Straight Arrow-Ben Lamb
Your efforts if any; pale to the landowner when it comes to providing habitat and improving the wildlife resource. I would like you to give me examples of what you all have done!
I helped lead the team that got the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust Account established. That Trust has conserved thousands of acres of Ag land in Wyoming so that family producers can stay on the land, and have the advantages that come with Conservation Easements and increased productivity of their lands. Funny thing, SFW made sure that access wasn't a component of those conservation easements. That fund, last I knew, was sitting at around $110 million.
I helped write the initial language that eventually became the Simpson/Tester amendment that got wolves delisted, and was lucky enough to be on the phone with Tester when the vote was cast to delist wolves (also, was on the phone with the press).
I've got 7 legislative sessions under my belt working for hunters and anglers in MT and WY.
I volunteer hundreds if not thousands hours to various rod and gun clubs and organizations as well as a few grand in donations.
I help set up fundraisers for NGO's who are doing good work.
I'm a member of Tester's sporsmen's advisory panel, which asked for relief for livestock producers on brucellosis regulations, and
got this to begin with.
I've worked with various stakeholders to increase the amount of available public land to hunters and anglers while maintaining good relationships with a large number of landowners. Currently, folks are working on some changes that we'd all like to see to Block Management that would increase payments and allow for greater flexibility of landowners when it comes to managed hunting on lands enrolled in Block.
I was one of three full time sportsmen's lobbyists in the last session who worked to organize hunters and anglers and defeat over 200 bad bills, including ones that would have eliminated our ability to conserve elk winter range, purchase fee title lands to open up large blocks of public land, and (and I take great pride in this), I was able to help kill SFW/MOGA's wolf bill that would have kept us listed in spite of S/T.
I've worked on the farm bill, and helped ensure that programs that benefit landowners like NAWCA, CRP, GRP, etc, receive enough funding so that those farmers and ranchers who want to enroll in those programs can.
I've worked extensively on the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which provides funding for over 70% of the Fishing Access Sites in MT, as well as millions of dollars in conservation easements for willing sellers.
I've fought the extremists on both sides of natural resource issues and while some folks like Mike Garrity at Alliance for the Wild Rockies and Dave Galt at the Montana Petroleum Association both don't care for me too much, I did it while living below the median income for close to a decade.
I'm working on trying to kill the Simpson Sheep Rider with a bunch of other hunters and anglers because I like wild sheep. I may very well never draw a tag, but that doesn't matter.
I spent the last 4 years working on the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act alongside landowners and outfitters. That bill has had a hearing. Nobody managed to show up against it. The only real opposition it has is political in nature.
I've worked with oil and gas companies on legislation that benefits wildlife, I've helped secure over $1 billion in funding for wildlife and ag, I've gone to DC numerous times to lobby for hunters and anglers and wild country. I've spent a career making the west better for hunters and anglers, including defending MT's stream access law against groups like UPOM, the Farm Bureau and many, many others who don't seem to share what most Montanan's hold dear.
I spent 5 years as the sportsmen's representative to the Wyoming Animal Damage Management Board and helped push through funding that has been utilized to develop the first portable electrical fencing (NOLS out of Lander was the originator), and provide backcountry caches for food, etc, so hikers and hunters wouldn't get grizz stuffed into their tent along with the Doritos.
I suppose I could go on, but I'm feeling kinda shitty for talking so much about myself.
your turn.
Eric, this isn't directed at you. I know you do a ton for conservation, and while we may have our difference of opinions, I do believe you're looking for an honest dialog. I hope you get it.
