Americans that began our public land systems in the early 1900s at the state and federal level, I say, the wildlife and its habitat cannot speak, so I must and I do and so must we all for those wildlife.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

MALTA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host a public meeting in Deer Lodge Oct. 5 to discuss and seek comment on an environmental assessment of interim placement locations and management for about 150 disease-free bison pending the development of a statewide bison conservation strategy.

The interim locations assessed include FWP’s 28,000-acre Spotted Dog WMA near Avon and the 5,800-acre Marias River WMA near Shelby. Also under consideration are the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation near Malta and the Fort Peck Indian Reservation near Wolf Point. Under the proposal, bison could be moved to one or any combination of the potential locations.

The public meeting in Deer Lodge will be held Oct. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Center, 146 Cottonwood Street; in Shelby on Oct. 6, at 6:30 p.m.at the Marias River Electric Cooperative, 910 Roosevelt Highway; and Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Glasgow Civic Center, 319 3rd Street S.

The bison are part of a project that began in 2004 aimed at determining if bison can be kept free of the bacteria that causes brucellosis, a disease that results in miscarriages in some pregnant animals, including domestic cattle, and bison and elk. The bison, which were repeatedly tested for the disease, are considered brucellosis-free, but to complete the feasibility study additional follow-up testing will continue.

FWP Wildlife Bureau Chief Ken McDonald said the goal is to relocate up to 150 of the disease-free bison from the quarantine facility and from a temporary site at the Green Ranch near Bozeman. A “no action” alternative would have the bison remain at these locations.

Should the animals be relocated to the WMAs, the bison would be held for an interim period pending completion of a statewide conservation strategy which is expected by 2015. That conservation strategy would identify potential permanent locations for brucellosis-free bison.

There are no infrastructure costs associated with the interim tribal lands under consideration. A range of infrastructure improvement costs between $637,000 to $2 million are possible on the wildlife management areas for potential boundary fences, pasture fences, gates, corrals, chutes, and outbuildings.

“It’s FWP’s intention to keep monitoring and testing all of the bison at any of the interim sites,” McDonald said. Management plans for each site would also include commitments by FWP or the Tribes to immediately respond to any escapes of bison from the facilities.

For more information and to comment visit FWP online at fwp.mt.gov. Click Recent Public Notices. Comments must be received by 5 p.m. on Oct. 19.

Wild bison exist in Alaska, Arizona, Utah, Canada and other places. Today in Montana wild bison that migrate north from Yellowstone National Park are found in winter near West Yellowstone and Gardiner. In years past, animals from Yellowstone were used to help restore elk, antelope and other wildlife herds in Montana and other areas of the West.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

PLENTYWOOD, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Ryan Williamson has been appointed as the new Region 6 upland game bird biologist for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Williamson, 29, previously worked for two years as a resource biologist with the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks in Huron, S.D.

Williamson is a native of South Dakota and grew up in Sioux Falls. He earned a bachelor’s of science degree from South Dakota State University in 2005, and a master’s degree in wildlife management from the same school in 2009. His master’s degree work involved studying the impacts of oil and gas development on sharp-tailed grouse in the Little Missouri National Grasslands in North Dakota.

New upland game bird biologist positions in FWP Regions 4, 6 and 7 were created by the 2009 Legislature as part of a broader effort to improve and expand services and accountability in the agency’s Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program.

Williamson’s main duties will involve enhancing upland bird habitats and populations in Sheridan, Daniels, and Roosevelt counties, Valley County east of Opheim, and portions of Richland County.

The responsibilities will include working with landowners, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and other FWP field personnel in promoting, locating, designing, coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating upland and wetland habitat enhancement and conservation projects — primarily on private land.

The agency’s upland game bird biologists also work cooperatively with Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, among others.

Williamson, who will be based in Outlook, started his new position in late September. His spouse’s name is Heidi. They are both avid hunters, and they have two dogs.

Williamson, who does not yet have an office phone, can be contacted by email at ryanwilliamson@mt.gov or through the FWP Region 6 office in Glasgow at 406-228-3700. He replaces Drew Henry, who was appointed as the Plentywood-area wildlife biologist late last year. For more information about the Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program, visit the FWP web site at fwp.mt.gov.

Privacy, the New Montana Drivers License Law & Concealed Weapons Permits

Montana Shooting Sports Association

Missoula, MT --(Ammoland.com)- For those interested in personal privacy, there was a law passed in the last session that makes your residence address your default address for your Montana Drivers License.

However, this is not the ONLY address you may use on your DL under the new law.

