doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Lead Shot Ban in Montana

If members here were in my home, I'd say this but on an international board I don't want to appear rude and crude. I'm going to say it anyway.

I work in social and natural resource development, adult education, activism. I don't do thinking for others. At meetings I say, in effect, O.K now, get your shit together.

Reason does not always prevail. It can't prevail without responsible citizenship. As Larry said, Good job, you Montanans.

I'd also like to thank a couple Montanans for their stand on this issue, the two of five Commissioners who voted for the lead birdshot prohibition on the state's two major wetland-based upland hunting areas.

One, reponding to the charge that there was no "site specific" data that lead birdshot was harming waterfowl said "you don't need to drop a match into a can of gasoline to know what is going to happen." The other said the decision to ban lead is "biologically correct" and took issue with a suggestion that his support for it was based on "political correctness."

MT_DD_FAN,

Thank you for keeping us informed.

I notice in the legislative arena, Idaho either follows Montana's lead on a particular topic, or Montana follows Idaho's lead. Hopefully, the outcome of the leadshot ban in Montana, will be the impetus needed for the ID Dept of F&G to drop their quest in banning lead from the WMA's here in Idaho.

Way to go Montanan's!

An updated story from the local newspaper in Helena:
http://www.helenair.com/news/local/state...1cc4c002e0.html

FYI, Commissioners Moody and Ream voted in favor of the Pb shot ban. Here are links with backgrounds on the current MT FWP commissioners:
http://governor.mt.gov/news/pr.asp?ID=405
http://governor.mt.gov/news/pr.asp?ID=644
http://www.montanawildlife.org/news/Commissioners.htm

For those not wanting to read the above links, here are brief summaries of the FWP commissioners' backgrounds:

Bob Ream, Helena. Ream is a former legislator, and taught and conducted research in wildlife management for the University of Montana’s School of Forestry. Ream directed a study in the relationships between elk and logging in the Sapphire Mountains elk herd, and was the director of the wolf ecology project for UM. He has a B.S. in agronomy from the University of Wisconsin, an M.S. in botany/zoology from the University of Utah and a PhD. in zoology from the University of Wisconsin. Ream served in the Montana House of Representatives for 16 years, elected to this position eight times. Ream retired from the University of Montana in 1997 and also stepped down from his legislative position at the same time. Ream was elected Chair of the Montana Democratic Party, and was re-elected in 1999, 2001, and 2003.

Ron Moody, Lewistown. Moody is on the BLM Central Montana Resource Advisory Council and is a director of the Public Land/Water Access Association. He is retired from FedEx, and received a B.A. in journalism and political science from the University of Mississippi. Moody has also served on the Montana Library Commission. Moody writes a bi-monthly column on the future of hunting in the 21st Century. His column, titled “NIMROD’S TRACE,” is published in ‘Montana Wildlife’ and online at: http://www.huntingandfishingjournal.org/misc_page.html
Moody's last (?) "Nimrod's Trace" column can be read at this link: http://www.mhfj.org/PDFs/NimrodsTrace.pdf

Dan Vermillion, Livingston: Vermillion is the vice president and co-owner of Sweetwater Travel Company in Livingston and is the founder and developer of Taimen Conservation Fund in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. He worked as an attorney in Billings for close to a decade. Vermillion received his bachelor’s degree from The American University and his juris doctorate from the University of Montana.

Willie Doll, Malta: Doll owns and operates a 27,000-acre farm and ranch in south Phillips County. He is an avid hunter and has an active interest in streamside management, improved range conditions and waterfowl production areas. Doll will assume the role of designated member with experience in breeding and management of domestic livestock, a role previously held by Commissioner Shane Colton of Billings.

Shane Colton, Billings, Chair. Colton is an attorney with Edmiston & Colton Law Firm. He earned his undergraduate degree from Montana State University-Bozeman and his J.D. degree from the University of Montana-Missoula. He is a member of the Spotted Ass Sporting Clays Club and the Billings Rod and Gun Club. Colton grew up in the Denton, MT area.

Good luck to our counter-parts in Idaho!

THANKS!

That commissioner who made the match into a can of gasoline analogy did indeed find out what happens: you learn that a whole lot of reasonable Montanans are looking for some good science that shows ingested lead shot poses a threat to wild upland bird populations. From MT FWP: "Lead presence and accumulation under extremely low levels of lead shot use has not been established as a significant environmental concern."

Thought some of you might find this interesting for the spotlight it shines on Montana 'politiks'. Gary Marbut is the current president of the Montana Shooting Sports Association and a vigilant defender of our shooting rights.

I'm certain Komrade Deeble will be along shortly to disparage Mr. Marbut and his remarks.......but here you have it......we are not done with this issue yet.


Rob Harris

P.S. 'Thanks' to MT_DD_FAN for the many informational links.....as they're much appreciated.


From: "Gary Marbut-MSSA" <mssa@mtssa.org>
To: <mssa@mtssa.org>
Subject: Lead shot ban narrowly defeated - report
Date: Saturday, February 13, 2010 10:54 AM

Dear MSSA Friends,

You may have read or heard that the FWP Commission turned back the FWP Department's proposed lead shot ban for upland game bird hunting on a narrow 3-2 vote.

The Missoulian/Lee Bureau story is located
<http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_93f2a4d8-1763-11df-a285-001cc4c002e0.html>HERE.

From the story: "Fish, Wildlife and Parks Director Joe Maurier suggested looking at such a ban in certain areas in Montana after returning from a conference of wildlife managers."

You may remember that Maurier has little experience in Montana and maybe little or no experience hunting, and was hired primarily because he was Governor Schweitzer's college roommate and buddy. Apparently Joe heard about this California-style idea at a conference of western F&G directors and thought it would be California-groovy to run it in Montana.

As you probably know, there was no scientific basis offered for the lead ban, and little or no consideration of unintended consequences.

However, encouraged by the narrow vote, Maurier expressed intent to attempt the ban again. And, somebody who attended this meeting of the F&G Commission told me that the strong public comment against the ban was largely discounted and dismissed when the ban was presented.

Of the seven people primarily responsible for setting FWP policy, the five members of the Commission plus the Department Director and Deputy Director, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that none of them are hunters, especially big game hunters. And, remember, they are all appointed by Governor Schweitzer.

Bottom line: Expect the lead ban proposal to be proposed again with enough new justification to attempt to peel off one more vote on the Commission. And, expect a bill in the next session of the legislature to prohibit FWP from regulating ammunition for hunting.

Thanks to Commission Chairman Shane Colton of Billings for making the motion to dump the lead ban proposal.

Gary Marbut, president
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.mtpublish.com