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August 13 - Bozeman, MT - MT Elk Management Symposium

Ben Lamb

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The Montana Citizen's Elk Management Coalition will be hosting an Elk Management Symposium on August 13, 2022 in Bozeman at the Rialto Theater. You can RSVP for the event here: https://www.montanaelk.org/elk-management-symposium

Seating is limited so if you want to be there in person, sign up for the RSVP.

We are still finalizing individual panelists, but the panel discussions are set:

Panel 1: Shared Elk/Shared Values: Landowners, Hunters & Outfitters all value elk. Oftentimes, the language that we use separates us from understanding the needs and desires of different stakeholders. This panel is meant to explore how we can speak to each other and understand the various issues that each stakeholder group is dealing with from a place of empathy, rather than conflict.

Panel 2: The Science of Elk Management: Panelists will discuss the science around elk management both in of elk distribution, disease and predator/prey relationships. This includes both biological science and social science. Both are necessary when managing elk, and both can influence not only conservation metrics, but season setting as well.

Panel 3: Season setting in other states - How do they do it? Other states have approached the issue of season setting differently based on the overarching management prescriptions in place, and through various landowner programs meant to acknowledge landowner contributions to Habitat. Panelists will focus on how season structure was developed in their respective states and why their programs are part of the solution or part of the problem. Current panelists are from Wyoming, Idaho, New Mexico and we are working on finding the appropriate individuals from Colorado and Nevada.

Panel 4: Solutions: How do we get to a better outcome - This panel will explore possible solutions relative to season structure, legislative changes and administrative changes that would help end the fighting and start bringing people together. It is a mix of legislators and thought leaders in the hunting and agricultural community.

Confirmed panelists:

Kathy Hadley: Kathy is a long time conservationist and rancher in the Deer Lodge Valley. She was instrumental in getting both Habitat Montana and Block Management established in the 1980's & 190's.

Ken Hamlin: Dr Hamlin wrote the 2005 Elk Management Plan and was involved in some of the best work relative to elk movement during hunting seasons. He is a highly regarded researcher & public servant. His focus will be on the social side of the elk management equation.

Dr. Brent Race: Dr Race focuses on the interplay between humans and cervids in relation to CWD transmission between species but he also is well versed in the management prescriptions relative to dealing with CWD and brucellosis. He also serves on the FWP Citizen's Elk Advisory Board.

Jeremy Vesbach: Jeremy is a long-time conservation advocate from New Mexico and was recently relieved of his duties on the NM Game Commission over his questioning of the EPLUS system and how the current model is not equitable for all New Mexicans.

Tom Jacobson & Jeff Welborn: Tom is a Democratic State Senator from Great Falls and Jeff is a Republican State Senator from Dillon. Both individuals are strong proponents for the sound management of wildlife, and both are tired of the fighting and are searching for solutions for the 2023 session.

There will be a social after the event from 6 PM to 9 PM. We'll post more on that as it develops. Looking forward to seeing up to 125 of you in person. We're also working on ensuring that the symposium will be streamed and we'll have a proceedings published afterwards.
 
That is a heck of a lineup, the topics sound fascinating, and this whole event is a beautiful thing. Has anything like it ever been done before? It's so refreshing when solutions are sought in good faith.

The last elk symposium was in 2007. It was an FWP effort designed to talk about the new EMP.

Before that, the Landowner-Hunter Elk Symposium of 1986 was the last one that I'm aware of. I've attached those proceedings (Kathy Hadley was a panelist for that, and she scanned those proceedings for us). That symposium was the genesis for Block Management & Habitat Montana. As we get more panelists lined up, we'll let everyone know.

Just heard that the social event is shaping up as well, so there's a chance after the symposium to do some elbow-rubbing with panelists, etc and really get into the meat of the discussions afterwards.
 

Attachments

  • MT Landowner Sportsmen's Conference 1986 _20220529_0001 (2).pdf
    3.5 MB · Views: 14
The last elk symposium was in 2007. It was an FWP effort designed to talk about the new EMP.

Before that, the Landowner-Hunter Elk Symposium of 1986 was the last one that I'm aware of. I've attached those proceedings (Kathy Hadley was a panelist for that, and she scanned those proceedings for us). That symposium was the genesis for Block Management & Habitat Montana. As we get more panelists lined up, we'll let everyone know.

Just heard that the social event is shaping up as well, so there's a chance after the symposium to do some elbow-rubbing with panelists, etc and really get into the meat of the discussions afterwards.

What a document. There's a lot of folks in MT who should probably read this every morning before they start to concoct ideas:

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Big announcement today. YUUUGE! Biggest announcement in the history of announcements.

@Gerald Martin is a panelist on the Solutions Panel.

Gerald's approach to this issue has been a guiding star for a lot of us involved in the elk debate. His ability to think critically & approach the issue from both an empathetic and intellectual approach has been a breath of fresh air.

So, if you want to meet a Hunt Talk all-star, here's your chance. Just be careful because he's still looking for folks to help him with his sheep & goats tags, so you may end up with a death march this fall if you're not careful!
 
Big announcement today. YUUUGE! Biggest announcement in the history of announcements.

@Gerald Martin is a panelist on the Solutions Panel.

Gerald's approach to this issue has been a guiding star for a lot of us involved in the elk debate. His ability to think critically & approach the issue from both an empathetic and intellectual approach has been a breath of fresh air.

So, if you want to meet a Hunt Talk all-star, here's your chance. Just be careful because he's still looking for folks to help him with his sheep & goats tags, so you may end up with a death march this fall if you're not careful!
Will he be signing autographs?
 
Can I pay in crypto or rubels?