For privacy reasons, many people like their primary address to be a Post Office Box. In some places, there is no residential mail delivery and the only choice is a P.O. Box.

Under the new law, you must provide your residence address when you apply for your DL, BUT YOU MAY HAVE YOUR P.O. BOX LISTED AS THE ADDRESS ON THE FACE OF YOUR DL.

You’ll probably have to insist with the DL clerk. That clerk will seriously WANT to put your residence address on the face of your DL. However, the law clearly allows you to choose to have your P.O. Box as the address on the face of your DL.

The same is true for your CWP. When you submit an application for a CWP, the Sheriffs Office will probably require you to provide your residence address, but if you wish and ask (even insist), the SO should be willing to put your P.O. Box on the face of your CWP, instead of your residence address.

(Note also, you must provide your SSN to apply for a Montana CWP, but the Sheriff should NOT put your SSN on your CWP ID card – your SSN should NOT be in your wallet. You may have to insist with the SO about this too.)

Why does all this matter? Well, suppose you are a single woman. If you lose your purse, the purse finder knows where to find you if your residence address is in your purse, perhaps with your house keys. Others may just wish to fly as low as possible on the radar screens.

There is a small problem with having only your P.O. address on your DL and CWP – buying firearms from a federally-licensed dealer (FFL). Congress allowed the BATFE to require you to provide an “address” on the BATFE Form 4473 when buying from an FFL. The BATFE has illegally expanded on the grant of congressional authority by telling FFLs that they may not sell a firearm to a buyer unless the buyer provides his or her RESIDENCE address on the 4473 AND that resident address is also verified by the buyer’s government-issued ID.

The BATFE wants to know where to send a SWAT team at 3AM when you’re sleeping to collect the gun you purchased, if they should choose to do so.

There are workarounds for this problem. You may still buy any legal-to-own firearms from private individuals with no paperwork, at least until the anti-gunners persuade Congress to “close the gun show loophole,” a euphemism for making it illegal to transfer a firearm without creating a federal government computer record of the seller and buyer for EVERY transfer.

So, if you have a P.O. Box on your DL and CWP, you can still buy firearms from private (non-FFL) sellers without paperwork and questions about your residence address. Many of the sellers at gun shows do not have FFLs. If you are visiting a gun show and looking for a particular firearm, it’s perfectly okay to ask the seller of that firearm if he has an FFL, and choose to buy from somebody else if you wish.

Here’s another workaround. Take a copy of your utility bill to a sporting goods store and buy a Montana Conservation License (the precursor to hunting and fishing licenses), using your utility bill to verify your residence address, and put your residence address on the Conservation License. Then, use your Conservation License (government issued) to verify your residence address for a firearm purchase from an FFL. This is not a complete solution because you’ll still have to enter your residence address on the 4473, and because all these forms of ID are connected in the data banks of the Montana Fusion Center (a joint state/federal data mining operation at the Montana Department of Justice), but at least it does allow you to buy firearms from an FFL if you have your P.O. Box as the address on your DL and CWP.

Best wishes,

About Montana Shooting Sports Association:
MSSA is the primary political advocate for Montana gun owners. Visit: www.mtssa.org

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

MALTA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- The Western Montana Fish and Game Association (WMFGA) celebrates its 100th year this year and urges all hunters to consider and celebrate Montana’s Hunting Heritage Week, beginning September 19th.

A state law enacted in 1991 sets aside the third week of September as Montana’s official week to celebrate our cherished heritage of hunting.

1-1-226. Official observance of Montana’s hunting heritage. The week beginning the third Monday in September is an official week of observance in Montana to commemorate this state’s valued heritage of hunting game animals. During this week, all Montanans are urged to:
(1) reflect on hunting as an expression of our culture and heritage;
(2) acknowledge that it is our community of sportsmen, sportswomen, and hunters who have made the greatest contributions to the establishment of current game animal populations; and
(3) celebrate this culture and heritage in all lawful ways.

The WMFGA was founded in 1911 to foster huntable populations of big game animals sufficient to allow hunting and harvest by Montana residents. This included imposing bag limits, hunting seasons and state-level game management. Prior to those efforts, large game animal populations had been consumed by commercial meat hunters supplying railroad, timber and mining camps.

In celebration of its centennial year, the WMFGA will hold a Centennial Ball on November 11th at the University Center, open to the public but with limited tickets available. The Centennial Ball will include dinner, and social and dance activities. Numerous door prizes will be available. More information about the WMFGA Centennial Ball is available at wmfg.org.

