MISSOULA, Mont.—A Montana initiative, I-161, is pitting hunter against hunter in a process that would take certain aspects of wildlife management out of the hands of professionals. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation believes topics such as hunting access, services and costs are better left to conservation professionals, sportsmen and landowners.
 
“Initiatives are always a slippery slope and are especially concerning when it comes to new wildlife management policies,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO.

Allen points out that Montana has an existing process for addressing such issues, explaining, “Montana’s Private Land/Public Wildlife Council was developed in the early 1990’s to deal with exactly such issues as those raised in I-161. It was developed to allow all interested parties to have a seat at the table. We need to use this process.”

There are valid concerns on both sides of I-161, but without even looking at the specifics, anyone who understands the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation will see a problem with the concept of initiatives to manage wildlife or hunting, says Allen.
 
“Besides, at the end of the debate, it is the landowner who will decide how his or her land is used, not the hunter or the outfitter. What is proposed in I-161 is likely to increase private leasing of lands in an unregulated manner, and that will go against both sides in this debate,” he added.

“The language of an initiative is written to serve one side more than the other, but a public vote is absolute, with no opportunity to find the best solutions that usually lie somewhere in the middle. The potential for unintended consequences here is significant,” said Allen. “RMEF strongly supports more hunter access, better hunting fees and landowner rights. However, the initiative process risks creating bigger issues than exist now. Neither the hunter nor the outfitter is the boogeyman and it is disappointing to see the two sides opposing one another.”
 
Allen reiterated that RMEF would like to see the two sides resolve differences without the initiative process, and that RMEF would gladly play a role toward that end goal.
 

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.7 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.