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FWP opposes stockgrower wildlife plan
Associated Press
BOZEMAN (AP) - Wildlife officials said they will oppose an idea touted by ranchers that would give landowners a guaranteed number of elk and deer licenses in return for granting some public access.
At its meeting last week, the Montana Stockgrowers Association decided to look into such an arrangement, perhaps asking legislators next month to make it law.
Jeff Hagener, director of the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said the stockgrowers' plan isn't the answer to frustration landowners feel in dealing with surging wildlife populations.
MSGA's proposal
The MSGA is developing what it calls the Montana Wildlife Partnership, under which landowners would create wildlife management plans with the help of FWP.
Landowners could then sell "letters of authorization," which would guarantee issuance of a big game license and the right to hunt the land.
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They'd likely be sold to nonresidents who would otherwise have to apply for a license in a lottery.
The ranchers say their plan would offer some of the special tags to Montana residents for free.
The ranching group said wild animals are running roughshod over private rangeland and destroying crops, and something needs to be done to control them.
Finding middle ground
But Hagener said the nation has a long tradition of treating wildlife as public property.
"They're not private livestock," he said.
Some sportsmen's groups have also voiced strong opposition to the idea.
FWP is rewriting its 10-year-old elk management plan, and it is working to involve more landowners, Hagener said.
"There's a real opportunity right now as we begin the process," he said.
Hagener said the agency does realize that there are too many elk and deer in places, causing conflicts with landowners.
Ranchers also want hunting seasons to end when harvest quotas are met, not on a seemingly arbitrary date.
Hagener said FWP is considering such seasons and has done pilot projects in some areas.
"We understand the landowners' concerns," Hagener said. "But we also understand the sportsmen's concerns and we're hoping to come up with something in the middle."
Copyright 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
BOZEMAN (AP) - Wildlife officials said they will oppose an idea touted by ranchers that would give landowners a guaranteed number of elk and deer licenses in return for granting some public access.
At its meeting last week, the Montana Stockgrowers Association decided to look into such an arrangement, perhaps asking legislators next month to make it law.
Jeff Hagener, director of the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said the stockgrowers' plan isn't the answer to frustration landowners feel in dealing with surging wildlife populations.
MSGA's proposal
The MSGA is developing what it calls the Montana Wildlife Partnership, under which landowners would create wildlife management plans with the help of FWP.
Landowners could then sell "letters of authorization," which would guarantee issuance of a big game license and the right to hunt the land.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
They'd likely be sold to nonresidents who would otherwise have to apply for a license in a lottery.
The ranchers say their plan would offer some of the special tags to Montana residents for free.
The ranching group said wild animals are running roughshod over private rangeland and destroying crops, and something needs to be done to control them.
Finding middle ground
But Hagener said the nation has a long tradition of treating wildlife as public property.
"They're not private livestock," he said.
Some sportsmen's groups have also voiced strong opposition to the idea.
FWP is rewriting its 10-year-old elk management plan, and it is working to involve more landowners, Hagener said.
"There's a real opportunity right now as we begin the process," he said.
Hagener said the agency does realize that there are too many elk and deer in places, causing conflicts with landowners.
Ranchers also want hunting seasons to end when harvest quotas are met, not on a seemingly arbitrary date.
Hagener said FWP is considering such seasons and has done pilot projects in some areas.
"We understand the landowners' concerns," Hagener said. "But we also understand the sportsmen's concerns and we're hoping to come up with something in the middle."
Copyright 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
