Wolf Hunt Closed in Montana - Call the Governor to Voice Your Objection

[huntrights]

Message from Big Game Forever

Please help our neighbors.  We may be asking for their help in the future.  Tell them that wildlife management must be based on sound and unbiased science, not on catering to the agendas of anti-hunting and animal rights organizations.  The phone call only takes a couple of minutes.

"ACTION ALERT

Sportsmen of America,

Our friends in Montana need help.  If you haven’t heard yet, on Monday, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer’s Commission over Fish Wildlife and Parks voted to close the wolf harvest in areas just North of Yellowstone National Park. Here is one story on Monday’s decision:
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/viewart/20121210/NEWS01/312100029/Montana-shuts-down-wolf-hunting-near-Yellowstone
This decision sets a terrible precedent. Sportsmen and Livestock Producers have every right to be frustrated. Montana's Governor needs to get phone calls from hundreds of sportsmen that they strongly oppose the decision to close these hunts and any restrictions on needed wolf harvest and the way the closure of the hunts was handled.
 
TAKE ACTION TODAY: Call Governor Brian Schweitzer today and tell him you don’t support the closure of the wolf hunts North of Yellowstone. Let’s send a strong message by making hundreds of phone calls.
                        Governor’s office phone number: (406) 444-3111
 
Talking Points:
1)   Sacrificing the recovery of wildlife populations in these areas and closure of these wolf hunts sets a terrible precedent.
2)  Considering the devastation of elk and moose populations in the area, there is no biological reason why Governor Brian Schweitzer’s Commission over Fish Wildlife and Parks should have voted 4-1 to close the wolf harvest north of Yellowstone.
3)  The head of Governor Schweitzer's Wildlife Commission, Bob Ream, has admitted that the decision to close the wolf hunt was political.  This isn’t good enough for Montana’s wildlife. Ream said. "Is it political? Yeah, wolves are political."  Source: http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/montana-officials-shut-down-wolf-hunting-trapping-near-yellowstone/article_0fb2e7c6-4309-11e2-9eab-001a4bcf887a.html
 
Please call Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer today. Let him know that sportsmen don’t support the closure or unnecessary restrictions on wolf harvest in Montana.
                                    Governor’s office phone number: (406) 444-3111
 
Please forward this message to friends, family and work associates. Ask them to make a two-minute phone call today. Please keep all calls cordial while expressing your concern.  We have heard that the lines are getting busy.  If you don't get through at first, please call back later today.
 
--
Ryan Benson
http://biggameforever.org/
ryandbenson@msn.com"

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Took a couple tries to get through but i did! Very nice lady to talk to and she is going to forward my message to the governor!  Also left message on there email site as well!!!!

[Rainier10]

Same here, squeaky wheel gets the oil.  Hopefully they get an earfull because this does set a terrible precedent.

[Elkaholic daWg]

X 3

[mulehunter]

  I called and She will info him about it. Thank you for post.

[Elkaholic daWg]

Citizens for Balanced Use Alert
 
FWP Commission Votes to buy more land and also stop wolf hunting and trapping around Yellowstone Park.

Dear Jim,
On Monday the FWP Commission voted to purchase the Milk River Ranch 45 miles North of Havre despite strong opposition from landowners, legislators, sportsmen and agriculture groups. The purchase of this property is for the sole benefit of one ranch owner and will completely drain the Heritage Montana Fund. Governor Schweitzer in his last days of office is completing the payoff to his contributors and is turning his back on hunters, fishermen, property owners and recreational groups.

During this same meeting the Commission also stopped all wolf harvests in a buffer zone around Yellowstone Park. The trapping season was to begin this coming weekend and many people attended the wolf trapping classes provided by FWP in anticipation of this opportunity.

The FWP Commission has used millions of our sportmen's dollars to purchase a ranch with no fishing or hunting opportunities to the benefit of one ranch owner and for an inflated price of almost 3 times the value of this property and then they stop all opportunity to harvest wolves around Yellowstone Park.

The Governor needs to here from us on both these bad decisions by the FWP Commission.

 

The wolf decision sets a terrible precedent. Sportsmen and Livestock Producers have every right to be frustrated by this decision. The Governor needs to hear from hundreds of Montanans that they strongly oppose the decision to close these hunts and any restrictions on needed wolf harvest and the way the closure of the hunts was handled.

 

TAKE ACTION TODAY: Call Governor Brian Schweitzer today and tell him you don't support the closure of the wolf hunts North of Yellowstone. Let's send a strong message by getting hundreds of phone calls.

 

                        Governor's office phone number: (406) 444-3111

 

Talking Points:

1)   Sacrificing the recovery of wildlife populations in these areas and closure of these wolf hunts sets a terrible precedent.

2)  Considering the devastation of elk and moose populations in the area, there is no biological reason why Governor Brian Schweitzer's Commission over Fish Wildlife and Parks should have voted 4-1 to close the wolf harvest north of Yellowstone.

