Montana Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife announced their decision to contribute funds to United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to help the agency with their efforts to reduce damage to livestock caused by coyotes and wolves. This contribution is important as funding to the agency diminishes while predation persists. It is crucial for USDAWS to continue their vital role as the lead agency with statutory authority to conduct wildlife damage management.

Keith Kubista, President of MT-SFW said, “We are pleased to be able to participate in this way which results in reducing the burden of government on the taxpayer and at the same time is consistent with our policies and mission. Primary among them is to focus our efforts and funds to preserve our rights to hunt, trap, and fish and to protect livestock and pets from predation.”

MT-SFW recognizes the importance of helping landowners and livestock producers who suffer impacts from predators. These management actions by USDAWS, which are focused on removal of coyotes and wolves causing predation on livestock, will also minimize the potential for predation on wildlife.

We are witnessing more antelope, deer, and elk exiting public lands and taking up residence on private property to avoid predators which results in crop and property damage and reduces hunting opportunity. This is evidently impacting many areas as some of FWP’s recent hunting proposals are due to this situation.

It is MT-SFW‘s intent that by supporting these selective management actions there will be residual benefit to some of those ungulate herds struggling with the same predators affecting livestock. Because of the recent deep snow event we received and the increased strain it inflicts on livestock and wildlife, predator control actions become more essential.

MT-SFW views this decision to assist the USDAWS as a positive step to demonstrate that some sportsmen organizations to are willing help and improve landowner relationships.

(Via Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife)