Currently, tribal sovereignty gives only tribal fish and wildlife agencies the authority to issue big game hunting licenses and regulate hunting within reservation boundaries.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced new partnerships with Native American tribes to manage federal lands, promote bison conservation and support animal harvesting and meat processing.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to monitor Canada lynx for 20 years prior to proposing delisting, although its most recent assessment shows climate change could eliminate much of the lynx habitat in the U.S. by the end of the century.
Karyn Miske writes, "Climate sanity, affordable energy and everyday freedoms are under attack from state leaders. The vision of a sustainable state for our communities and future generations is under significant threat from divisive and fossil fuel-hungry corporate interests."
Sen. Steve Daines wrote a letter this week to the director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service calling a federal judge’s decision to limit the state’s wolf trapping season in grizzly bear territory one that “weaponizes” the Endangered Species Act.
Josh Elliott writes, "The bill’s title is perplexing, as the Act is counter to anything that can reasonably be considered conservation and would negatively impact Montana sportsmen."
Mike Bader writes, "The extreme laws and regulations in the Northern Rockies states are based on unscientific information and do not represent fair chase or proper wildlife management. Without the predator-prey relationship, these wildland ecosystems would become glorified zoos."
The City of Missoula has notched its side of an agreement to manage Marshall Mountain over the next year before transferring the park's operation and care over to Missoula County.