BigGameHoundsmen.com

SB 397 will be heard before the Senate Fish & Game Committee on the 26th. It is is pretty broad bill , I personally believe it has a pretty low chance of passing. Though Fish and game bills going through the Senate Committee are passing easier than the House Committee.

I just heard of this today. I brought it to the attention of some fellow MSHA board members and the President of the association. Any quality legislation that comes up that adds opportunity for hound hunting in this state should be supported by MSHA and its members. I hope that as with HB144, houndsman in MT will join MSHA and let it be known that you don't want to wait to defend the rights you have but push for more opportunities to hunt with your hounds.

Is there anything we can help with form here in Utah. I wish you luck with this

Can someone get a contact list for the Senate fish and game committee members posted? I'm not having luck. If people (in-state or out of state) write in and ask for support of this bill it makes a difference. Out of state houndsman should mention how they and their money would make it to Montana if this bill became law.

Senate FWP Committee Members. When we were working on the House bill I found the direct e-mail addresses of the various House Committee members however for the Senate Committee members I can only find the legislature contact form which you have to click through the links to get to them.

John Brenden Chair http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/63rd/leg ... WSID=13750
Rick Ripley Vice Chair http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/63rd/leg ... WSID=13601
Debby Barrett Member http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/63rd/leg ... WSID=13543
Tom Facey Member http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/63rd/leg ... WSID=12553
Jennifer Fielder Member http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/63rd/leg ... WSID=15235
Bradley Hamlett Member http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/63rd/leg ... WSID=13754
Larry Jent Member http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/63rd/leg ... WSID=13542
Jim Peterson Member http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/63rd/leg ... WSID=12897
Fred Thomas Member http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/63rd/leg ... WSID=14716
Kendall Van Dyk Member http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/63rd/leg ... WSID=13801

Link to the bill:

http://laws.leg.mt.gov/legprd/LAW0210W$ ... SESS=20131

Keep the updates coming guys. I'm the VP of the Michigan Bear Hunters Assoc. Let me know what we can do to help in your fight. Is USSA helping you at all?

Good Luck Guys

This bill just passed the Committee 6 to 4

There was a lot of opposition including the Bitteroot Houndsman Association.

what was their basis for opposition?

You have to read the bill to to realize what the opposition is. Bears with hounds is a minor part of it. The biggest focus of the bill is to reduce wolves and bears in elk units that have lower populations than there targets which causes a reduction in elk tags issued. There is a provision in there for a provisional lion season which is kind of vague which could cause a lot of opposition from lion hunters. However the biggest changes would be bait & snares legalized for wolves, bait & hounds for bears, wolf and bear seasons extended to June 30th.

Oppoistion primarily consisted of harrassing the grizzlies, habiting the bears to being fed by humans and numerous non tagerts being strangled by snares. All issues that Idaho apparently doesn't care about.

Below is a link to the testimony

Clink on SB 397 following the testimony they go into executive session with SB 397 the last bill voted on in executive session.
http://montanalegislature.granicus.com/ ... ip_id=2685

SB 397 will be voted on tomorrow April 3rd by the full Montana Senate.

Good luck!

SB 397 passed 2nd Reading in the Senate 30 to 20

what do you mean things that idaho doesnt care about???