When celebrating Montana’s Hunting Heritage Week, it is significant to remember that existing state law acknowledges that it has always been sportsmen and women who have been at the forefront of fostering wildlife populations. Hunters are the original conservationists, a term that is recently applied even to some people who actually seek to prevent hunting of game animals. Montana is known as a wildlife wonderland primarily because of a century of effort, activity and funding by hunters, and organizations of hunters such as the WMFGA.

ATV Safety Course Offered Online For Montana Students

Kalkomey Enterprises

DALLAS, TX --(Ammoland.com)- A new class that teaches people how to safely operate off-highway vehicles such as ATVs is now available online in Montana.

Students can study for free at www.offroad-ed.com/montana, paying only when they pass their off-road certification exam.

The online OHV safety course takes only a few hours to complete, and students can study at their own pace. Offroad-ed.com/montana covers the same material as Montana’s classroom-based off-highway vehicle course. Topics include a pre-ride checklist, basic riding skills, how to become a better rider, riding safely and responsibly, preparing for the unexpected, riding off-highway motorcycles, and understanding Montana’s OHV laws.

“A rider that takes this off-road education course is the kind of person who will be a safe rider, promote good sportsmanship, have concern for the environment, and respect the rights of others,” said Walt Timmerman, recreation bureau chief for Montana State Parks. “These attributes will ensure a bright future for OHV recreation in Montana.”

Montana students who must complete their OHV course requirement to ride on designated OHV trails pay a one-time fee of $29.50, which is due only if they pass the test. Students can take the test as many times as they need to pass it.

Montana requires operators who are 12 to 16 years of age to obtain an OHV safety education certificate and be under the direct supervision of a licensed operator to ride on designated OHV trails.

Offroad-ed.com/montana is approved by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to satisfy the education requirements for off-road education certification. To take this safety course, visit http://www.offroad-ed.com/montana.

About Kalkomey
Kalkomey Enterprises Inc., parent company of offroad-ed.com, is the official provider of recreational safety education materials for all 50 states. Our print and Internet courses have been providing official safety certification since 1995. We provide safety courses in boating, hunting, bowhunting, and off-road vehicle (ORV) and snowmobile operation. For more information, visit http://www.kalkomey.com/.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

GLASGOW, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) invites hunters, landowners, outfitters, and others to get involved in helping to set hunting seasons for 2012 and 2013.

The public can comment online now and at a series of open houses set for Mon., Aug. 29 in all seven FWP administrative regions.

In Region 6, the public open house will run from 7-9 p.m. at the meeting room in the Valley County Courthouse in Glasgow.

The open house will include a brief overview of the season-setting process, and the public can stop by any time during the meeting to visit with FWP staff members about hunting regulations and other details and ways that Montana’s hunting seasons can be improved.

The agency will use the information as it prepares new tentative hunting season proposals. The deadline to submit comments is Sept. 6. To file comments online, go to fwp.mt.gov and click on the “For Hunters” section and follow links to the Hunting Homepage.

Proposals that emerge for the 2012 and 2013 hunting seasons will be presented to the FWP Commission in December, followed by public comment opportunity in January 2012. The Commission will adopt final rules next February. For more information, call the FWP Region 6 office in Glasgow at 406-228-3700.

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease in Deer

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

GLASGOW, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Numerous reports of white-tailed deer being found dead or dying in parts of Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) Region 6 have prompted state biologists to enlist the help of landowners and others.

“Folks who are out in the field and notice deer that have recently died from unknown causes are asked to call our office in Glasgow at (406) 228-3700 to report the number of animals and the exact location,” said FWP Region 6 Wildlife Program Manager Mark Sullivan.

“We recently started receiving phone calls and reports of suspicious whitetail deer deaths along the Milk River and surrounding areas,” Sullivan said.

“So far, we’re seeing a number of deer from the Fort Peck and Nashua areas all the way to the Malta area that are dying rather suspiciously. Our wildlife folks have taken samples from several of these deer, and those have been sent to our state lab. We are now awaiting the results of the testing to determine whether they’ve died from epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) or some other traceable cause. With help from landowners and other members of the public, we hope to determine the extent of the incidents.”

EHD is an acute, infectious, often-fatal viral disease of some wild ruminants, especially white-tailed deer. The disease, characterized by extensive hemorrhaging, fever, and a resultant urge to be near or even immersed in temperature-controlling fresh water, has been responsible for significant die-offs over the years in the northern United States and southern Canada. An EHD outbreak is also occurring now in a few locations in southeastern Montana.

A similar hemorrhagic disease commonly called bluetongue also occurs throughout the U.S. and Canada, but the two diseases are clinically different. Both diseases can affect mule deer and pronghorn antelope, but not as commonly as white-tailed deer.

