Sportsmen sound off about lost habitat money
Representatives from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Montana Wild Sheep Foundation and Ducks Unlimited along with Montana hunters and anglers are urging the Montana Legislature to restore Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ spending authority for habitat acquisition.
House Bill 403, which removed FWP’s authority to spend $12.4 million on habitat projects, passed the House by 55-44 on March 31.
The money had been included in Gov. Steve Bullock’s main infrastructure spending bill, HB 5, but that bill was tabled and then divided up and put into other bills.
“This does not make sense,” RMEF president and CEO David Allen said. “In essence, the legislature is both jeopardizing crucial access and habitat funding while also turning its collective back on Montana’s sportsmen, who have long fought for better access to public lands and improved wildlife conservation and management. It is sportsmen and women who funded these programs for the betterment of wildlife in the state.”
At issue are cuts to some of Montana’s most productive and heavily-supported wildlife programs, the groups said in a press release.
On March 25, the House Appropriations Committee removed FWP’s spending authority for several habitat programs, including $10.6 million for the Habitat Montana program, $849,000 for the Upland Game Bird program, $460,000 for the Big Horn Sheep Habitat program, and $345,000 for the Fishing Access Site program.
The committee also reduced the state special revenue appropriation for the Migratory Bird Program by $210,000 and restricted the use of the balance to prevent land acquisition
“The Habitat Montana program is critical because it protects crucial habitat, including elk, deer and sheep winter range and migration corridors,” Allen said. “It also expands and improves wildlife management areas.”
The funding in question is generated by the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and equipment. By law, it is earmarked solely for conservation efforts. No general fund dollars or tax dollars are at issue.
“These are sportsmen’s dollars, not tax dollars, and cannot be used for any purpose other than habitat improvement and recreational access,” said Bob Sanders, of Ducks Unlimited. “The legislature should be looking for ways to improve these programs, not eliminate them. It’s very baffling.”
All told the amendments resulted in a reduction of more than $12.5 million to FWP habitat and access programs. The money will still accrue in accounts, but since lawmakers stripped FWP of its spending authority, it would remain in a stagnant situation.
“The Bighorn Sheep Habitat Program is funded through the sale of the Governor’s Bighorn Sheep License,” Montana Wild Sheep Foundation president Brian Solan said. “This funding is vital in terms of enhancing failing bighorn sheep populations across Montana. With Montana bighorns facing unprecedented pressures from disease, loss of habitat and poaching, the last thing they need is political interference.”
Sportsmen remain concerned that politics was taking precedent over the stated wishes of the people who provide the funding for the programs.
“Access and quality habitat for wildlife are the top issues for sportsmen across Montana,” Allen said. “We’re counting on the Senate to restore this funding in order to maintain our hunting heritage.”