3)  The head of Governor Schweitzer's Wildlife Commission, Bob Ream, has admitted that the decision to close the wolf hunt was political.  This isn't good enough for Montana's wildlife. Ream said. "Is it political? Yeah, wolves are political."  Source: http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/montana-officials-shut-down-wolf-hunting-trapping-near-yellowstone/article_0fb2e7c6-4309-11e2-9eab-001a4bcf887a.html

 

Please call Governor Brian Schweitzer today. Let him know that Montanans don't support the closure or unnecessary restrictions on wolf harvest in Montana.

                                    Governor's office phone number: (406) 444-3111

 

Please forward this message to friends, family and work associates. Ask them to make a two-minute phone call today. Please keep all calls cordial while expressing your concern. The following articles provide good information on the wolf harvest and Milk River decisions. 

 

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/viewart/20121210/NEWS01/312100029/Montana-shuts-down-wolf-hunting-near-Yellowstone

 

 http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20121201/NEWS01/312010014/Proposed-FWP-land-purchase-sparks-protest-Hill-County?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage

 

 http://helenair.com/news/local/milk-river-ranch-up-for-final-sale-ok/article_763a2afa-3c4b-11e2-a81b-0019bb2963f4.html

 

 

[csaaphill]

sent an email letting the Gov know how hunters feal. 

[huntrights]

Message from Big Game Forever:

"Folks,

There has been a major development in the wolf hunt closures North of Yellowstone National Park.  On Tuesday, Big Game Forever and 4 other co-plaintiffs jointly filed a lawsuit contesting the lack of public notice by Montana FWP Commission before the decision was made to close these hunts.

Judge Nels Swandal has now reopened hunting and trapping for wolves in the closure areas effective immediately.  This was a result of a restraining order filed by Big Game Forever and the other joint plaintiffs in the case.  On January 14th, a hearing will be held on whether the restraining order should become a longer term preliminary injunction.  This hearing will be held in Livingtson, Montana in the 6th judicial district court of Park County.

Big Game Forever will be present at the hearing.  We would encourage every interested sportsman and livestock owner to attend as well. The address is:

6th Judicial District Court
414 East Callender Street
Livingston MT, 59047

Many sportsmen are very concerned about the precedent set by this wolf harvest closure.  Elk, Moose and other wildlife in the area have been dramatically impacted by delays in wolf management.  The decision to prematurely close wolf harvest seems to ignore the plight of wildlife populations in the area.  Additionally, there are serious concerns regarding the failure to follow long established public notice requirements in making this decision.  On an issue as important as wildlife population recovery, every Montanan has the right to be aware that a decision is being considered. This allows citizens to attend and make public comment at the hearing before a decision is made.

We are grateful for the leadership shown by our co-plaintiffs in this case, including Citizens for Balanced Use, Alan Redfield, Montana Guides and Outfitters Association and Montana Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife.  Below is an official press release by Citizens for Balance Use on the lawsuit.

--

Ryan Benson
http://biggameforever.org/
ryandbenson@msn.com"


"Jan. 2, 2013
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact:
Kerry White of Citizens for Balanced Use
406-600-4228
Kerry@balanceduse.org
 
Attorney Cory Swanson
406-459-6359
coryswanson@abslegal.net
 
Sportsmen Groups Sue FWP Commission to Challenge Wolf Decision
Allege Commission Violated Constitutional Rights and Procedures
 
Livingston, Montana – Today four sportsmen organizations and one rancher sued the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission (“FWP” or “Commission”) in state district court to challenge the Commission’s decision on Dec. 10, 2012 to close parts of Park County, Montana to wolf hunting and trapping. The lawsuit alleges the Commission closed wolf hunting without giving notice to the public in advance of the hearing, which violated the Montana Constitution and the Montana Administrative Procedure Act.
 
The Plaintiffs are Citizens for Balanced Use; Big Game Forever, LLC; the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association; Montana Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife; and Alan Redfield. Redfield is a rancher in southern Park County and newly-elected member of the Montana House of Representatives.
 
The FWP Commission notified the public that it would hear an informational update on the 2012 wolf hunting season harvest at its Dec. 10 meeting. It provided multiple pages of agenda items on its web site and sent out a press release, all stating the wolf agenda item would be informational only. At the Dec. 10 meeting, the Commission acted to close two areas of Park County to wolf trapping and hunting for the duration of the 2012-2013 season.
 
At the meeting, two members of the Commission questioned the action because the Commission had not notified the public that it would be taking action affecting the wolf season. Several members of the public commented to the Commission that it was not following the required public notice procedures.
 
The Plaintiff Sportsmen Groups have been involved in many wildlife issues and seek the opportunity to testify or submit comments to the Commission about changing the wolf season. They have asked the state district court to order a Temporary Restraining Order (“TRO”) to enjoin the wolf season closure until the Commission follows the notice laws and gives the public a chance to speak on the issue.
 