Outbreaks of EHD most commonly occur during the summer and early fall, and animals contracting highly virulent strains can die as soon as one to three days after exposure. Along with dead deer, landowners and other members of the public are asked to watch for deer that have lost their fear of humans, may be weak and foaming at the mouth, are circling, have their head or ears down, have pronounced swelling on the head or neck, have diarrhea or are semiconscious.

At this point there is no known treatment or control of these diseases, which researchers say have not been found to affect humans. They are also not known to pose any threat to livestock. EHD is spread by infected midges, so a hard frost that kills these insects ends the spread of any ongoing outbreaks.

Because of the impact this is having on whitetail populations in the Milk River Valley and surrounding areas, and the high likelihood that this could spread and encompass a greater area, Sullivan said 2,000 of the Region’s surplus white-tailed deer “B” licenses will now not be sold. He said these licenses may be put back on sale at a later date if it is determined that this die-off was not as extensive as is currently feared.

Montana Shooting Sports Association

Missoula, MT --(Ammoland.com)- A course entitled “Gun Safety for Personal Protection and Concealed Weapon Permits” will be hosted in Missoula by the Montana Shooting Sports Association and taught by Gary Marbut on Saturday, August 20th.

This one-day course will focus on safe handling, storage and use of handguns suitable for personal protection, selecting a personal firearm, issues of personal protection, allowable use of lethal force, concealed weapon permits, kids and gun safety, and shooting skills, and will include both classroom and shooting range sessions.

Graduates will receive a credential qualifying application for a Montana concealed weapon permit.

The class will begin at 9:00 AM, and finish about 4:00 PM. Class size is limited to the first 20 registrants and preregistration and pre-class study are required.

Tuition is $100 per student. Students should be 16 years or older. For further information or to register, call 549-1252 or email gary@marbut.com.

About Montana Shooting Sports Association:
MSSA is the primary political advocate for Montana gun owners. Visit: www.mtssa.org

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

MALTA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will auction non-perishable wildlife parts, such as antlers and horns, this Saturday, July 30 in Missoula, with proceeds to go to the state FWP account.

The public will be allowed to view auction items beginning at 9 a.m. and bidding will start at 10 a.m. at the FWP office in Missoula (3201 Spurgin Road).

Items will be auctioned to the highest bidder, including bighorn sheep horns and one full size sheep cape, deer and elk antlers, and a few specialty items.

Most bighorn sheep items were collected from animals that died as a result of the 2009-2010 pneumonia outbreaks in western Montana wild sheep populations.

Items up for bid also include those collected through confiscations from criminal cases, road kills, management actions or parts found in the wild.

The sales are authorized in state statute. FWP has already donated numerous items to schools, museums and for other educational purposes. For more information on the auction, contact the FWP Region 2 office in Missoula at 406-542-5500.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

MALTA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Hunter Education classes are set to begin in Hamilton and Stevensville in early August. Interested students should register online now at fwp.mt.gov. Follow links to Education and Hunter Education.

The Stevensville class will be held at the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge (4567 Wildfowl Lane), just north of Stevensville. Students should register online and then attend a mandatory orientation night on Monday, July 25 at 6:30p.m. Students can elect to take a class on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:30-9p.m. beginning on Aug. 1 and ending on Aug. 29 or Tuesday and Thursday evenings from Aug. 2 through Aug. 29. Class schedule details are available online.

The Hamilton class will be held at the Hamilton Assembly of God Church (601 West Main Street) on August 15, 16, 18, 22, 23, 25 and 29 from 7-9p.m. each evening with a field day on Saturday, Aug. 27. Students should register online and attend an orientation night on Tuesday, Aug. 2 at 7p.m. at the church

A parent or legal guardian must accompany all students under 18 to the orientation night for the class of their choice. Other hunter education classes will be held in some communities in Ravalli County this fall, but schedules have not been set.

Corvallis may not hold a class this fall, so students should plan accordingly. For updates, check the online class schedule at fwp.mt.gov. Follow links to “Education” and “Hunter Education.” Or, call the Missoula Fish, Wildlife & Parks office at 406-542-5500.

All hunter education classes are free of charge, and students must be at least 11 years old to be certified. By state law, anyone born after January 1, 1985, must have completed the Hunter Education Course to buy a hunting license in Montana.

U.S. Practical Shooting Association

SEDRO-WOOLLEY, Wash. --(Ammoland.com)- With the start of the 2011 USPSA Area 1 Regional Handgun Championship, Presented by Springfield Armory, just days away, the U.S. Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) announced two premier sponsors, Brownells and Montana Gold Bullet, as well as eight division sponsors.

