"Hunters, fishermen lobby for protection
of Rocky Mountain Front"

For Immediate Release: April 27, 2006

Dear Email Sentry:

This story headline appeared yesterday in the Great Falls Tribune and the US Today internet news service as a result of a three-day trip by four hunters/anglers who traveled to D.C. to lobby for the Front. Three sportsmen, including MWF VP John Borgreen joined me in visiting with Senator Burns, Baucus and Rep Rehberg to tell them how important we believe oil and gas withdrawal and the buy out, trade-out or donation of leases really is to the Front, our wildlife and sportsmen. We also visited with Ag Undersecretary Mark Rey and Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth.

The timing of your help is very, very important. Negotiations are occurring that can successfully move this forward if we can get a very simply message from YOU!

Here is part of that story:

WASHINGTON — As gas prices continue to soar, hundreds of Montana hunters and fishermen worry their way of life could be altered if Congress does not act to protect the Rocky Mountain Front from oil and gas exploration.

They're in town this week to meet with the state's congressional delegation and agency officials about their proposals to protect the area — home to a number of threatened or endangered species such as the grizzly bear and (we said bull trout) gray wolf.

Their visit coincided with President Bush's speech Tuesday addressing the nation's energy crisis, which emphasized the need for boosting energy production. One of his proposals called for a renewed push to open the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration.

The rugged conservationists, an ad hoc group of men who live near the Rocky Mountain Front, say they want to keep parts of the 500,000-acre region out of the hands of developers who hold at least 50 leases to drill on the federal land.

"They say drilling leaves a small footprint. It's a huge footprint," said Roy Jacobs, a taxidermist from Chateau, who has been fighting against oil and gas drilling on the Front since the 1970s. "It's too special a place to let that happen."

In March, about 400 hunters and fishermen sent Montana's congressional delegation a letter urging them to protect the Front from drilling. None of the members have yet committed to any specific solutions but have been receptive to their concerns, they say.

With the price of oil and gas on the increase, drilling in remote areas like Montana's Rocky Mountain Front could become even more attractive to oil speculators who stand to gain an economic boon, experts say.

WHAT DO WE NEED FROM YOU?

Senator Conrad Burns - needs something relatively simple - a "me too" from Montana hunters and anglers, that you agree with the article, the March sportsmen letter and this effort. That is to say - he needs to hear that Montana hunters and anglers like the approach to sell, trade or donate leases along the Front. And that you also support the letter sent to him in March saying the same. You could also say that the marginal natural gas reserves will have little impact to our big picture energy needs but the conservation and protection of this area will last for years, for generations, for the benefit of hunters and anglers and Montana.

PLEASE, I CANNOT OVERSTATE THE IMPORTANCE OF A SIMPLE EMAIL NOTE, A CALL TO HIS OFFICE (LOCAL OR D.C. OFFICE) AND A LETTER TO YOUR LOCAL PAPER.

THE TIMING IS ESPECIALLY CRITICAL AFTER OUR TRIP TO D.C. - HELP US KEEP UP THE MOMENTUM TO CARRY THIS THROUGH.

Senator Conrad Burns:

• email via web site: www.burns.senate.gov - then go to "contact me".
• telephone D.C.: 800-344-1513

Thank you for all you do for Montana's public lands, wildlife, and fair-chase hunting and fishing heritage.

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.