Trappers are Trying to Steal Our Public Lands [View all]

Montana’s Legislature is in yet another frenzy to destroy Montana’s wildlife. Wolves and grizzly bears are targets of their raid on our natural resources. The Legislature, with few members educated in wildlife biology, is dictating policy not based on science but on cultural division and exploitation. Legislators are also lying to the public.

Hunting and fishing are already protected in our state constitution. But Rep. Paul Fielder, a trapper and wolf hater, has introduced constitutional amendment HB 372, dressed up as rights for hunters and anglers, when it’s a land-grab for trappers. Putting trapping in the Constitution means trappers’ rights will trump the rights of 1.2 million Montanans to use public lands without fear of lethal steel devices everywhere. Instead, public lands will have ever more traps and snares, forever.

Legislators are falling in line to support HB 372, unwittingly taking orders from Howl For Wildlife. Founded by a California outfitter and bear hunter, this is an umbrella organization for the NRA and major trophy hunting organizations based in New York, California and Texas. These groups are using Montana hunters who don’t realize hunting is protected in the Constitution to pressure legislators to vote for HB 372. The bill would make trapping and hunting the primary methods of wildlife management. This makes clear that out-of-state people will control Montana’s public lands and take our wildlife.

https://www.counterpunch.org/2023/02/07/trappers-are-trying-to-steal-our-public-lands/