“Both Brownells and Montana Gold Bullet have been a strong presence in the shooting sports and we are pleased to have these two industry leaders associated with our championship as premier sponsors,” said Chuck Anderson, the USPSA Area 1 director.

The 2011 USPSA Area 1 Regional Handgun Championship, Presented by Springfield Armory takes place June 22-26 at Albany Rifle and Pistol Club, Shedd, Ore. and is the third of eight regional pistol championships on the USPSA calendar. Match officials expect to draw more than 300 top pistol shooters from around the country as well as Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, the states that make up the Area 1 region.

In addition to Brownells and Montana Gold Bullet, and the previously announced sponsors Springfield Armory, MGM Targets, Cheaper Than Dirt!, Crimson Trace and Warne Scope Mounts, match organizers announced division sponsors Cameron’s Custom Guns and Hornady Manufacturing (Open div.), CR Speed (Limited div.), CZ-USA and Sig Sauer (Production div.), ESP Electronic Hearing Protection, Hogue Grips (Revolver div.) and Starlight Cases (Single Stack div.).

A few slots are still available for the match and those interested in competing can visit www.USPSA1.org to download the match registration form.

Want to learn more about practical shooting, or join the 20,000 members of USPSA in the most dynamic and fast-paced shooting sport around?

Then visit www.USPSA.org, follow @USPSA_Shooting on Twitter, like USPSA on Facebook (www.facebook.com/USPracticalShootingAssn) or read the Practical Shooting blog (http://practicalshooting.posterous.com).

Montana Shooting Sports Association

Missoula, MT --(Ammoland.com)- Briefs are getting filed in MSSA v. Holder before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

This is MSSA’s lawsuit to validate the principles of the Montana Firearms Freedom Act.

This a challenge to federal power asserted under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution to regulate every human (and non-human) activity under the guise of regulating “commerce … among the several states.”

As more briefs become available, we will continue to post them at the link below.

Appellants (those of us appealing the adverse decision of the federal District Court) include MSSA, the Second Amendment Foundation, and myself as the sole individual plaintiff.

Available so far are Appellants’ Principal Brief, the brief of the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence and the brief of the Pacific Legal Foundation.

Expected by the deadline next Monday are the briefs of the Goldwater Institute (now including CATO), the State of Utah (also representing several other states), the State of Montana (now backed down from Intervenor status to amicus status), Montana Legislators, Gun Owner’s Foundation (Gun Owners of America [also with U.S. Justice's Gary Kreep] ), the Weapons Collectors Society of Montana and perhaps even some of the anti-gun crowd such as the Brady Center For The Idiotic Idea That Guns Must Somehow Cause Violence.

Stay tuned. We’ll post more briefs to the Website as they become available. www.firearmsfreedomact.com/montana-lawsuit-updates/

About Montana Shooting Sports Association:
MSSA is the primary political advocate for Montana gun owners. Visit: www.mtssa.org

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Conservationists have completed a deal to permanently protect 1,036 acres of elk winter range on the outskirts of Missoula, Mont.

A new conservation easement held by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation ensures wildlife habitat values by restricting development even if land ownership changes in the future.

The easement was partially donated by the Deschamps family of Missoula. City of Missoula and Missoula County open space bond programs provided support. RMEF brokered the deal and provided technical assistance to make the project happen.

Closing documents were officially recorded on Friday, June 3.

The property has been in the Deschamps family since 1908. The area is now under considerable development pressure with more and more houses dotting the landscape at lower elevations. The conservation easement guarantees a different fate for Deschamps land, and the family plans to continue its ranching tradition.

“This is an incredible parcel of land that’s been in the Deschamps family for generations. We’re grateful to them for their vision to protect it forever,” said Mike Mueller, lands program manager for RMEF. “The easement on this property covers a great diversity of habitat from forests and streams to native grasslands and wildflower meadows. About 75 elk spend each winter here, and there are deer, bear, songbirds, raptors and many other species of wildlife.”

He added, “You can see this property from up and down the Clark Fork River valley, Interstate 90, State Highway 93 and across the Missoula valley, so countless people will always be able to see and enjoy the open space and productive ranchland.”

Mueller thanked the Missoula County Commission, Missoula City Council and both city and county Open Space Citizen Advisory Committees for “using open space bond funds to save some of the area’s best elk country.”

Jackie Corday, open space program manager for the City of Missoula, said, “This beautiful property contributes significantly to the scenic views of the Missoula Valley and has important wildlife and bird habitat, and it presented a great opportunity for the city and county to jointly contribute to its preservation since it straddles the Missoula and Frenchtown Planning Regions. The generosity of Deschamps family in donating 50 percent of the value made the project possible.”

