I've spent the last six weeks crafting and working the kinks out of a
wolf bill for the upcoming legislative session, a bill intended to
dramatically revise the relationship between Montana and the feds
concerning wolves. Redrafting of this bill has now been completed
by the Legislative Services Division and the bill text is posted HERE.
Here's what this bill will accomplish, if passed:
1) Declare Montana authority for wildlife management and challenge federal authority to force wolves on Montana;
2) Remove Montana from cooperation with the feds by voiding the
cooperative management agreement between Montana and the feds and
voiding the fed-driven Montana Wolf Management Plan;
3) Declare that federal wolves are not in compliance with Montana wolf policy;
4) Establish benchmarks that the feds must meet to bring federal wolves into compliance with Montana wolf policy; and
5) Establish consequences (serious consequences) for any period
that federal wolves are not in compliance with Montana wolf policy.
I know that most Montanans are beyond frustration with the impact that
wolves are having on hunting opportunities and stockgrowing in Montana,
and the extent that our voices have silenced in this debate - how
powerless and irrelevant we've been made. Well, all that will
change if we can flex enough political muscle to get this bill passed.
You've all watched as the feds have made promise after promise to allow
state management of wolves. You've seen those promises evaporate
like smoke in the wind. You've watched over the years as great
hunting areas become near biological deserts because of wolf
predation. You've seen the writings of the predator advocates who
wish to achieve a "natural" predator/prey "balance," which is a
euphemism for no more hunting - NO MORE HUNTING, and they're getting
there.
Enough is enough. We've had it up to here with wolves. It's time for Montana to take charge.
Please spread this word among your hunting friends and others concerned
about wolves and hunting in Montana. When this bill is
introduced, we will need to rally wholesale in support of it.
Anyone receiving this message not already on the MSSA email list, you
may send me an email and request to be on the list. That's how we
will get word out about when and how to weigh in to support this bill.