How We Work

Once a consensus is reached on an issue brought up by a member of HSA, action is taken.  This may include attending an FWP Commission meeting, a letter, an email or phone calls. We do try to send members to Montana FWP Commission meetings where topics of interest  to the membership are being discussed.  These meetings are held in the Fall and Winter for setting the hunting and fishing regulations for the coming year.

Members of the Headwaters Sportsman Association currently serve on several state boards.  Members Bill Warden and Gordon Haugen serve on the Private Land/Public Wildlife Council.  They are working to have habitat quality included in the payment system for Block Management properties.  Member Tom Sather currently serves as one of the two sportsmen on the Montana Board of Outfitters.

HSA member Randy Newberg was instrumental in getting the first youth hunt going involving the Royal Teton Ranch for a late season bull elk hunt. Randy was also a board member of Orion – The Hunters’ Institute and served on the governor’s Tri-State Grizzly Bear Roundtable.  They developed the guidelines for managing the grizzly bear once it becomes delisted.  As with the wolf, hunting will play an integral part, thanks to member Randy and others.  Member Chris Neville led the way in broadening youth elk hunting opportunities throughout Montana.

The Future

We have touched on only a few of the big issues facing Montana sportsmen and women.  Their concerns are our concerns.  The issues that HSA works on are not limited to those listed here.  HSA members bring their personal concerns to the meeting where they find others who support them.  It is difficult for a lone individual to effect change but there is power in numbers and organization.

Other topics addressed by HSA have included mountain lion numbers and hunting, upland game bird regulations, fishing regulations and other big game seasons and permit levels.  HSA has also supported the efforts of the Public Lands Access group in their efforts to reopen public lands locked off by landowners in Montana.  In FWP commission meetings HSA also works to find common ground on many contentious issues.

The number of problems the average Montana hunter or fisherman faces seems to increase each year.  Challenges come from many different directions.  It takes work and dedication to prevent losses of opportunity and it takes an organized, unified voice to get results.   HSA works as a bottom to top group, not a top-down group.  HSA undertakes only the issues or concerns presented by its members and has been very successful to date.  HSA could do an even better job with your help.  If you hunt or fish in Montana, even if it is impossible for you to make any meetings, you need to belong!