Director of Missoula County Rural Initiatives Patrick O’Herren said, “Missoula County and city residents are fortunate to have generous landowners who recognize the value of their land to current and future generations. This parcel hosts significant wildlife, plant and soil communities, which contribute greatly to the quality of life that makes western Montana such a desirable place to live, work and visit. The county’s Open Lands Committee and the county commissioners congratulate the landowners, RMEF and all the supporting people and organizations that made this project such a success.”

Monitoring conservation easement provisions is the permanent responsibility of RMEF.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.9 million acres–a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

MALTA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- The final bowhunter education course and field day of the year have been scheduled in Glasgow.

The bowhunter education classes are set for June 23-24 at the Assembly of God Church, 1220 10th Street North. The classes will run from 6 – 9 p.m. on June 23 and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on June 24.

A mandatory field day event, which will also be open to bowhunter education students who have completed their coursework online, runs from 9 a.m. – noon on June 25 at the Montana Bowhunter Association practice range off Skylark Road just west of town.

In Montana, completion of a hunter education course is required for all hunters born after Jan. 1, 1985. In addition, all first-time archery hunters must complete a bowhunter education course in order to purchase an archery license in Montana.

All of the bowhunter education requirements must be completed by July 31 of a given year in order for the graduates to be eligible to hunt that fall.

A child must be at least 11 years old to take the classroom courses. Class registration, which can be completed at the FWP Region 6 office in Glasgow, requires the signature of a parent or guardian for students under the age of 18. Students are required to read the course manual before the first day of class.

Students must be 18 or older to take the classes online, and online students must pay an administrative fee. Hunter and bowhunter education sessions taught in a traditional classroom setting are free.

Online students who want to participate in the mandatory field day event must register through the FWP Website at fwp.mt.gov under the “Education” section. For more information, call 406-228-3700.

Montana Shooting Sports Association

Missoula, MT --(Ammoland.com)- A course entitled “Gun Safety for Personal Protection and Concealed Weapon Permits” will be hosted in Missoula by the Montana Shooting Sports Association on Sunday, June 26th.

This one-day course will focus on safe handling, storage and use of handguns suitable for personal protection, selecting a personal firearm, issues of personal protection, allowable use of lethal force, concealed weapon permits, kids and gun safety, and shooting skills, and will include both classroom and shooting range sessions.

Graduates will receive a credential qualifying them to apply for concealed weapon permits under Montana law. The class will begin at 9:00 AM, and finish about 4:00 PM.

Class size is limited to the first 20 registrants. Preregistration is required. Tuition is $100 per student. Students should be 16 years or older.

For further information or to register, call 549-1252.

To register by email, reply to this email: mssa@mtssa.org and provide:

• Name
• U.S. Mail or residence address
• Contact phone number

Expect an email confirmation of your class registration.

Further class instructions will be supplied by return email.

About Montana Shooting Sports Association:
MSSA is the primary political advocate for Montana gun owners. Visit: www.mtssa.org

Safari Club Internationa

Washington, DC –-(Ammoland.com)- Safari Club International (SCI) filed a joint motion with the National Rifle Association (NRA) asking the federal court in Montana for leave to participate in the latest in the long line of legal challenges to wolf delisting.

Several animal rights groups filed two new court cases on May 5th challenging the constitutionality of the recently passed law that directed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist the wolves of Montana, Idaho and portions of Oregon, Utah and Washington State.

“Safari Club International has been a consistent force in the courts to defend the removal of wolves from the endangered species list,” said SCI President Kevin Anderson. “Congress has also recently stepped forward to stop the endless litigation pursued by animal right organizations and now they are attempting to circumvent the will of Congress. SCI will continue to defend the delisting of recovered wolf populations throughout the U.S. until the management is returned to state wildlife agencies.”

The two new cases claim that the federal law violates the separation of powers clause of the Constitution. Both cases were assigned to Judge Donald Molloy, the same judge who, in 2010, ruled that the delisting of the Northern Rocky Mountain wolves violated the Endangered Species Act.

SCI moved to intervene in the latest cases, explaining to the court how SCI members plan to participate in the upcoming wolf harvests in Montana and Idaho, how they hunt and enjoy elk, deer and moose in those states and how wolves are decimating wild game populations as well as the hunting economy. Many SCI members submitted their sworn declarations to assist SCI in demonstrating our interest in the outcome of this lawsuit.

