June 1 News Roundup
All -
What We've Done Since Our Last Newsletter:
Advocated for Resident Hunters in Wyoming by pushing for a change in limited quota Tag Allocation
Our evolution in work in this area has been very interesting. We began in 2019 by reaching out to the Wyoming Outfitters & Guides Association hoping to work with them on a win/win change to the current allocation. We were totally rebuffed, and got killed in the legislature when our 90/10 bill came up for consideration in 2020. After that harsh lesson we pivoted and became more aggressive in terms of highlighting (1) the discrepancy between Wyoming's resident/non resident hunting tag allocation and our neighboring states, and; (2) political activity in terms of identifying potential supporters amongst Wyoming candidates in the 2020 legislative races. Another 90/10 bill was introduced this year (2021) and while it did not make it out of committee, the bill had multiple sponsors in both houses and led to the creation of a Wyoming Wildlife Task Force which supposedly will take up the issue. We've kept the pressure on by pointing out how the Task Force is stacked against resident hunters with outfitter and stockgrower members. We also sued the Wyoming Game & Fish Commission for donations of Commissioner tags to the Wyoming Outfitter and Guides Association.
One tactic we implemented was separating Wyoming's resident tag issue from the rest of Mountain Pursuit by creating a 307hunter.com website and newsletter. Our newsletter is surprisingly well-read by decision makers (we send it to all sitting Wyoming state house representatives and state senators), Game & Fish Commissioners, etc. We recently received and responded to a "cease & desist" letter from former Game & Fish Commissioner former Wyoming Attorney General, Pat Crank, over our opinion about outsized outfitter influence on the Commission.
All that matters is results, and results = policy change.
We haven't achieved this yet, but are closer than when we started and have developed a potential playbook to affect similar changes in other western states.
Taken On the Hunting Industry by Adopting DDD and calling out Western Hunting Self-Promoters
In April we adopted the De-Publicize, De-Glorify and De-Monetize Western State Hunting position, first articulated by Matt Rinella - brother to Meateater's Steven Rinella. DDD aligned with many of Mountain Pursuit's positions previously so it was a natural adoption. We followed up DDD adoption by publishing a list of the Top 25 Western Hunting "Self-Promoters." We define "self-promoter" as "Any person or organization which produces glorified western hunting media (video, photos, podcasts, magazines, books) with the intention of monetizing it through advertising, product sales, sponsorships, subscriptions, memberships, donations, guided hunts, etc." The Hunting Industry is doing it best to ignore us currently and our identification of the Self Promoters led to another podcast interview being spiked - The Byland Podcast. This is our third podcast interview to be spiked ....
Current and Upcoming:
- Hired at least one Summer Intern. Peyton Holtz is currently earning his MA in Public Policy from the Kennedy School at Harvard and we have him through July.
- More Legal Activity - We're currently drafting up at least one more complaint vs. the Wyoming Game & Fish Commission, this time over wildlife protection. We hope to file this week or early next
- Fair Chase Study - we're still gathering data on the mention of Fair Chase on hunting industry (manufacturer, non profit) websites. There isn't much, which doesn't speak well of the Industry. We believe strict endorsement and adherence to Fair Chase by the Hunting Industry is key to protecting the future of hunting and will produce a thorough study of our results when completed.
Below is a quick Round of News Issues on our Radar this Spring/Early Summer
Anti-Killing Contest Column Receives Wide Distribution
The Column, "Killing Wildlife to See Who Wins," by Writers on the Range Contributor, Ted Williams was picked up by newspapers and online media outlets in Nevada, Montana, Colorado, and Wyoming, at least - an illustration of the political indefensibility of killing contests and broader issues with Fair Chase and predator hunting. Mountain Pursuit opposes killing contests and has developed Ethical Coyote Hunting Guidelines. We are the only hunting nonprofit to do so.
USFS Closes Parts of Sante Fe and Carson National Forests to Sheep and Goat Grazing to Protect Bighorn Sheep
The closures apply to certain Wilderness ares, and lasts for 4.5 years, from May, 2021 to December, 2025. Areas affected are the Pecos Wilderness and Dome Wilderness on the Santa Fe National Forest and the Latir Peaks Wilderness, Columbine Hondo Wilderness, and Rio Grand and Scenic River Corridor on the Carson National Forest. Domestic sheep and goats can carry bacteria harmful to bighorn sheep.
Colorado nabs Georgia man for hunting license fraud
Duluth, GA man posed as a resident to purchase multiple resident tags. The man illegally killed one bull elk, one bear, two mule deer and two antelope. He was charged with 42 wildlife violations and fined over $42,000, and may lose his hunting and fishing privileges in 48 other states.
