Issues
Hellgate Hunters and Anglers' is a local hunting, fishing and conservation organization
that promotes hunter and angler opportunities, fish and wildlife habitat conservation, and, finally,
connecting people to nature through the eyes of hunters and anglers.
| HUNTER & ANGLER OPPORTUNITIES | FISH & WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION | ||
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| CONNECTING PEOPLE to NATURE |
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__________________________________________________________ Find Out More Block Management - We strongly support increased and improved access for hunters and anglers. We supported the effort that brought permanence to the Block Management Program. One of our Directors is a member of the Public Wildlife Private Land Working Group that is on the leading edge of efforts to achieve and maintain hunter and angler access to public wildlife and fish. Sale Of Public Lands - Public land is extremely important for the future of hunting and angling access and opportunity in Montana. Our position is that "Public Lands belong in Public Hands" and support no net loss of public property in Montana and the U.S. We have vigorously opposed the President’s proposal to sell off portions of the National Forest and Bureau of Land Management Lands to fund the Secure Rural Schools and County Self Determination Act for the next five years. We will continue to identify and support alternative financing for this Act that provides much needed financial support to our counties that are rich with public lands. Wildlife Habitat Acquisition - We support acquisitions of critical wildlife habitat where the resulting ownership or acquired interest will preserve and/or improve the effectiveness of that habitat, and provide appropriate, equitable access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. «««»»» FISH & WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION Inventoried Roadless Areas - We support keeping Inventoried Roadless Areas roadless. These areas are extremely important for Montana’s five-week big game season and provide core habitat for mule deer, elk, and big horn sheep. We have been working with the Montana Roadless Working Group and the Montana Hunters and Anglers Roadless Working Group to create long-term protection assurances for these areas. Wildlife Habitat Acquisition - We support acquisitions of critical wildlife habitat where the resulting ownership or acquired interest will preserve and/or improve the effectiveness of that habitat, and provide appropriate, equitable access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Trout Friendly Water Management - We join Trout Unlimited in this program that is designed to raise public awareness of the adverse impacts that heavy lawn watering, excessive fertilization and pesticide use can have on fisheries. Restoration - We serve on the Missoula County Milltown Redevelopment Working Group to ensure that restoration and redevelopment work at the Milltown superfund site improves watershed health and fish and wildlife habitat. Urban Wildlife Management - We support increased communication and cooperation between city governments, city residents and the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to develop and implement Urban Wildlife Management Plans. Management plans must keep wildlife wild and address an acceptable balance between the value of seeing wildlife in the urban areas and the accompanying risks and costs associated with resulting property damage and human safety issues. The Endangered Species Act - This Act is an important tool to us as hunters and anglers and conservationists. In partnerships with several other hunting and fishing organizations we are strongly opposing any changes to the Act that could reduce its effectiveness. Delisting the Grizzly Bear in the Yellowstone Area - We co-sponsored a public debate on the pro’s and con’s of delisting the grizzly bear in the Yellowstone Area. We are now on record as supporting this delisting. Bison Hunt - We supported the recently concluded bison hunt as an initial step to critically needed management of the bison living in, and around, Yellowstone National Park. We believe the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks should manage bison as game animals. We support policy development within the states and Federal agencies that share the role of management of these bison so that the bison can utilize more of their historic habitat and provide opportunities for the ethical hunter. Wolf Management in Montana - Our position is that large predators, such as the wolf, bring needed balance to our wildlife resources. We support delisting of the wolf in Montana as soon as possible to permit management by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. This change would assure that the interests of hunters and other Montanans could be better addressed. Non-Game Wildlife Management - We support efforts to better understand and manage for habitat needs of non-game species. We will work to make State Wildlife Grants a working tool in Montana. Efforts to enhance habitat for non-game species will also have positive impacts for species that we hunt. «««»»» Montana’s 2006 Hunting Regulations - We supported the six proposed changes in State-wide rules and regulations. The most significant changes were aimed at achieving population objectives in many elk management units by improving hunter access to private lands where historically there has been very limited public hunting allowed; preventing chronic wasting disease from being imported to Montana and expanding youth hunter opportunities. Recruitment of new Hunters and Anglers - Hellgate Hunters and Anglers recognizes the key role of hunters and anglers in the dramatic recovery of our wildlife populations during the last century. Unfortunately, the trend today is a reduction in the number of hunters in most states, including Montana. The future of our wildlife populations and our ability to hunt and fish, will continue to be greatly effected by hunters and anglers, and we will be involved in developing strategies to recruit more hunters and anglers. __________________________________________________________ |
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