Elon GIFs | Tenor
 
We're about 1/2 full folks. If you haven't RSVP'ed, please do so.

We just confirmed that Scott Hibbard and Denley Loge (R-St Regis) will be on the Shared Elk/Shared Values panel.

The Hibbards helped start the Devil's Kitchen Working Group and Scott was instrumental in helping get the Master Hunter program off the ground, and Denley is a rancher enrolled in Block Management as well as being a legislator.

Others on that panel are Kathy Hadley (Rancher out of Galen & one of the original members of the Landowner-Elk symposium in 86) and former FWP Commissioner Dan Vermillion.

It's shaping up to be a great event!
 
We have posted the agenda for the Symposium. Hope to see a lot of Hunt Talker's there!

Panel Moderators will be:
Shared Elk/Shared Values: Randy Newberg
What the Science Tells Us: Dr. Chris Servheen
Lessons from Other States: Andrew McKean
Solutions: Marcia Brownlee

4 all-stars leading these discussions with some fantastic panelists. I'll post those panelists once the biographies are finalized.

You can still register here:

9:30am: Welcome

Emcee George Bettas & Facilitator Barb Beck will welcome the audience & provide a brief overview of the day’s program and goals.

9:45am: The state of elk in Montana

Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Pat Byorth will deliver remarks on the current state of elk management planning and what the commission is looking for in terms of citizen participation.

10:00am: Panel: Shared elk and shared values

George Bernard Shaw once famously said that “England and America are two countries separated by the same language.” The same may also be said for how hunters, landowners and outfitters speak and think about elk. This panel will delve into how we can share our values, concerns, and ideas without shutting down receptive conversations.

11:30am: Break

11:45am: Panel: What the science tells us


This panel will explore the science behind predator/prey relationships, disease, elk management and hunter pressure as drivers of elk distribution and concentrations.

1:00pm: Lunch break

2:00pm: Panel: Lessons from other states


Experts from New Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming and Idaho will discuss how elk management drives season setting and landowner programs in their respective states while reviewing what has worked and what hasn't.

3:15pm: Break

3:30pm: Panel: Exploring solutions


Identifying durable solutions for vexing wildlife conflicts is critical to good outcomes for hunters, landowners, ranchers, and outfitters. With a legislative session coming up in less than six months, a new Elk Management Plan on the horizon and another round of season setting in 2023, there is no lack of opportunity to identify and advance reasonable solutions.

4:45-5:00pm: Wrap-up and adjourn.

6:00-9:00pm: Social


Please stick around for light refreshments and a cash bar to expand on the panel discussions and keep the conversation flowing.
 
This is the first elk symposium since December of 2007 in Montana. That's 15 years ago, and about 10 years too late. Huge thanks to the MWF crowd for organizing this and pulling together the comms work, and an even bigger thanks to Ravalli County Fish & Wildlife Association board members George Bettas & Craig Jourdonnais for their work on pulling panelists together. RCFWA once again outpunches their weight class. Throw 'em $20 and tell them you love them. I surely do!

Another huge thanks to @Big Fin for his work on this as well. Having Randy's voice and his willingness to be a panel moderator is huge. There are few out there that can help bring hunters & landowners together like the Big Fin, and we are blessed with his help on promoting this and pulling it off. Randy was kind enough to record a video for the coalition as well, which you can view here:


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You can view the final list of panels & those who will be presenting at this link. I'm really looking forward to the Science panel, which will be moderated by Dr. Chris Servheen and will feature some of the latest research out of Idaho on predator/prey issues, across the west on habitat concerns that are emerging and Ken Hamlin, the retired FWP Biologist who wrote the original 2005 elk management plan and the person who accurately predicted this mess over 15 years ago at the last elk symposium. Dr. Brent Race from the National Institute of Health will panel as well to discuss CWD and what that means for humans as well as elk.
 
The Livestream for the Symposium has been set up:

We also are gong to have some storytelling during the social featuring Andrew McKean from Outdoor Life, Jared Fraiser from 2% for Conservation, Jessi Johnson from the Wyoming Wildlife Federation and DeAnna Bublitz from DEER Camp, MT.

We're also adding a training day on Sunday for folks looking to improve your advocacy skills. This is a small venue, but if folks are interested in attending we'll have Myself, Sonya Smith from MWF, Marcia Brownlee from MT Artemis and Kevin Farron from the Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers on hand to talk about

1.) Grassroots advocacy training: How to be a better advocate through direct advocacy like testifying at commission meetings, legislative meetings, writing to your legislators, etc.
2.) Media Training: Writing the perfect letter to the editor, presenting your argument in a compelling way, and how to ensure that your message rises to the top and how to use social media effectively as an advocacy tool.

The afternoon session is geared more towards folks who serve on boards or are staff but all are welcome as well. That focuses on:
1.) How to talk to an with the press: What is "on the record" and what isn't, how to communicate effectively in front of a camera, and how to work with your professional staff to properly represent your organization in a professional and thoughtful manner.
2.) Representing your organization in a legislative & executive meeting: What not to do, what to do and how to do it in a professional and compelling manner.

If you are interested in attending the Sunday training, please hit me up via PM and we'll get you in.
 
@Ben Lamb is really scraping the bottom of the talent barrel when he asked if I would be willing to give an interview on our local news channel this morning.


I am looking forward to hearing what everyone has to say about elk management. Hopefully, lots of folks will be able to attend in person or view the live stream.
 
@Ben Lamb is really scraping the bottom of the talent barrel when he asked if I would be willing to give an interview on our local news channel this morning.


I am looking forward to hearing what everyone has to say about elk management. Hopefully, lots of folks will be able to attend in person or view the live stream.
Thanks Gerald. Much appreciated. Dale
 
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