Democrats in Senate kick conservation to the curb

Conservation enjoys the support of all parties and a huge majority of residents. That support takes the form of the North American Wildlife Recovery model and is responsible for our abundance of wild things and places.

Within the last 20 years, a fringe of extremists began advancing an agenda to erode the North American Model and found a small foothold in Montana. We can now add a group of Democrats in the Montana Senate to those who are kicking conservation to the curb.

A heartbreaking vote occurred on April 24. The Senate had an opportunity to right a wrong from the prior session and join the House in passing HB 907.  Instead, HB 907 failed thanks to the no votes from a cabal of Democratic Sebns. Pat Flowers, Ellie Boldman, Willis Curdy, Mary Ann Dunwell, Janet Ellis, Dave Fern, Denise Hayman, Chris Pope, Laura Smith and Jonathan Windy Boy. There was other no votes, but not from people who profess to support conservation or resident hunters.

House Bill 907 removed the guaranteed hunting licenses for non-resident landowners, which they currently receive in exchange for absolutely nothing. Resident Montanans were outraged and the North American Wildlife Recovery model violated. House Bill 907 added some minor form of access in exchange for the licenses and flew out of the House on a bipartisan basis. The bill was supported by every significant conservation and hunting group in Montana including Montana Wildlife Federation, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Montana Sportsmen Alliance, Skyline Sportsmen, Anaconda Sportsmen and Helena Hunters and Anglers. 

Opposed were lobbyists for the non-residents, which was enough for those Senate Democrats to turn their backs on our residents and the North American Model in favor of people who can’t vote here.

Conservation politics is no longer as simple as it used to be because of those seeking to undermine our progress. 

I want to thank Minority Leader Rep. Katie Sullivan, D-Missoula, and Rep. Jedediah Hinkle, R-Belgrade, for putting Montana ahead of billionaire non-residents and leading this bill out of the House on a bipartisan basis only to die an unceremonious death at the hands of a small group of Senate Democrats.

Andrew Posewitz previously served as chief of staff in the State Auditor’s office and is one of the founders of the Montana Public Trust Coalition.