Who is Gov. Gianforte Working For?

House Bill 145 is a simple bill that would have raised the nonresident base hunting license rates from a measly $15 to a reasonable $100. The increase was long overdue and inconsequential for those traveling to hunt here. One of the most widely supported bills of the session, it passed Montana’s House unanimously 99-0 and the Senate by a whopping 44-5. Lawmakers we sent to Helena to represent us - their constituents, residents of Montana - overwhelmingly favored HB 145, and why wouldn’t they?

Asking nonresidents to pay $85 more is entirely reasonable, especially when compared to fees in neighboring Idaho ($185), Utah ($144), or Oregon ($160). Nonresidents are accustomed to paying more, and, importantly, Montana’s rural landowners who provide hunting access deserve more.

Importantly, it earmarked $90 of the $100 for our treasured Block Management program. This boost in revenue for the Block Management program is needed now more than ever. Despite the number of hunter days in the program increasing 57% since 2013, Block Management has lost nearly 2 million acres of enrolled lands since its peak in 2002. That means more hunters are crowded into fewer places to hunt.

The cost of Block Management has nearly doubled in five years. Payment caps and hunter-day rates have increased since 2021 — needed adjustments to compete with the going rates of private-land leasing. But how are we going to fund these? HB 145 was an answer.

Despite the overwhelming support and very narrow opposition, only the Montana Outfitters & Guides Association and Mark Taylor, lobbyist for the deceptively named Montana Conservation Society, opposed the bill. Even so, Governor Greg Gianforte felt inclined to demand an amendment to HB 145; he’d sign the bill only if the increase was half the proposed rate that was supported by 97% of our elected representatives in Helena.

Now why would the governor do that? Who is he representing with that maneuver? Who is asking him to do that? Clearly, the only ones Gianforte is making happy with this amendment are nonresidents, specifically the wealthy ones funding lobbyists in Helena to represent their interests. That is appalling. Rep. Gary Parry, the bill sponsor from Rosebud, said the original fee increase amounted to “lint in the pocket” for most nonresident hunters, but it would have had an outsized impact on resident landowners. With the stroke of his pen, Gianforte effectively removed an estimated $4,236,300 annually that would have gone to Montanans who open their land for hunter access. Instead, Gianforte put that lint back in the pockets of out-of-staters.

The next time the Governor says he works for Montanans, or that he supports public access, we should remember this and check the governor’s pockets. I expect we will find more than lint there.

-Greg Munther, MSA board member