MONTANA WILDLIFE FEDERATION
WORKS TO BUILD COALITION FOR STATE’S WILDLIFE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Jan. 9, 2006

Contact:
Craig Sharpe, Executive Director, Montana Wildlife Federation, (406) 458-0227
OR
Rich Day, Communications Coordinator, (406) 494-8661

Dear Email Sentry and Activist:

HELENA - Montana Wildlife Federation (MWF) recently created a position to help implement a program designed to develop and promote an integrated approach to the stewardship of the state's fish and wildlife.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) has garnered more than $5 million in federal fiunding since 2001 through federal State Wildlife Grants. Funds for the grants come from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, established by Congress in 1965 primarily through royalties from offshore oil and gas production. States that receive funds are required to develop a comprehensive fish and wildlife conservation strategy.

MFWP recently completed the Montana Comprehensive Fish and Wildlife Conservation Strategy plan. The strategy identifies fish and wildlife species and their related habitats that are in greatest need of conservation and proposes the actions necessary to improve them.

Longtime Montana wildlife conservationist Rich Day has accepted the position with MWF to help build a coalition and broad public support for the program's strategy and its implementation and to serve as the organization's Teaming With Wildlife coordinator.

Teaming With Wildlife is a national coalition of more than 3,000 organizations working to prevent wildlife from becoming endangered by supporting increased state and federal funding for wildlife conservation.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to promote this important program," said Day. "Helping to successfully implement this strategy and to make sure the program continues into the future will certainly benefit hunters, anglers - all Montanans who enjoy wildlife."

Day, who will have an office in Butte, will work with other local, state and national conservation organizations to build support for the program.

"Montana Wildlife Federation believes the Montana Comprehensive Fish and Wildlife Conservation Strategy will help the state be better positioned to help our diverse wildlife populations," said Craig Sharpe, MWF Executive
Director. "With his strong background working in Montana on a wide range of wildlife issues, Rich will be a tremendous help to the federation and the department in efforts to build the support needed to ensure this
program is successful."

"Day also will have a big part in carrying out MWF's new strategic plan," Sharpe said. He will be working to improve the Federation's communications and relationships with hunters, anglers and private landowners across the state.

Montana Wildlife Federation, with nearly 7,000 members, is the largest and oldest statewide nonprofit wildlife conservation organization of hunters and anglers who work to protect Montana's lands and waters and its hunting and fishing heritage.

To learn more about MWF, go to www.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.