FWP Fisheries Director Ousted?

[Labman]

The commission/department didn't purchase it, it was donated. Granted, the commission didn't shit on the donation, so I guess we should give them credit for that.

“In 2022, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission purchased this Wildlife Management Area using primarily hunting license dollars and federal Wildlife Restoration Act funds.”

FWP :: Wildlife Management Area Detail

 

[YukonGold]

“In 2022, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission purchased this Wildlife Management Area using primarily hunting license dollars and federal Wildlife Restoration Act funds.”

FWP :: Wildlife Management Area Detail

yeah I edited my post, I was mistaken.

 

[Carnage2011]

Yep, the vast majority can probably agree he made a mistake on that. I guess he will have to defend that one. The point is the guy never seems to get any credit when something good like that happens.

Just because he was gov when something fell into his lap doesn’t mean he should get credit. If he would have actually done something then it would be different. He had no choice but to allow this. Only Knudsen is dumb enough not to.

 

[Jock Conyngham]

Yep, the vast majority can probably agree he made a mistake on that. I guess he will have to defend that one. The point is the guy never seems to get any credit when something good like that happens.

Labman, I give GG credit for the Big Snowies acquisition and also the 830 acre expansion of the Mt. Haggin WMA, which no one has brought up. At least he and the Land Board didn’t block them. But you will notice that both were announced under the tightest controls. The Mt. Haggin announcement had four people there—two staffers, and two invited press members. Locals who had worked on it for years, guys like Chris Marchion, were not invited.

These were exceptions, at least to my mind. Distractions from a long list of damaging actions, both direct and indirect. RandanP points out one of the clearest signs.

I am struck at how quickly this discussion became political. While the Republican leadership in the legislature has been pulling all kinds of breathtaking horsesh*t, I didn’t bring up Schweitzer’s poor treatment of Hagener casually. Wanderwoman is right, and I’ll say it again—this is about arrogance, power consolidation, and disregard for resident sportsmen as well as science-based management, not politics—at least from where I stand. The guest op piece I helped write wasn’t just about Eileen; it was about an unmistakable pattern of top-down management.

 

[Forkyfinder]

I am struck at how quickly this discussion became political. While the Republican leadership in the legislature has been pulling all kinds of breathtaking horsesh*t, I didn’t bring up Schweitzer’s poor treatment of Hagener casually. Wanderwoman is right, and I’ll say it again—this is about arrogance, power consolidation, and disregard for resident sportsmen as well as science-based management, not politics—at least from where I stand. The guest op piece I helped write wasn’t just about Eileen; it was about an unmistakable pattern of top-down management.

Apologies for making it political.

Absolutely want to hear more about yiur perspective on whats gone awry at FWP.

 

[Jock Conyngham]

Forkyfinder, I sure wasn’t singling you out. And while I’m independent and never been registered with either party, I think a lot about my own political lenses. In this case and others, though, I think it derails a conversation that needs to happen before further damage occurs—both to mission execution and apparent credibility. Takes a long time to rebuild once gone.

 

[RandanP]

Cleared of allegations, FWP fisheries chief resigns

Ryce sent a letter of resignation to FWP Chief of Staff Melissa Watson that took FWP leadership to task for putting her on administrative leave on May 17 for what she called “baseless allegations.”

missoulacurrent.com

 

[TheTone]

Sounds like a miserable work environment. I feel for the mid level staff and for supervisors that might think independently.