2021 Montana Legislative Session Recap - BHA Montana
- We have issues with BHA, but we envy their size/effort/involvement in state legislative issues and will learn from them.
BHA Partners with Smith & Wesson
Interesting language in this partnership press release ... Mention of the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights, and S&W helping "empower" Americans to explore the outdoors "with a sense of security and freedom."
Hunting has an integral link with the firearms industry because of rifle hunting, but hunting nonprofits need to be aware that hunting rifles and all guns are not the same. Anti-gun advocates will be quick to pick up on partnerships like this and the language used here to link hunting with handguns, assault rifles, etc.
Given the political controversy surrounding the NRA, mass shootings, and gun control, partnerships with gun manufacturers may not be good for the political future of hunting.
However, the story is more complicated. The sales of all types of guns and ammunition are a huge source of revenue for state wildlife agencies. The Pittman-Robertson Act puts an 11% tax on the sales of firearms, firearm ammunition, archery equipment, and arrow components and distributes it to states for wildlife projects.
It's safe to state that the bulk of this tax revenue comes from the sale of non-hunting firearms and ammunition. As an example, the controversial AR15 is the best selling weapon in the US, and could alone be responsible for significant funding for wildlife projects. So, from the funding sense, hunting groups can't alienate firearms manufacturers.
Another twist is the extreme range hunting trend, and firearms manufacturers who cater specifically to this niche. We believe extreme range hunting (shots over 400 yards) violate Fair Chase, and have in the past criticized the Wild Sheep Foundation for sponsoring an extreme-range hunting show. We believe extreme range hunting not only violates Fair Chase, but is easy ammunition anti-hunting groups can use against hunting. For us, a clear line is Fair Chase - but we're learning that Fair Chase is not a priority for most in the hunting industry - including nonprofits.
USFS Moves to Weaken Bighorn Sheep Protection from Domestic Sheep in the Wyoming Range
Mountain Pursuit commented in opposition of any action that would threaten the Darby Mountain Sheep Herd.
Fish & Wildlife May List Prairie Chicken as An Endangered Species in New Mexico and Colorado
Prairie Chicken numbers are down alarmingly west-wide, including Wyoming and Idaho - and if this listing goes through, it could mean a significant obstacle to continued oil and gas development in the West, and possibly, public lands grazing. Western-state Republican Senators have already come out against the proposal.
Billboard Campaign Aims to End Wildlife-Killing Contests in Wyoming
Killing contests are an easy, effective, target for the anti-hunting movement. These are hard to defend and Mountain Pursuit doesn't ... we are against killing contests and have developed Ethical Guidelines for Coyote Hunting. The anti-killing contest movement is slowly gaining traction in conservative, Red, Wyoming. Why? Killing contests are simply very hard to defend.
Environmental Groups, Academics, Propose Reintroducing Jaguars to the American Southwest
Several male jaguars have been spotted in Arizona and New Mexico over the past two decades. A new study publishedin the Conservation Science and Practice Journal makes the argument to reintroduce Jaguars.
Biden Administration Considering Mining Ban in Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming to protect Sage Grouse
Interior Department is reviewing the proposal now - it was first started under Obama.
Sage Grouse Hunting in Wyoming Questioned
Hunters shot approx 7,600 grouse in 2019 as many environmental groups call for ESA listing. More here, after hunters killed 874 Sage Grouse Hens in the 2020 Hunt. Sage Grouse listing has been vehemently opposed by western states as it could lead to significant restrictions to the public lands ranching and oil and gas industries. For this reason, sage grouse are the rare non-predator (wolf, grizzly bear) animal championed by environmental groups who see listing as a major weapon against public lands grazing and minerals development on federal lands. That sage grouse are being considered for ESA listing, yet still hunted in Wyoming, doesn't make sense to many. Interestingly, the ranching and oil and gas industries are some who question sage grouse hunting the most.
Why Hunting is Cruel and Unusual - PETA
Position statement from PETA - one of the most powerful anti-hunting groups in America. Note the focus on wound loss, and suffering - powerful points. Note also PETA's calling out of environmental groups like the Sierra Club and Wilderness Society who don't oppose hunting. In our own experience, green groups' support of hunting is lukewarm, and tied to the possibility of gaining hunting allies in resource fights. We've yet to see firm evidence, other than around Grizzly Bears, of movement to oppose hunting by the Sierra Club and Wilderness Society.
However, if these big, mainstream, environmental groups do come out in opposition to hunting, it would mean a significant loss of political support for the future of hunting. This is one reason we feel it's important for hunters to get into the fight when it comes to wildlife conservation.
Respectfully,
- Rob Shaul