About the Hunters’ Defense Fund:
Safari Club International Hunters’ Defense Fund supports the important advocacy, conservation and legal work keeping hunters afield and promoting hunting worldwide. Donations to the Hunters’ Defense Fund have a direct impact on our freedom to hunt, wildlife conservation policy and important legislative, regulatory and legal issues. DONATE NOW: http://www.hunterdefensefund.org/

Becoming an SCI Member:
Joining Safari Club International is the best way to be an advocate for continuing our hunting heritage and supporting worldwide sustainable use conservation, wildlife education and humanitarian services. JOIN NOW: www.safariclub.org/Join.

Safari Club International — First For Hunters is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI’s approximately 200 Chapters represent all 50 of the United States as well as 106 other countries. SCI’s proactive leadership in a host of cooperative wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian programs, with the SCI Foundation and other conservation groups, research institutions and government agencies, empowers sportsmen to be contributing community members and participants in sound wildlife management and conservation. Visit the home page http://www.safariclub.org/ or call (520) 620-1220 for more information.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

MALTA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Montana wildlife officials report that a Missoula man shot a grizzly bear in self defense on May 15 on the Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area near Seeley Lake.

A female grizzly bear with two cubs surprised the man shortly after noon on the northwest portion of the WMA.

The man first hollered at the bear, but the bear continued to advance towards him. When the bear approached to within eight yards, the man shot and wounded the bear.

The man attempted to leave the scene, but the bear chased him, and the man then fired a second shot at five yards, which caused the bear to drop and stop its approach. The man was then able to return to his vehicle, unharmed, and report the incident. FWP game wardens responded and killed the wounded bear. Biologists trapped and transported the cubs to the FWP Wildlife Center in Helena to where they will be held until they can be placed in a permanent facility.

Wardens reported that the man acted within the law and shot the grizzly in self defense. He will not be charged in the incident. The sow was uncollared and did not have a past history of interactions with people.

“We’re relieved that everyone escaped without injury,” says Mack Long, FWP Region 2 Supervisor. “It is also another reminder for people recreating in western Montana that bears are out for the season, and to always be prepared for what to do in the case of an encounter.”

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

MALTA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Based in part on lessons learned from the state’s first regulated wolf hunt in 2009,

Commissioners approved a harvest quota of 186 wolves across 13 wolf management units for the 2010 season, which was blocked by a federal court.

“This season proposal is very similar to the season considered last year and it’s one that is properly balanced,” said Ken McDonald, FWP’s chief of wildlife.

McDonald explained that the state’s 14 WMUs are generally situated in the western portion of Montana to target areas where impacts on elk and deer populations have occurred and where recurring livestock depredations are predicted. A new WMU is proposed to be added in the Bitterroot Valley where wolves have contributed to a significant drop in the elk population.

“We carved out smaller-sized wolf management units to allow for a more widely distributed harvest,” McDonald said.

In addition, subquotas are proposed in three areas to limit harvest during early season backcountry hunts, including the area directly north of Yellowstone National Park. Wildlife managers also asked the commission to consider a wolf archery season to run Sept. 3 through Oct. 16, which coincides with Montana’s deer and elk archery seasons.

McDonald said a harvest quota of 220 is projected to reduce the wolf population to a minimum of 425 wolves, or by about 25 percent. These projections include anticipated reductions due to livestock depredation and mortalities from other events, like accidents and natural causes.

Public comments on the 2011wolf season proposal are due by 5 p.m. on June 20. Final quotas and seasons will be adopted by the FWP Commission on July 14. Send comments beginning Friday, May 13 via FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov . Click “For Hunters”. Or mail to FWP Wildlife Bureau, Attn: Public Comment, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.

Montana FWP Seeks Comment On 2011 Wolf Hunting Season

2011 Wolf Season Basics
Wolf Management Units & Quotas—Northwestern and central Montana would have nine WMUs with a total quota of 123 wolves; western Montana would have two WMUs with a total quota of 54 wolves; and the three proposed WMUs in the southwestern portion of the state would have a total quota of 43 wolves. Two of Montana’s 14 WMUs would stretch across the eastern portion of the state.

Wolf Hunting Season Dates—Wolf hunting seasons would correspond to Montana’s early backcountry big game hunting season, which runs Sept. 3—14 for archery and Sept. 15—Nov. 27 for rifle hunting; and the big game archery and general rifle seasons set for Sept. 3—Oct. 16 and Oct. 22—Nov. 27 respectively. Wolf seasons could run through Dec. 31 if quotas are not reached. Hunting licenses will cost $19 for residents and $350 for nonresidents. License sales should begin in August.

