Controversial BLM Outfitter Permit Open for Public Comment

An application for an amendment to an outfitting permit has drawn criticism on local social media pages. The amendment from Montana Trophy Outfitters (owned and operated by Whitehall native Forrest Lewton), was applied for through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Butte Field Office and requests the below changes to their existing special recreation permit (Permit #MT-070-18-09). The acreage is in the the 370 and 380 hunting districts.

According to the BLM website, Montana Trophy Outfitters is currently permitted to provide deer and elk outfitted hunts on BLM lands. As of 6/7/2021, the permittee has requested an expansion of the area permitted from 1,296 acres to 51,742 acres. The permittee is also requesting that permitted operations include guiding for spring bear and winter lion hunts. The season of use authorized would expand to year-round due to the additional spring and winter seasons. The latest general terms, conditions, and stipulations required on all BLM and all MT/DAKs BLM SRPs would be added to the amended permit. The Butte Field Office stipulations required on the existing permit would continue to be required. No additional stipulations would be added to the amended permit.

While Lewton, who has been an outfitter for many years and has several permits on BLM lands, does not believe the permit amendment is that big of a deal, local Whitehall resident and hunter Mike Price does.

Price, who has lived in Whitehall for 18 years, believes that the public comment aspect of this, and most BLM permits, has not been made public enough and wants people to know that this amendment could affect their hunting.

“My main concern is taking opportunities away from the public. I want people to know about this. I don’t care if folks are for it or against it. Either way, the public needs to know,” Price said, noting that he is against the amendment to the current permit.

“The outfitter is going to have a greater advantage - they are going to be able to push the animals down the mountain (behind Golden Sunlight mine) and it’s just not fair to the animals. The hunter would basically be able to drive right to where they are going to shoot - where’s the sport in that?”

Price noted that the tops of the mountain range are currently a “safe zone” for wildlife and that would no longer be true if the amendment were passed.

Price said the BLM public comment phase of this issue is buried within their website and many amendments and permits have been granted without even the local Sportsman’s Association being aware of them.

“If it’s not that big of a deal, what’s there to hide and why shouldn’t the public know?” Price questioned.

Lewton has a different perspective.

“This is good for everyone,” Lewton said. “It will bring more money to the local economy - business is a good thing.”

Lewton noted that there will be no changes in local hunting. His business already leases private property in HD 370; the permit is mainly for HD 380 - which is known as a trophy zone.

“There are already a limited number of tags provided - this doesn’t change the tag count. This makes it so if an animal is at the border of BLM and private property and is shot and goes to BLM, we can go get it. “

Lewton also said that the ranches that he’s working with are in support of the amendment.

“The current herd is at 400, when it should be at 70. The herd is 700% overpopulated - this will help with that,” he said.

Public comment is open at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/118464/510 until August 31st; Price and other concerned individuals are currently working to have that deadline extended.