Legislation-Ben Lamb

[BuzzH]

SS,

I cant believe thats even being considered...wow!

I thought the coming home to hunt permits were even a bit of a stretch...but having people who were born in MT paying the same fees as residents, even if they live out of state?

As much as my wife and I would benefit from it...I cant ever like it.

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

Everyone should buy folks like Ben a beer - everytime you can, in appreciation for all the involvement and effort.

 

[mdunc8]

SB 92 - Revise Falconry Law to Allow for Capture of Non-Residents - MWF Support

So you're telling me I can train a golden eagle to rid my honey holes of all the guys that drive out from Minnesota? Sweet!

 

[shoots-straight]

Everyone should buy folks like Ben a beer - everytime you can, in appreciation for all the involvement and effort.

Kurt, you too, can drop some lines to your local reps. It's really easy, and all of us that are working on this 24/7 will love you for it. It really does help.

I won't like "LOVE" you but love that you did it.. K

 

[Ben Lamb]

Why are there sooooo many Fish and Wildlife bills being tossed around in the legislature? This is nuts! Spears, game retrieval, etc? WTF. I had no idea there was such strong feelings about this crap that someone had to get a state representative to write up some stupid bill and put it to a vote at this level?

There has to be ulterior motives to all this? Seems like our public lands and public game is being tossed around as pawns in some sick fricken game. I thought we were all about less govt in this "Republican" or "conservative" state.

There are over 150 bills relating to just fish and wildlife issues. Add in attempts to weaken environmental regulations, strip commission authority on wildlife management decisions and reduce access, we're looking at over 200 bills.

Part of the feeling at the legislature is that FWP bought too much land, and it's driving ranchers out of business. It's kind of funny though, especially when FWP owns less than .5% of all land in MT.

We're also looking at bills that would reinstate Outfitter sponsored licenses (reverse I-161), undo the Breaks archery permit structure the Commission adopted, and make Net Client Hunter Use a property right, also there's a lot of bills that could come forward regarding FWP's lands program, eliminating the law enforcement ability to conduct operations (another MSSA bill), and the hits keep coming!

 

[mtmiller]

We're also looking at bills that would reinstate Outfitter sponsored licenses (reverse I-161), undo the Breaks archery permit structure the Commission adopted, and make Net Client Hunter Use a property right,

All from the same R IIRC.

 

[jore07]

Mr. Lamb is there a site or something that breaks the bills down their basics? I have been clicking through some of the listing on the Montana Legislature page and trying to read through the printed bills is not terribly easy. I was just hoping to find a breakdown of the basic attempts of the bill. Thank you for the help, and sorry for my lack of intelligence on this matter.

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

ss- I have in the past, but not frequently enough. I'm amazed at some of these.. and why they are dreamed up. When the outfitter sponsored pronghorn licenses came up a few years ago, I was on the email and phone.

Making a law to drive cross country to retrieve game? Who are these people? If it were for pheasants, maybe I'd support it.

 

[Ben Lamb]

Jore,

It's confusing to everyone. RIght now we don't have a sight that breaks down bills to their nuts and bolts. Feel free to ask me anything, and I'll get the info.

We're moving at light speed until Transmittal (Feb. 24th), so getting the bills and a brief description isn't feasible for us right now, especially given the volume of bills we're looking at.

To say that folks are overwhelming hunters and anglers with this stuff is an understatement.

 

[tjones]

There is one bill that would make a 3 year wait after drawing a special mountain lion license, and another to re classify the lion a predator, no license, no season. Figure that one out.

 

[jore07]

Thank you Mr. Lamb if I find anything I just can not understand I will ask you help. Otherwise I will just read your updates and links and do the best I can without bothering you during this busy time.

Thank you again for your help with me and everything else you do.

 

[Ben Lamb]

Tony,
we're strongly opposed to the Lions as predator bill.

We'll be making a decision on the 3 year wait bill. I've forwarded your comments to the board so they can include them in the discussion.

Ultimately though, that should be a commission decision, not legislative, IMO.

 

[Ben Lamb]

Thank you Mr. Lamb if I find anything I just can not understand I will ask you help. Otherwise I will just read your updates and links and do the best I can without bothering you during this busy time.

Thank you again for your help with me and everything else you do.

Jore,

We always want to hear from hunters. Please don't hesitate to send a PM, or post a question. You guys are great stress relief for me, especially the stories and pics.

 

[jore07]

Thanks Mr. Lamb. I'm sorry but I do have one thing. Is there a list of what bills you are opponent to or proponent for?

 

[Ben Lamb]

Sure,

Scroll about 1/3 of the way down this page and you will find our watch list. It's a more comprehensive list of bills than what I posted on page one. Our positions are not online at the moment, but it will be updated as the session wears on.

Right now, we are taking bills on a one week/upcoming hearing schedule. The list of bills I posted on page one have our positions on them. Is there a specific bill you are interested in?

 

[jore07]

Not at the moment just trying to get a feel for everything. I tend to agree with your stance on previous bills as I listened to a session on a few yesterday so I guess I just wanted some insight.

Thanks again for all your help. I appreciate it. I am pretty new to the involvement of all this. Thank you.

 

[drahthaar]

Making a law to drive cross country to retrieve game? Who are these people? If it were for pheasants, maybe I'd support it.

Come on GH, You know there wouldn't be any abuse of that. Just good hard huntin' folk. I think I'm gonna hurl.

Why don't they just do what it's obvious they want to do, bring up a bill to get rid of the commission!! I am far from a big fan of the the FWP commission, but its better than this bunch of nitwit POLITICIANS deciding on these issues, using the bills as bargaining chips in a giant ill-fated poker game.

 

[Big Fin]

Here are two bills introduced by a Montana legislator who is an outfitter? Certainly not a conflict of interest.

Override the citizens initiative, I-161, that passed in the November election that eliminated the Outfitter Sponsored Licenses. Even though I voted against that initiative due to my distate for the initiative process, the people have spoken. Get over it, and move on.

http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2011/lchtml/LC0659.htm


Create a new property right where none currently exists by making Net Client Hunting Units a property right of the outfitter, rather than an item allocated by state approval. Just what we need, enfrachise more select groups with state owned rights.

http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2011/lchtml/LC0660.htm


We have previously been told that he would not introduce these bills, due to the overwhelming protests. But, found out today, that the bills will be introduced.

I know a lot of MOGA guys lurk on this board. Idea for the MOGA folks lurking here. For the sake of any hope for long-term relations between Outfitters and resident MT hunters, a great first step would be to get this guy, who is one of your members, to drop this kind of stupidity.

This does nothing but fan the flames. Next time it comes to hunting/outfitting intiatives similar to I-161, I suspect most resident hunters will remember Mr. Harris and his antics, and will be more than happy to vote against outfiitters at every chance, regardless of the issue. Seeing his self-serving acts and blatant pocket-lining makes me question my intelligence for voting against I-161. Stupid me.

If nothing else, it is mobilizing a lot of Montana hunters who I have never before seen involved in this political process. Hopefully these new folks have long memories when the elections of 2012 come around.

 

[mtmiller]

Don't forget this one.

http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2011/billhtml/HB0285.htm

 

[Ben Lamb]

Don't forget this one.

http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2011/billhtml/HB0285.htm

This one is better comedy: Nullify the Endangered Species Act

Here's what the Idaho Attorney General has to say about the illegality of Nullification