By KEITH KUBISTA
President Montana Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife
The human control crew is at it again. However, this time
they are utilizing a wildlife ballot initiative known as I-167 as a vector to
achieve their non-consumptive use/rural cleansing agenda. Wildlife ballot
initiatives are devastating to all hunters, trappers, rural residents,
ranchers, wildlife and the very agencies whose responsibility is to manage
wildlife. These types of initiatives frequently target elimination of predator
hunting or trapping as their primary goal, which creates severe problems for
wildlife management agencies to balance predator-prey populations and also
decreases hunting opportunities and license revenues. Wildlife ballot
initiatives bypass existing structured management process and decisions by FWP
or other fish & game departments, prevent deliberative processes with
biological and public input and are rigidly written with zero flexibility.
Extremists and
special interest groups that sponsor these ballot initiatives unfairly limit
consumptive user groups, ranchers, livestock and agricultural producers and
rural residents from protecting their property, livelihoods and traditional
western lifestyles.
This deleterious I-167 initiative is particularly troubling
since it absolutely prohibits trapping on all public lands, with nebulous and
very limited exceptions. It is based on misleading information which would
clearly prejudice the outcome should enough signatures be gathered by the
legion of control agents likely bought and paid for by HSUS, DOW, NRDC, CBD, and
the “Alliance of this” or “Friend of
that”.
Beware; deceptions are being used by the
sponsors of this initiative to eliminate our historical use of public lands.
Here are some facts:
Here are some facts:
1.
Trapping on public lands is regulated in some
form with setbacks to roads, trails, campgrounds, trailheads, dwellings etc. to
avoid conflicts. These setbacks are adjusted and revised regularly. For example
regulations changed in districts 1 and 3 this year when more than 30 trails and
roads now require expanded setbacks. In the Missoula area alone over 40,000
acres are off limits to trapping. In addition there are special regulations on
over 420,000 acres of WMA’s and closures for beaver & otter trapping on 31
rivers, creeks, and their drainages.
2.
Trapping regulations are adaptive to current
circumstances and are frequently changed to meet wildlife population objectives
using biological data, recognizing shared use by the general public, and
avoiding conflicts. Trapping regulations require the use of the most advanced
technology, equipment and methods to deal with the wide range of species
including pan tension settings, jaw spread limitations, placement and use of
baits, seasonal timeframes, training and certification classes, trap ID tags,
recessed trigger mechanisms etc.
3.
With these new era tools, trapping has become
more humane, efficient, and is an essential
wildlife management tool effectively used to control predators, pests, predatory
animals, as well as to protect our domestic herds. For example, with the
addition of trapping to wolf management plans last year, Montana’s wolf
population was finally reduced for the first time since they were reintroduced.
It is widely known and proven that hunting alone will not accomplish
controlling wolf populations.
4.
We have been trapping for decades on public land
and tourism is thriving and remains robust throughout Montana and will
continue.
5.
Pets are to be kept under control at all times
on public lands, not to be allowed to run at large, which has created many
conflicts with harassed, injured or killed wildlife. Worst of all Footloose MT,
the sponsor of this initiative continues to spread disinformation and
propagates emotional hype concerning incidental dog captures. FWP keeps records
of and monitors these events. Here is their
data from last season: 4 dogs captured in wolf traps all 4 were on
private land 3 running at large/loose. 10 dogs were caught in furbearer sets (3
on private land, 4 running at large/loose). Nearly half of all incidents
involve dogs at large.
6.
One of the elements this initiative imposes is
prohibiting governmental agencies from contracting with private sector
individuals or contractors who specialize in pest and predatory animal control.
This will require more full time state employees to carry out these activities which
many Montana residents currently do recreationally and as protection of their
property.
7.
If public land trapping is prohibited predator
and predatory animal populations will increase thus causing more livestock
depredation which results in more funding needed for the livestock loss board
and other obligations.
8.
There are many other long term financial
implications and far reaching consequences of this initiative that result in
loss of license revenues, fiscal liabilities for the state, and restrictions to
private property protection.
Folks, here in Montana our
customs, culture, and heritage should not fall victim to extremists looking to
adjudicate our lifestyles out of existence.
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