Montana Wolf Season Background
In 2009, during Montana’s first ever regulated wolf hunt, hunters harvested 72 wolves during the fall hunting season. As hunters approached the overall harvest quota of 75 wolves, FWP closed the hunt about two weeks before the season was scheduled to end to ensure the quota would not be exceeded.

Montana’s 2010 hunting season was blocked by a federal court ruling in August 2010 that returned wolves to the federal endangered species list.

On April 15 the U.S. Congress enacted a new federal law that provided for the delisting of wolves in Montana and Idaho—and in portions of Washington, Oregon and Utah.

The law authorizes Montana to manage wolves under the state’s federally approved Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Plan.

Federal Wolf Recovery Goal for the Northern Rockies & Current Population
The recovery goal for wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains was set at a minimum of 30 breeding pairs—successfully reproducing wolf packs—and a minimum of 300 individual wolves for at least three consecutive years.

This goal was achieved in 2002, and the wolf population has increased every year since. The northern Rockies’ “metapopulation” is comprised of wolf populations in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.

Today, about 1,650 wolves in 244 packs and about 111 breeding pairs, live in the region, where wolves can travel about freely to join existing packs or form new packs. This, combined with wolf populations in Canada and Alaska, assures genetic diversity.

Montana’s Wolf Population
In Montana, officials estimate that at least 566 wolves, in 108 verified packs, and 35 breeding pairs inhabited the state at the end of 2010.

Delisting allows Montana to manage wolves in a manner similar to how bears, mountain lions and other wildlife species are managed, guided completely by state management plans and laws.

To learn more about Montana’s wolf population, visit FWP online at fwp.mt.gov. Click “Montana Wolves”.

Letters to the AmmoLand Editor: Got something on your mind? Let us know and you can see it here.

Montana --(Ammoland.com)-Governor’s Schweitzer’s veto message for HB 271 is factually incorrect on several important counts.

These obvious inaccuracies do not commend the Governor for his knowledge, or for his choice of advisers on this issue.

HB 271 would have allowed concealed firearm carry (“permitless carry”) inside city limits in Montana, as has been the case outside city limits (99.4% of Montana) for two decades without any identifiable incidence of problems.

Schweitzer claimed that HB 271 would have adversely impacted officers of the Montana Highway Patrol and county sheriffs departments, yet these agencies operate primarily outside cities where permitless carry has been the uneventful norm for 20 years.

The Governor also claims that HB 271 would void the existing concealed weapon permit process.

Wrong again. A plain reading of HB 271 shows that it does not touch upon the existing permit process, which leaves permits entirely in place for those wishing permits for out-of-state travel or instant gun buys.

It’s obvious that the Governor didn’t even read HB 271 before doing a quick draw with his staged branding iron and completely missing the target. Having been urged by both the NRA and MSSA to support HB 271, the Governor now wears a self-inflicted veto brand on his political foot from his quick-draw miss, yet another case of ready, fire, aim.

Gary Marbut, president
Montana Shooting Sports Association
www.mtssa.org
Author, Gun Laws of Montana
www.mtpublish.com
P.O. Box 4924
Missoula 59806

Montana Shooting Sports Association

Missoula, MT --(Ammoland.com)- An MSSA member asked me to clarify where and how what sort of carry is legal in Montana, since the Governor vetoed HB 271.

If you want to know about all the gun laws in Montana, get my book, Gun Laws of Montana.

First, the definition of “concealed” for concealed weapons in Montana is not a dictionary definition as in hidden from view. Rather, the definition is specified in law as “wholly or partially covered by clothing or wearing apparel.”

Thus, under the seat of your car (in Montana – different in other states), in the console between the seats, in the glove box, in a backpack, in a briefcase, and even in a woman’s purse are not considered to be “concealed” for the purpose of Montana concealed weapon law.

Under current law you may carry openly most places, regardless of city limits. You may carry concealed outside city limits without a permit. You may carry concealed inside city limits without a permit in your home or place of business (presumably with your employer’s permission).

You may also carry concealed inside city limits without a permit if you are a person “who is lawfully engaged in hunting, fishing, trapping, camping, hiking, backpacking, farming, ranching, or other outdoor activity in which weapons are often carried for recreation or protection;”, says current law.

So, if you are inside city limits, outside your home or place of business, and not doing one of the list of outdoor things exempted in the law, and have a firearm “wholly or partially covered by clothing or wearing apparel,” you must have a concealed weapon permit to be legal.

About Montana Shooting Sports Association:
MSSA is the primary political advocate for Montana gun owners. Visit: www.mtssa.org