Wilks brothers true colors are shining through.....

BLM flew more than once. BLM was on the ground several times. Apparently, there are a couple spots where the cat tracks disturbed public ground, but not with the blade down. The fences, from what I've heard, are verified to be on private. The fences were cleared with MT FWP before they were built... BLM has nothing to do with these particular fences. This is all 3rd and 4th hand info... so take it as you like...

Anyone hearing of any good bulls flying out of there this year??
 
BLM flew more than once. BLM was on the ground several times. Apparently, there are a couple spots where the cat tracks disturbed public ground, but not with the blade down. The fences, from what I've heard, are verified to be on private. The fences were cleared with MT FWP before they were built... BLM has nothing to do with these particular fences. This is all 3rd and 4th hand info... so take it as you like...

Anyone hearing of any good bulls flying out of there this year??

How big was Trent's bull? I heard it was an interesting retrieval.

I missed a good one and passed a few around 360 ish.

I think in going to personally take BLM by the hand and show them where to look for the violations.
 
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Not sure why MT FWP was consulted about fencing, they have no legal jurisdiction on fencing (I never could find it, hence my contacting FWP before) . Private land pasture fencing is a DOL thing. The BLM land inside involves the BLM and our Public Lands under the Unlawful Inclosure of Public Lands Act. FWP does not mandate fencing, but from a wildlife management perspective has provided resources for such as A Landowner's Guide to Wildlife Friendly Fences: How to Build Fence with Wildlife in Mind - 2012.

This was put together by FWP Joe Weigand, Private Land Wildlife Specialist, who I consulted last fall when the Paradise Valley Watershed elk brucellosis group began pushing for tall, wildlife obstructing fences paid for by sportsmens dollars. Weigand stated then, that fencing is not under FWP, but under livestock. FWP can only suggest to a landowner what would be wildlife friendly. If you will notice, concerning laws, page 4 references the DOL law I have posted earlier.

The guides shows wildlife caught in problem fences, then begins to discuss landscape, owners needs and ways to meet those needs while providing a wildlife fencing opportunity. There are no 5 wire (Wingmans photos of Wilks fencing 5 wire), narrow spacing wildlife friendly fencing illustrations. Just sayin'. Perhaps the Wilks consulted FWP on what would NOT be wildlife friendly and went with that. ;)
 
Kat... not sure why they consulted FWP... just know that at some point, someone approached FWP with the proposed fence details and FWP "passed off" on it. Very vague details... I'll see if I can dig up more.
 
Kat... not sure why they consulted FWP... just know that at some point, someone approached FWP with the proposed fence details and FWP "passed off" on it. Very vague details... I'll see if I can dig up more.

There are a number of ranches that consult with FWP on wildlife friendly fencing. Mostly it's to ensure that wildlife have passages where they want them. Letterman did this along the Front, and it helped with Bighorns, Elk & Muleys. Those fences had passages built in.

Not sure I saw that in Wingman's photos. FWP has no legal authority over fencing, but they do have a lot of knowledge about what makes good fences and what doesn't, in relation to wildlife.
 
So, I guess going off of Wingman's pictures and the operating theory that they consulted with FWP; they must have taken all that they lurnt to heart and built themselves the best darn wildlife trapping fence money could buy.
 
I don't want to go on a tangent state/vs fed, but the bullying comes from the local politicians and industries. The state land is already under their control so no bullying is necessary. Therein lies the problem with "local control." This case is probably different since it isn't "old farmer Joe" trying to make a living and getting pushed around by the feds. If they are posting and building roads on public land I think this changes everything. I have a feeling Wilks will lose local support quickly, but the agenda of the ultra wealthy trying to lock up our public land will continue unless we make a big deal out of it.JMO.

Is there a similar example to the Bundy case where a state allowed someone to use thousands of acres of state land to graze animals for free over many many years and got nothing in return?
 
BLM investigates alleged trespass in Durfee Hills

(LEWISTOWN, Mont.) – BLM staff were granted permission last week by a private landowner to investigate recent reports from members of the public of that owner’s alleged encroachment on BLM-managed land in the Durfee Hills area. After BLM staff conducted a fly-over and ground visits using a survey-grade GPS, no encroachment was found.

A survey of newly constructed fencing and roads were found to be located on private property. Markings found during the ground visit indicate the private landowner likely had the site professionally surveyed prior to construction.

BLM staff found that in some instances when a personal-use recreational GPS was compared to the more accurate survey-grade GPS, the recreational GPS errantly showed some areas to be on BLM-managed land.

The BLM thanks the landowner for their permission and cooperation.

Fly-in hunters have historically used the Durfee Hills area to hunt one of the state’s largest elk herds. During the investigation, aircraft landing and take-off tracks were found off-road on BLM-managed lands in the area, caused by fly-in hunters not affiliated with the land owners.

“No permanent damage was caused, but the BLM is stepping up our efforts to educate pilots and others on our travel management policies, which require motorized vehicles to stay on existing roads and trails with few exceptions,” explained Geoff Beyersdorf, Field Manager of the BLM Lewistown Field Office.

The Bureau of Land Management takes any report of unauthorized activities on BLM-managed lands seriously and appreciates the eyes and ears of the public in reporting to the BLM potentially illegal or inappropriate use on public lands.

With increased visitation expected during hunting season, BLM Law Enforcement Rangers have increased patrols in the area. The BLM encourages the public to responsibly enjoy their public lands while respecting the rights of private land owners and other recreationists.

If anyone has any questions on BLM’s travel management regulations or how to access their public lands, maps are available at your local BLM office and we are here to answer questions so visitors can plan a safe and successful hunting trip.

For more information, contact Lewistown Field Manager Geoff Beyersdorf (406) 538-1918. For the latest BLM news and updates, visit us on the web at www.blm.gov/mt, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BLMMontana, or follow us on Twitter @BLM_MTDKs.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land for the American people, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's mission is to manage and conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield. In Fiscal Year 2013, the BLM generated $4.7 billion in receipts from public lands.
-BLM-
 
At work we often use the joke that GIS stands for "get it surveyed".

The huntgpsmaps are handy approximations, but should never be trusted to be that precise.
 
Wow! That much difference between "personal use recreational " and survey grade gps. I've just got a knot in my stomach.
 
At work we often use the joke that GIS stands for "get it surveyed".

The huntgpsmaps are handy approximations, but should never be trusted to be that precise.
You think they'd be off by 100-250 yards? That is what wingman1 was finding around the 150th post in this thread. How about Montana cadastral?
 
This is bs. I.can't believe what I just read. They are going to ignore everything the silks do and write tickets for.landing 10' short of a road. This is not over by a long shot
 
You think they'd be off by 100-250 yards? That is what wingman1 was finding around the 150th post in this thread. How about Montana cadastral?

The picture I see shows ~80 yards, which is crap, but not unheard of when dealing with GIS data of that scale. Not sure what huntgpsmaps source is for their data, but it's not as accurate as a field crew would be. Who knows whether or not that piece had been surveyed since the original survey, and how accurate the cadastral info was.
 
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