It is almost a contest to see who can come up with the worst bill in Helena. It is neck and neck race for the idiocy trophy this week, between the habitual offender John "I hate hunters" Brenden and Allan "I want to be like John Brenden" Redfield.
Redfield has introduced HB 312, a bill that will require FWP, read hunters, to pay for brucellosis testing, something that has been defeated in bitter fights the last two sessions. Even worse, it includes other wildlife, including elk, now having a higher prevalence of this disease that came from cattle.
The bill requires management to reduce the prevalence of brucellosis in wildlife, ELK. So, we are going to manage for even lower numbers of elk in the areas surrounding Yellowstone.
As if a reduction of the Upper Yellowstone herd from 19,000 down to 4,500 has not been enough, we need to go further, according to this bill. And, the same would apply for the Gallatin and Madison herds that are already way below previous levels.
Even if you don't get worked up about bison, you might want to stand up and fight for your elk.
Here is a link to the bill, HB 312 - http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2013/billhtml/HB0312.htm
And, as is often the case, they stuff these bills in committees favorable to there cause, in this case the Agricultural Committee. Here is a link to Redfield's personal legislative email, but you can also notify the entire committee by hitting the "Committee" button, right above his name and select the House Agriculture Commitee.
http://www.leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/63rd/legwebmessage.asp?LegSessID=4116&Name=ALAN REDFIELD
Whether people want to admit it, or not, there are some in the legislature who hate elk as much as they hate bison. Bison are just the wedge they use to accomplish their objective to hammer elk, also.
The worst elk predators in Montana haunt the halls of the legislature, every two years. This year having a particularly large and hungry pack trolling the halls of the Capitol.
Following post will talk about the bison extermination bill by the habitual offended, Senator Brenden.
Redfield has introduced HB 312, a bill that will require FWP, read hunters, to pay for brucellosis testing, something that has been defeated in bitter fights the last two sessions. Even worse, it includes other wildlife, including elk, now having a higher prevalence of this disease that came from cattle.
The bill requires management to reduce the prevalence of brucellosis in wildlife, ELK. So, we are going to manage for even lower numbers of elk in the areas surrounding Yellowstone.
As if a reduction of the Upper Yellowstone herd from 19,000 down to 4,500 has not been enough, we need to go further, according to this bill. And, the same would apply for the Gallatin and Madison herds that are already way below previous levels.
Even if you don't get worked up about bison, you might want to stand up and fight for your elk.
Here is a link to the bill, HB 312 - http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2013/billhtml/HB0312.htm
And, as is often the case, they stuff these bills in committees favorable to there cause, in this case the Agricultural Committee. Here is a link to Redfield's personal legislative email, but you can also notify the entire committee by hitting the "Committee" button, right above his name and select the House Agriculture Commitee.
http://www.leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/63rd/legwebmessage.asp?LegSessID=4116&Name=ALAN REDFIELD
Whether people want to admit it, or not, there are some in the legislature who hate elk as much as they hate bison. Bison are just the wedge they use to accomplish their objective to hammer elk, also.
The worst elk predators in Montana haunt the halls of the legislature, every two years. This year having a particularly large and hungry pack trolling the halls of the Capitol.
Following post will talk about the bison extermination bill by the habitual offended, Senator Brenden.
:W:
