THREE MORE BILLS NEED YOUR HELP!

OPPOSE SENATE BILL 312
SUPPORT HOUSE BILL 269
SUPPORT HOUSE BILL 79

Dear Email Sentry:

We are running into the seventh inning with this Legislature. We need a flurry of activity on three bills then afterwards things will begin to wind down. You hunters, anglers and floaters have made a tremendous impact this session, but don't stop now, there is still work to do. Thank you to all the sportsmen who have traveled the long road to Helena to testify.

OPPOSE SENATE BILL 312

If you haven't had a chance to testify your support for Montana's hunting/angling heritage, you have a chance at 3PM this Tuesday when SB 312 is heard in the House FWP Committee. No need to rehash the detail,
you've already heard about Keith Bales' bill to require mandatory loss of hunting/fishing priveleges on a second offense conviction for trespassing. No distinction can be made between intentional or unintentional trespass in this bill yet they will be treated as the same. That room should be filled with hunter orange ribbons, this is one of your remaining opportunities to show your colors. Let the Committee know your feelings on this insult to legal, ethical sportsmen and women.

The Legislative Hot Line is 406-444-4800, and you can leave messages for 3 Representatives with one call.
Or email the Committee members:

House FISH WILDLIFE and PARKS Committee members:

Rep. GEORGE GOLIE (D)--Chair ggolie07@msn.com of Great Falls
Rep. SCOTT SALES (R)--Minority Vice Chair scottsalesHD68@earthlink.net of Bozeman
Rep. PAUL CLARK (D)--Majority Vice Chair pclarkhd72@yahoo.com of Trout Creek
Rep. ARLENE BECKER (D) arlene_becker@yahoo.com of Billings
Rep. DEE L BROWN (R) repdee@yahoo.com of Hungry Horse
Rep. JOHN BALYEAT (R) HJBalyeat@yahoo.com of Missoula
Rep. JILL COHENOUR (D) utopiamt@prodigy.net of Helena
Rep. ROBYN DRISCOLL (D) rdriscoll@peoplepc.com of Billings
Rep. GEORGE EVERETT (R)of Kalispell - no email
Rep. TOM FACEY (D) facey_tom@hotmail.com of Missoula
Rep. GEORGE GROESBECK (D) zebrasong@aol.com of Butte
Rep. ROBIN HAMILTON (D) robinlhamilton@aol.com of Missoula
Rep. LARRY JENT (D) larry@montanadsl.net of Bozeman
Rep. HARRY KLOCK (R)of Harlowton - no email
Rep. ROGER KOOPMAN (R) koopman@imt.net of Bozeman
Rep. MIKE MILBURN (R) mcmilburn@mcn.net of Cascade
Rep. ART NOONAN (D) anoonan@working4butte.com of Butte
Rep. DON ROBERTS (R) jstuber@rimrockoralandfacial.com of Billings
Rep. JOHN WARD (R) hd84ward@wmconnect.com of Helena
Rep. BILL WARDEN (R) warden63@aol.com of Bozeman

SUPPORT FOR HB 269

House Bill 269, RETAIN PUBLIC ROADS THAT LEAD TO PUBLIC WATER, was heard in the Senate Fish and Game Committee yestrerday but they took no executive action. That means we can still influence the outcome of this bill -IF WE ACT QUICKLY - which would amend state law so that public roads to public waters cannot be abandoned without providing essentially the existing access. Testimony from the Stockgrowers was intended to confuse the issue so it is up to us to make the facts totally clear. Some committee members are on the fence, so send them a quick note with your phone call or email to help them make a decision.

- HB 269 does not create any new access, it simply retains all current legal stream access. State and County governments will not be legally able to short the public to its legal stream access.
- The type of county road makes no difference, bridges are still a legal access point.
- The Attorney General's opinion assures us of a legal basis for access at bridges because it is an intersection of two public right-of-ways.

Again, the Legislative Hot Line is 406-444-4800, and you can leave messages for 3 Senators with one call. Or email the Committee members:

Senate FISH AND GAME Committee

Meets Tuesday at 3PM in room 422

Tropila, Joe (D) - Ch - no email
Bales, Keith (R) - bri@rangeweb.net
Balyeat, Joe (R) - joebalyeat@yahoo.com
Barkus, Gregory (R) - gbarkus@dadco.com
Gallus, Steve (D) - gallus@in-tch.com
Hansen, Ken (D) - hansen_kenneth@email.com
Larson, Lane (D) - llsd22@yahoo.com
Ryan, Don (D) - senatordonryan@msn.com
Tash, Bill (R) - no email

SUPPORRT HB 79, HABITAT MONTANA

This bill has passed out of Committee and is on its way to the Senate floor. Contact your Senators and ask them to vote yes on HB 79. Send Habitat Montana to the Governor's desk.

Use the following points:

It's a very popular program with Montana landowners and sportsmen.

-Sportsmen dollars being spent on projects that benefit all species of wildlife, not just huntable species.
-Envied by other state wildlife agencies as a proactive wildlife management tool.
-Gained endorsement of both Montana Farmers Union and Montana Farm Bureau!!!
-Offers landowners their choice of lease, conservation easement, or fee title acquisition. Program is flexible, strictly voluntary, willing seller/willing buyer.
-Public comment is taken at a hearing in the landowner's community and again at FWP Commission meeting. Plus, State Land Board approval is required if the project is more than 100 acres or more than $100,000.

There is a good reason in there for everyone. Keep up the good work!!!

REMEMBER: Messages will have more impact than emails.

Thank you for defending Montana's wildlife, habitat and our hunting/angling legacy.

For more information:
Larry Copenhaver
Conservation Director
Montana Wildlife Federation
[406] 458-0227
[800] 517-7256
Web-site: montanawildlife.com

This message is brought to you by the Montana Wildlife Federation ... Montana's largest, statewide wildlife conservation organization with over 7,000 members.