Brian in Montana
Well-known member
Any of you guys members?
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I'll get on board with the Mule Deer Foundation when they start pushing MT FWP to manage them properly. From the conversations I've had with a few chapter presidents, its not a priority. Maybe someone that's a member can fill me in on what they do for mule deer in MT.
Yes this is pretty accurate. I volunteer to help run the Fargo ND chapter. Our RD Marshall Johnson oversees parts of MT I believe.They do some good projects in eastern MT, and they've been active at the legislature, working with other hunting/angling groups on access issues, wildlife funding, etc. I think they have 1 staffer in state, so it's tough to get out and rock & roll too much. They did just hire Steve Belinda as one of their national conservation directors, which is a solid move. Steve's a good guy & very strong conservationists from Wyoming, who worked on O&G issues in the Pinedale anticline for years, and is an avid outdoorsman.
Cc: Don Thomas & DUI am a member but I waiver at times. The reason is Ron Ness, a MDF board member, is also the president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council. The advance of the petroleum industry in North Dakota hasn’t been in the best interest of our mule deer herd. I find myself wondering how someone can push to advance the petroleum industry in North Dakota to the extent he has, and maintain a seat on the MDF board.
Not to mention that Ness has literally been an enemy of nearly all things conservation in the entire state. Especially if there is any perceived slight to the oil industry. I spoke to a member of the conservation community over Oil and Gas Development in the Badlands. He said the conservation reps were making an argument that some land in the National Grasslands should be off limits to drilling. Mind you, the National Grasslands and surrounding private lands are the only primary range for Mule Deer in North Dakota. He was talking less than 25% of it should be protected from oil and road development. Ness sat right in front of him and said "No, we want it all". Then he get's appointed to the MDF board?
When I found out MDF put Ness on their board I dropped my MDF membership faster than a lead shit.
If I was a member or potential one, I'd be pushing for Ness to be ousted.