FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 29, 2020

MCV Education Fund: ‘We Need More Cops on the Beat’ Following Elk Hunting Incident

Organization Urges Montana’s Next Governor to ‘prioritize adequate and sufficient funding’ for FWP law enforcement

(BILLINGS, Mont.) – The Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund is calling on Montana’s next governor to “prioritize adequate and sufficient funding for law enforcement officers” following “troubling news out of Meagher County about an elk-hunting incident that raises more questions than answers.”

The Helena Independent-Record reports that a group of about 100 hunters fired into a herd of elk Sunday, killing about 50 publicly owned animals and leaving evidence to suggest an unknown number of other animals were wounded. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) says it issued six citations, including shooting from the road and using a hunting license from another district.

“As strong supporters of Montana’s public lands and the outdoor traditions they support, we of course take no issue with responsible, regulated, ethical hunting,” says Aaron Murphy, Executive Director of the nonpartisan Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund, in a letter sent to all three of Montana’s gubernatorial candidates. “Whatever happened on the evening of Sunday, October 25, appears to be exactly the opposite.”

The MCV Education Fund today sent its letter to Congressman Greg Gianforte, Lieutenant Governor Mike Cooney, and Lyman Bishop. The organization says it’s important to fully fund law enforcement officers to protect “Montana’s laws and strict codes of traditional hunting ethics, and to bring justice to violators.”

“Simply put: We need more cops on the beat, especially as out-of-state visitors flock to Montana to enjoy our public lands,” Murphy added.

The MCV Education Fund says it will encourage Montanans and elected leaders “to take real action to limit absurd incidents like this, to hold all violators accountable, and to ensure swift justice.”

The full letter appears below and is available online HERE.

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Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund is a non-profit, non-partisan organization engaging all Montanans and their communities by empowering them to protect our clean air, clean water, public lands and voting rights through education, mobilization and the power of grassroots advocacy. The MCV Education Fund programs educate the public about critical environmental and public lands issues; promote greater nonpartisan citizen involvement in the democratic process; and provide strategic tools to conservation organizations to be more effective.

CONTACT
Whitney Tawney
Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund
whitney@mtvoters.org
406-254-1593