Catch me up on Montana Conservation & Wildlife Issues?

[Beignet]

I used to pay very close attention to this stuff. Kind of got overwhelmed with the amount of crap happening at the national level (I believe that's by design) and quit paying attention for a while.

So, anyone mind catching me up on the good, the bad, and the ugly of issues affecting the sporting populace and wildlife here in Montana since say, January 2025? There's a bunch of bright folks on here whose knowledge and opinions I trust. Read me in, please.

 

[Beignet]

I'll get started, FWP seems to be shifting away from perpetual conservation easements. Instead using the Habitat Conservation Lease Program for 30-40 (or even 99) year conservation leases. My understanding is that they need to spend Habitat Montana monies but don't want to catch political flak from the Board of Land Commissioners who are skeptical of perpetual easements.

 

[Elky Welky]

I'll get started, FWP seems to be shifting away from perpetual conservation easements. Instead using the Habitat Conservation Lease Program for 30-40 (or even 99) year conservation leases. My understanding is that they need to spend Habitat Montana monies but don't want to catch political flak from the Board of Land Commissioners who are skeptical of perpetual easements.

Nailed it on that one.

Next: a last minute change to land board land exchange procedure, a truly shady backroom-type deal that in effect "no longer gives DNRC the power to deny proposals, and puts a greater emphasis on allowing landowners to hire consultants to facilitate key parts of the exchange process." So the fox guarding the henhouse, as it were. https://dailymontanan.com/2026/06/26/outdoor-groups-sue-state-over-new-land-exchange-policy/

Also, the cowboys have been saved from the evil native bison, for now: https://www.ktvh.com/news/montana-p...grazing-on-montana-state-lands-heard-in-court

And of course we are suing FWP over Corner Crossing, and the governor continues to travel around the State and falsely claim that it is illegal. Some decent local reporting on this recently: https://jcmonitor.com/cornering-the-corner-crossing-debate/

 

[Forkyfinder]

Nailed it on that one.

Next: a last minute change to land board land exchange procedure, a truly shady backroom-type deal that in effect "no longer gives DNRC the power to deny proposals, and puts a greater emphasis on allowing landowners to hire consultants to facilitate key parts of the exchange process." So the fox guarding the henhouse, as it were. https://dailymontanan.com/2026/06/26/outdoor-groups-sue-state-over-new-land-exchange-policy/

Also, the cowboys have been saved from the evil native bison, for now: https://www.ktvh.com/news/montana-p...grazing-on-montana-state-lands-heard-in-court

And of course we are suing FWP over Corner Crossing, and the governor continues to travel around the State and falsely claim that it is illegal. Some decent local reporting on this recently: https://jcmonitor.com/cornering-the-corner-crossing-debate/

That sums it up well.

I think this is a better article.

With limited public involvement, Montana Land Board overhauls land-swap process

Landowner-hired consultants can broker deals with the state under State Auditor James Brown’s proposal.

montanafreepress.org

Items from the article that i find significant:

"One section of the policy, for example, specifies that while trust land should generally “be valued for its highest and best use,” considerations will be made for “limiting factors.” It instructs the DNRC to apply a “commercially reasonable discount” for state lands lacking a documented legal access — e.g., land that is in the checkerboard. "

"The proposal drew support from several well-known lobbyists who frequent the halls of the Capitol, including Raylee Honeycutt with the Montana Stockgrowers Association, Clayton Elliott with Trout Unlimited, Ben Lamb with the Montana Conservation Society and former Democratic lawmaker Tom Jacobson, who lobbied for eight entities during the 2025 Legislature, including the Taylor Luther Group, which represents the interests of some of Montana’s highest-profile businesses and landowners."

“Recent third-party brokered land exchanges in Montana have produced deals where the public received high-elevation terrain of limited utility, while giving up productive lower-elevation land and established recreational access,” argued Russell Fruits with the Montana chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers during comment on the proposal. “Those outcomes are not accidents. They’re what happens when no one is in the room to independently be accountable to the public.”