Defeat Initiative I-161

An initiative was proposed this year in the ballot issues for Montana’s 2010 general election that, if passed, would severely impact the Montana outfitting industry.

On July 19, the Secretary of State qualified the ballot – Initiative-161 – for vote after confirming enough signatures were gathered. According to the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association (MOGA), there are more than 20 formal complaints filed with the Secretary of State's office alleging the signatures were obtained illegally. MOGA itself filed a suit against the initiative’s author in August, alleging he engaged in deceptive practices and fraudulent behavior in gathering signatures. Despite hopes that one or more of these complaints may offer redress, many organizations in Montana are forging ahead with their best efforts to defeat I-161, should it go to a vote as is currently slated.

Kurt Kephart, the initiative's author (a Billings resident), is proposing that the state do away with the outfitter-sponsored hunting license and then increase big game hunting license prices to compensate. An outfitter-sponsored license is a hunting license granted automatically to an out-of-state hunter who books a hunting trip with an outfitter (as opposed to booking a hunt and then having to put in for the general drawing; if your name isn't drawn and you aren't issued a hunting license, you have to cancel your trip). Montana is the only state that offers an outfitter-sponsored license, and many view it as vital in attracting hunters, which in turn brings money to the state and outfitting industry and helps meet wildlife management goals. I-161 claims that doing away with the outfitter-sponsored license will bring more money to the state, create a more fair licensing system, and restore ethicacy to a greedy outfitting industry. We’ve done a lot of research on the initiative and put together a position paper addressing 161's false claims and egregious misinformation: [pdf]. If passed, the huge price increases for big game licenses will likely turn away many out-of-state hunters; a similar change in Idaho several years ago had disastrous results on state revenues. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS INITIATIVE WOULD MAKE DOING BUSINESS FOR YOU – THE HUNTER – MORE TIME-CONSUMING, EXPENSIVE, AND UNCERTAIN.

A website called Stop161 (www.stop161.org) was put together by Supporters for Preserving Montana's Outfitting Tradition. MOGA, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Montana Stockgrower's Association, Safari Club International, and the National Rifle Association are a few of the groups that have taken a public stance against I-161 and are on the website. Stop161 and other groups are trying to pull together large PR campaigns (TV, print, and radio ads) in the coming months before the election, and this will require money. If this is something important to you or someone you know, money donations are much needed and appreciated right now to help defeat I-161. Please help to keep in place a licensing system that is successful for you, outfitters, landowners, hunters, and the State of Montana.