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- SENTRYGRAM - |
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Hunting
and Angling Groups To Address |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 23, 2005 CONTACTS: Full list below |
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Helena, Mt - In a letter sent to Gov. Schweitzer key leaders in the hunting and angling conservation community announced their intention to address the latest version of the roadless rule as an organized coalition of concerned hunters and anglers by offering specific recommendations for roadless area conservation. In the letter, signed by leaders from Montana Wildlife Federation,
Montana Trout Unlimited, Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Partnership,
National Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited, Orion the Hunters
Institute, Montana The new roadless rule established an optional petitioning process in which governors can choose to submit roadless area management recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture. This requires states to identify roadless areas in need of protection, plot them on a map, design individual management recommendations for each and then make determinations as to how these recommendations could effect public health and safety, critical wildlife habitat and critical infrastructure. "We see a need for hunters and anglers to work together
to ensure that we are engaging the process on our own terms, specific
to habitat security, water quality and public land access issues,"
said Craig Sharpe, executive The signers are quick to point out that Gov. Schweitzer has stated
on many occasions that he wants very specific information regarding
the conservation of roadless areas and that the public should
avoid peripheral issues or rhetorical statements. In their letter
to the Governor they state, "We are pleased with, and support
your efforts to avoid passionate rhetoric and to focus on objective
facts. We believe the hunting and angling community can play a
critical role in this regard. While we too have passionate beliefs
concerning the aesthetic qualities of Montana's "We feel we can be a real asset for the Governor in this process by offering specific recommendations. We know the ground that's in question and we understand that hunting and angling is not only part and parcel of Montana's culture, it's a critical piece of the economic future of the state," said David Stalling, volunteer president of Hellgate Hunters and Anglers. Bruce Farling, executive director of Montana Trout Unlimited, added that his organization is poised to offer specific recommendations for the governor. "We are evaluating the state's roadless backcountry and are prepared to demonstrate how the habitat and clean water they provide benefit local populations of dwindling native fish such as cutthroat trout, arctic grayling and bull trout, as well as some of the state's most popular wild trout fisheries, including those of Rock Creek, or the Big Hole, Madison and Smith Rivers," says Farling. The groups intend to gather, organize and condense information from their membership in order to make site-specific recommendations on their behalf. Full listing of organizational contacts: Craig Sharpe, Montana Wildlife Federation 406-458-0227 LETTER SENT TO: Gov. Brian Schweitzer Dear Gov. Schweitzer: As conservation groups with mandates to protect the values of
hunters and anglers, we would like to thank you for your efforts
to address the repeal of the original Roadless Area Conservation
Rule and the adoption of the We share the same concerns that were expressed in your letter
to President Bush dated June 7, 2005, such as potential impacts
to the clean water that our communities and agriculture industries
require, as well as the As you know these unique western qualities are due in large part to the enormous tracts of roadless public lands that the state of Montana is so famous for. To ensure that our efforts are as organized and efficient as possible, and so that we can better assist the state of Montana in addressing the petition process, we have come together as a collective voice for Montana's hunting and angling community. We believe that leaving roadless areas in their current condition
will protect Montana's longer, more liberal hunting seasons, will
strengthen local economies and perpetuate our robust, license
dollar funded, wildlife We are pleased with, and support your efforts to avoid passionate rhetoric and to focus on objective facts. We believe the hunting and angling community can play a critical role in this regard. While we too have passionate beliefs concerning the aesthetic qualities of Montana's unmatched public lands and the importance of these lands remaining in their current condition, our organizations also have strong backgrounds in compiling objective data to support our core values. Our organizations have been reaching out to our members and having conversations with key leaders in affected communities in order to better understand the importance of these areas to the hunting and angling community. We will be organizing this information in a concise document that illustrates both the need for and importance of these areas to Montana's fish and wildlife, our communities and our economies. The Hunters and Anglers Roadless Working Group is committed to collaborating with your office and the public to address this issue head-on in a constructive and positive fashion. We look forward to being able to assist Montana's hunting and angling community and your office to reach an end that will benefit the Treasure State. Craig Sharpe, Montana Wildlife Federation |
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This message is brought to you by the Montana Wildlife Federation ... Montana's largest, statewide wildlife conservation organization with over 7,000 members. |
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Thank
you once more for standing up for Montana's wildlife heritage. |
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| For More Info: | Larry Copenhaver, Conservation
Director Montana Wildlife Federation (406) 458-0227 • (800) 517-7256 Email: lcopenhaver@mtwf.org |
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