Guest opinion: Big Snowies project builds on conservation legacy billingsgazette.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from billingsgazette.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Very few Montana hunters probably know the names Bob Cooney, Arnie Foss or LeRoy Ellig.
But if they love the abundant wildlife that we enjoy today, love their sporting traditions and love the habitat that makes that all possible, they should.
That’s because these three visionaries – and many more both before and after their professional careers – saw the vital importance of protecting crucial habitat for big game and other wildlife. They knew that we needed winter range for our deer, elk and other big game species to survive. And they helped put in place the tools to ensure these essential conservation projects could get done.
Big Snownies project builds on conservation legacy missoulian.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from missoulian.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Two large conservation easements approved by the Fish and Wildlife Commission last Thursday drew fire for different reasons. This points to the difficulties of negotiating large agreements that benefit public access as well as landowners.
Such agreements in the future will be in the hands of a new Fish, Wildlife & Parks director and fresh leadership in the governorâs office and Legislature.
Whatâs more, the terms of three members of the Fish and Wildlife Commission expire at the end of the year and one member resigned this fall. Glasgow resident Andrew McKean was appointed to fill Logan Brower s term. McKean will face Senate confirmation. That means Gov.-elect Greg Gianforte can name three â possibly four if McKean s nomination is rejected â people to the five-member board.Â