Page 7 - EMWH Newsletter

25:46 begins the public comments, opening with Dr. Marty Zaluski, the DOL MT State vet.
Nick Gevock for Montana Wildlife Federation said they could not support it in this form.
Rod Bullis spoke for Helena Hunters and Anglers, vehemently opposed. I drove to Helena
to speak on the science and fiscal realities, showing an 8.5x11 photo of an edited cow elk
( I edited off the surveillance collar ) and challenged all the vets in the room, the wildlife
biologists and the commission to hazard a guess if that elk was the antibody seropositive
one or the brucellosis antibody free one? There is no way anyone could know, you can't
tell by looking at them. BTW, the only way to get a 100% antibody free one, unless I was
on sight when they were testing, was to get one from the zoo.

Harold Johns and Leroy Mehring of Butte's Skyline Sportsmens Association came to Helena to adamantly oppose this
proposal. Harold had called Helena for the brucellosis working group meeting minutes when I told him it was DOL's Dr.
Eric Liska that proposed the DSA elk hazing killings. He brought that up as part of his public comments, stating that he
was told they weren't available. The Commissioners told Harold he would get them. After the meeting Quentin Kujula
told us they were hand written and needed to be typed up. It is a month later and we still don't have the minutes,
minutes that are legally required to be taken at meetings and legally provided to the public when they request them.
GWA commented against the proposal from Region 3. Due to technical difficulties, the public at the Region 4 office did
not get to be heard.

Temporary Hyalite Target Shooting Prohibition Permanent Proposal

Public Comment Sought on Making Temporary Hyalite Target Shooting Prohibition Permanent
I am in support of the closure, begrudgingly. I recognize the conflict here, the safety issues and vandalism aspect,
hating that some users don't respect our public lands, causing the conflict, whether it be recreational shooting,
mountain biking, atvs, etc. This restriction does not apply to hunting. There are shooting ranges in Logan and
Livingston.

In April of this year, the Custer Gallatin National Forest issued a special order temporarily prohibiting discharge
of a firearm, air rifle, or gas gun for the purpose of target shooting within the Hyalite drainage south of
Bozeman, Montana. The Forest Service is now proposing to make this prohibition permanent and is seeking
public comment. The temporary restriction remains in place until an environmental analysis process is
complete and a decision is reached, likely January 2017...

The primary purpose of the temporary target shooting restriction was to address public safety issues. The
Hyalite drainage receives more than 40,000 visitors monthly in the summer and over 20,000 visitors monthly in
the winter. It is the most heavily recreated drainage on National Forest System lands in the state of Montana. It
is a narrow glaciated valley with a huge number of developed and dispersed recreation sites, 65 miles of road
and about 70 miles of trail. The density of development and volume of recreationists make it unsafe to target
shoot. Target shooting is defined as any shooting other than in pursuit of game and includes paint ball guns.

“We recognize the real safety issues and concerns resulting from the large amount of target shooting in this
drainage,” said Lisa Stoeffler, Bozeman District Ranger. “Since the temporary closure of the drainage in April to
target shooting the Forest and Friends of Hyalite have been working to clean up the tons of trash from these
shooting areas and to listen to interested and concerned organizations and individuals.”

A broader, county-wide planning effort for target shooting may occur in the future and is not part of this
proposal. Alternatives that address target shooting opportunities and/or restrictions on other national forest
lands are not being considered at this time. The proposed restriction does not limit the ability to carry or
possess a legal firearm within the Hyalite drainage.

Comments will be accepted until September 19, 2016 and can be mailed Gallatin National Forest, attn: Steve
Christiansen, P.O. Box 130, Bozeman, MT 59771. Electronic comments can be emailed to comments-northerngal-
latin@fs.fed.us, enter the phrase “Hyalite Shooting Restriction” in the subject line. Comments may also be
faxed to (406) 587-6758. If you have questions please contact Steve Christiansen at (406) 587-6701 or Lisa
Stoeffler, Bozeman District Ranger, at (406) 522-2520.

7