For immediate release: February 21, 2018
Contacts:
Alec Underwood, Montana Wildlife Federation: (406) 303-0494
Chris Marchion, Anaconda Sportsmen’s Group and Our Land, Our Legacy: (406) 560-1592
Kit Fischer, Hellgate Hunters and Anglers: (406) 241-3121
Pat Tucker, Army veteran and wildlife biologist: (406) 360-5472
Sen. Daines Holds Invitation-Only Meetings to Discuss His
Anti-Wilderness Study Area Bill
Hunters, anglers, hikers, horseback riders, skiers, and others that make up majority of public land users were not invited, then insulted by Sen. Daines
Bozeman, MT – Today, Senator Steve Daines held two invitation-only meetings, one in Phillipsburg and another in Hamilton, with hand-picked public land users to discuss S. 2206, his bill that would remove protection from five wilderness study areas (WSAs). Sportsmen and women, backcountry horsemen, and representatives from nearly every public land user group were not invited to these meetings.
A group of 15 opposed to Sen. Daines’ bill appeared anyway at the meeting the senator held at Granite Sportland in Phillipsburg. Daines told Alec Underwood, western field representative for Montana Wildlife Federation, that the Anaconda Sportsmen’s Club and Hellgate Hunters and Anglers are “green decoys” when Underwood told Daines these two groups oppose his bill.
Invented by Washington, D.C. public relations firm Berman & Company, the term “green decoys” is meant to smear hunting organizations that are opposed to transferring and selling off public lands, suggesting these organizations do not represent actual hunters.
Anaconda Sportsmen’s Club was founded in 1948 and currently has nearly 500 members, almost all of whom live and hunt in Montana.
“Anaconda Sportsmen’s Club was founded almost 15 years before Sen. Daines was even born,” says Chris Marchion, a longtime leader of Anaconda Sportsmen’s Club and Montana Outdoor Hall of Famer. He’s currently a representative of Our Land, Our Legacy, a diverse group of Montanans defending Montana’s WSAs. “His comments, and his WSA bill, demonstrate that Sen. Daines is sadly out of touch with Montana’s hunters and anglers.”
Hellgate Hunters and Anglers was founded in 2005 and currently has 400 members and supporters, almost all of whom are residents of Montana. Last month, Hellgate Hunters and Anglers President Kit Fischer requested a meeting with Sen. Daines to discuss S. 2206. His request was not granted.
“So Sen. Daines took time today to meet with snowmobilers but refused our request to talk about how his bill will impact Montana’s fish and wildlife,” says Fischer. “He then suggests our members aren't real sportsmen. I can guarantee our members don’t hike mountains, cross frozen rivers, and spend countless hours in the field all so they can pose as hunters opposed to an anti-conservation agenda. It’s clear why Montana’s hunters and anglers oppose this bill, because Sen. Daines refuses to consider our values.”
Sen. Daines then traveled to Hamilton and began a meeting at around 12:15, an hour earlier than a press release sent from his office had indicated. He gave a speech then left through the back door at 1:15, the time the meeting was supposed to begin. Nearly 60 people opposed to Sen. Daines’ bill showed up at around 1:15 in an effort to have Sen. Daines listen to their concerns about his bill.
His appearance in Hamilton comes two weeks after the Ravalli County commission held a meeting to discuss the bill, at which 153 people signed in as opposed to Sen. Daines’ bill and 41 in support and 52 people testified against the bill and 20 in favor. Moreover, 78 people sent the commission emails opposing the bill, compared to 20 people who emailed supporting the bill.
“Today, Sen. Daines demonstrated that he’s not only ignoring but also avoiding the vast majority of his constituents who want a say on how our wilderness study areas are managed over the long haul,” said Pat Tucker, a Ravalli County resident, Army veteran, and wildlife biologist who was at the Hamilton meeting and hikes and backpacks in the Sapphire and Blue Joint WSAs. “We are the people who use and cherish these areas. Why is he ignoring us? Why won’t he listen to what we have to say?”
Sen. Daines drafted and introduced S. 2206 without holding a single public meeting or town hall, nor did he solicit comments from the public to gauge how Montanans would like wilderness study areas managed. The bill targets the Big Snowies, Middle Fork Judith, West Pioneer, Sapphire, and Blue Joint Wilderness Study Areas, together totaling 450,000 acres. If passed, it would be the single biggest rollback of public lands protections in Montana history.
“This bill, and these meetings Sen. Daines held today, is an affront to every Montanan who believes we should have an inclusive, transparent, and balanced approach to solving management challenges on our public lands,” says Marchion. “That’s why we’re now calling on Sen. Daines to abandon this bill and work with the rest of the congressional delegation in taking a measured approach to our WSAs and start engaging with the broad spectrum of people who have a stake in these areas.”
