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Perplexing. And here we thought it was only the R's that dabbled in such tom foolery. There has been repeated efforts to restrict the ability of FWP's to procure more fishing access sites. The FAS system in Montana is a gem, a program that has secured over 300 river and lake properties affording the states residents (poor old common Joe Public) the opportunity to access our states best treasures. I'm certain many of you have used these in your trips to MT.
I'm all about the state buying more of them... not less. As key, unique river areas become available, we should secure even more public access IMO. This bill is a wolf in sheep's attire - a backdoor rule change that will take the administrative control away from FWP.
If you care about maintaining these, spend a few minutes and send an e-mail to the legislators listed. Hearing from non-residents will get their ear insomuch as they know full well the revenues generated from activities using these sites.
Legislative Alert from Montana Trout Unlimited
Tell your legislators to oppose HB 324, which removes
the Parks Division from Montana FWP
and jeopardizes angling and hunting license dollars
Rep. Brad Hamlett (D-Cascade) is sponsoring HB 324, which removes state parks from oversight of the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Director while creating an executive director to oversee Parks who answers only to a volunteer state parks board. This poorly conceived bill is essentially a power grab by the parks board. It:
Tell the Legislature that HB 324 is completely unnecessary and that it will only result in increased costs to government - estimated at $1.8 million - while producing redundant government services and staffing.
The House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee is considering this bill, so if the following represent you, CONTACT THEM NOW AND TELL THEM TO OPPOSE HB 324. E-mail them or leave a message at the Capitol switchboard at 444-4800
Sharon Stewart-Peregoy, [email protected]
Bridget Smith, [email protected]
George Kipp, [email protected]
Tom Jacobson, [email protected]
Virginia Court [email protected]
Zachary Brown [email protected]
Jean Price, [email protected]
Bob Brown, [email protected]
Kelly Flynn, [email protected]
Kerry White, [email protected]
Matt Regier, [email protected]
Denley Loge, [email protected]
Adam Rosendale, [email protected]
Casey Knudsen, [email protected]
Sue Vinton, [email protected]
Tom Welch, [email protected]
Ray Shaw, [email protected]
Wylie Galt, [email protected]
Switchboard: Information Office: (406)444-4800
I'm all about the state buying more of them... not less. As key, unique river areas become available, we should secure even more public access IMO. This bill is a wolf in sheep's attire - a backdoor rule change that will take the administrative control away from FWP.
If you care about maintaining these, spend a few minutes and send an e-mail to the legislators listed. Hearing from non-residents will get their ear insomuch as they know full well the revenues generated from activities using these sites.
Legislative Alert from Montana Trout Unlimited
Tell your legislators to oppose HB 324, which removes
the Parks Division from Montana FWP
and jeopardizes angling and hunting license dollars

Rep. Brad Hamlett (D-Cascade) is sponsoring HB 324, which removes state parks from oversight of the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Director while creating an executive director to oversee Parks who answers only to a volunteer state parks board. This poorly conceived bill is essentially a power grab by the parks board. It:
- Allows the Parks Division to be independent with little oversight, but still allows it to benefit from fishing and hunting revenues and FWP property by tying it "administratively" to the rest of FWP.
- Gives the parks board and executive director 100 percent control of federal Land and Water Conservation dollars, which historically have funded many important FWP land and easement acquisitions for fishing accesses and wildlife habitat.
- Muddies ownership of a number of parks that were purchased with federal dollars from sources funded with excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment, and could potentially jeopardize Montana's abilities to tap those sources in the future.
Tell the Legislature that HB 324 is completely unnecessary and that it will only result in increased costs to government - estimated at $1.8 million - while producing redundant government services and staffing.

The House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee is considering this bill, so if the following represent you, CONTACT THEM NOW AND TELL THEM TO OPPOSE HB 324. E-mail them or leave a message at the Capitol switchboard at 444-4800

Sharon Stewart-Peregoy, [email protected]
Bridget Smith, [email protected]
George Kipp, [email protected]
Tom Jacobson, [email protected]
Virginia Court [email protected]
Zachary Brown [email protected]
Jean Price, [email protected]
Bob Brown, [email protected]
Kelly Flynn, [email protected]
Kerry White, [email protected]
Matt Regier, [email protected]
Denley Loge, [email protected]
Adam Rosendale, [email protected]
Casey Knudsen, [email protected]
Sue Vinton, [email protected]
Tom Welch, [email protected]
Ray Shaw, [email protected]
Wylie Galt, [email protected]
Switchboard: Information Office: (406)444-4800