The Whitehall Ledger - Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana

As one of seven kids growing up in Butte, Montana, the holidays in our house were equal parts chaos and celebration. But one thing was a constant—when you reached a certain age, you could expect to find your first hunting rifle under the Christmas tree. But with that gift came responsibilities—hunter safety, fair chase hunting ethics, and an understanding that public lands are an essential part of our hunting heritage in Montana.

In one way or another, the opposite of these lessons has shown up in Montana headlines over the last few years—whether it’s a politician skirting hunting...