 
Excerpt from the Complaint with the applicable
legal requirements:
 
Right of Participation: The public has the right to expect governmental agencies to afford such reasonable opportunity for citizen participation in the operation of the agencies prior to the final decision as may be provided by law. Mont. Const. Art. II, Sec. 8
 
Right to Know: No person shall be deprived of the right to examine documents or to observe the deliberations of all public bodies or agencies of state government and its subdivisions, except in cases in which the demand of individual privacy clearly exceeds the merits of public disclosure. Mont. Const. Art. II, Sec. 9
The Montana Administrative Procedure Act (“MAPA”), beginning at Mont. Code Ann. § 2-3-101, requires the people of Montana should be “afforded reasonable opportunity to participate in the operation of governmental agencies prior to the final decision of the agency.”
FWP has adopted the Attorney General’s model procedural rules implementing MAPA. A.R.M. § 12.2.101(1). FWP has adopted a policy supporting maximum public participation in its decisions:
 
Participation of the public is to be provided for, encouraged, and assisted to the fullest extent practicable, consistent with other requirements of state law and the rights and requirements of personal privacy…The intent of these regulations is to foster a spirit of openness and a sense of mutual trust and understanding between the public and the department in efforts to maintain and enhance Montana wildlife resources and outdoor recreation opportunities.
 
A.R.M. § 12.2.301(1)(emphasis added).
Notice of a proposed agency action must be specifically noticed on the agenda for the applicable meeting. “[T]he agency may not take action on any matter discussed unless specific notice of that matter is included on an agenda and public comment has been allowed on that matter.” Mont. Code Ann. § 2-3-103(1).
In order to comply with Montana’s Constitutional requirement to ensure citizens’ right of participation and right to know, an agency must hold a proceeding in accordance with MAPA, Mont. Code Ann. § 2-3-104(2), and must provide appropriate notice in advance of a hearing, Mont. Code Ann. § 2-3-104(3).
MAPA requires agencies to provide a method and reasonable opportunity for interested persons “to submit data, views, or arguments, orally or in written form, prior to making a final decision that is of significant interest to the public.” Mont. Code Ann. § 2-3-111(1).
FWP has determined that matters of “adoption of wildlife management regulations including the setting of seasons” are department decisions “thought to be of significant interest to the public.” A.R.M. § 12.2.305(1)(a).
For matters of significant interest to the public, FWP requires:
 
Opportunity for public participation shall be provided by rendering final decisions on these matters at commission meetings which are open to the public and which have been announced in advance or by offering opportunity for written comments or hearing prior to decisions which are made by the department through publication of notice pursuant to the Montana Administrative Procedure Act.
 
A.R.M. § 12.2.305(2)(emphasis added).
When an agency proposes to take an action that “directly impacts a specific community or area,” the agency must hold a public hearing in an accessible facility in the affected area or community. Mont. Code Ann. § 2-3-111(2)."

[huntrights]

Big Game Forever Update:

"Folks,
The court hearing to keep the wolf hunt open in areas North of Yellowstone National Park was heard on Monday January 14, 2012.  The judge did not issue a ruling on the preliminary injunction during the hearing.  We will let you know when a ruling has been made.

During the hearing it was disclosed that one of the FWP Commissioner's had suggested that that the Commission will attempt to "Short Circuit" the plaintiff's lawsuit.  Commissioner Dan Vermillion was questioned about this comment by attorneys for Big Game Forever.  He offered to clarify that they did not want to "short circuit" the lawsuit, but rather respond to concerns over lack of notice raised by our lawsuit and by the citizens of Montana.

Here is a news article from the Montana Independent Record reporting the comments during a January commission meeting: http://helenair.com/news/local/fwp-expects-to-revisit-wolf-trapping-near-yellowstone/article_758a1bb0-5cfd-11e2-9a7b-001a4bcf887a.html

Commissioner Vermillion also did not know that the wolf harvest closures would be considered until the motion was made during the December 10, 2012 commission meeting.  The attorney for the plaintiffs argued that if one of the commissioners were not aware that the wolf harvest closures would be considered, it would have been almost impossible for concerned citizens to have notice prior to the Dec. 10th meeting.  Attorneys for Montana FWP indicated that specific notice was not needed due to comments during the July 2012 meeting should have put Montana citizens on notice that closures could occur at anytime.  A lot of emphasis was made that the agenda listed the wolf harvest update as "informational" while the other items on the agenda were noticed as "final decisions."

What is clear, is that Montana FWP will hold a new public hearing on the wolf hunt closures at the January 29th hearing.

A big thank you to all of the sportsmen and ranchers that showed up at Monday's hearing.  There was very good attendance.  It appeared that sportsmen outnumbered other attendees 4 to 1. 
Stay tuned for new developments.
--
Ryan Benson
http://biggameforever.org/
ryandbenson@msn.com"