Montana: Applications Sought for Positions on WHIP Advisory Council

January 26, 2026
4:07 am

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Montana's Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is on the hunt for fresh blood to fill three key seats on the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP) Advisory Council: a wildlife biologist, a member of an Indian Tribe, and a livestock producer. This comes hot on the heels of House Bill 932, which turbocharged WHIP by channeling funds from Montana's Habitat Legacy Account into real-deal habitat restoration and conservation projects. Applications are due by February 27, so if you or someone you know fits the bill, saddle up and apply—it's a chance to shape how public dollars protect the big skies and wide-open spaces that make Montana the Last Best Place. Digging deeper, this isn't just bureaucratic busywork; it's a strategic play in the endless tug-of-war over public lands, where hunters, shooters, and 2A enthusiasts have skin in the game. WHIP's roots trace back to Pittman-Robertson Act dollars—those federal excise taxes on guns, ammo, and archery gear that we've been pumping into wildlife conservation since 1937. House Bill 932 amps that up with state matching funds, targeting everything from sagebrush restoration to elk winter range, directly benefiting species we pursue with our rifles and bows. For the 2A community, it's a reminder of our outsized impact: every box of .308 or sack of Federal duck loads keeps these programs flush, countering anti-hunting narratives from urban enviros who want to lock up the land. Appointing a livestock producer and tribal rep ensures ranchers—who graze on the same turf we hunt—and sovereign nations get a voice, fostering alliances against overregulation that could crimp access for sportsmen. The implications? A well-stocked council means smarter spending on habitats that sustain deer, antelope, and upland birds, preserving the hunting heritage that underpins our Second Amendment rights. Weak links here could let radical greens steer funds toward rewilding fantasies that sideline human use, but strong 2A-aligned voices—like a biologist who gets population management or a producer who knows predator control—can keep it grounded. Montana's leading the charge; 2A patriots elsewhere should watch and replicate. Get involved, apply if you qualify, and let's ensure our outdoor freedoms stay bulletproof.

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Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is on the hunt for fresh blood to fill three key seats on the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP) Advisory Council: a wildlife biologist, a member of an Indian Tribe, and a livestock producer. This comes hot on the heels of House Bill 932, which turbocharged WHIP by channeling funds from Montana’s Habitat Legacy Account into real-deal habitat restoration and conservation projects. Applications are due by February 27, so if you or someone you know fits the bill, saddle up and apply—it’s a chance to shape how public dollars protect the big skies and wide-open spaces that make Montana the Last Best Place.

Digging deeper, this isn’t just bureaucratic busywork; it’s a strategic play in the endless tug-of-war over public lands, where hunters, shooters, and 2A enthusiasts have skin in the game. WHIP’s roots trace back to Pittman-Robertson Act dollars—those federal excise taxes on guns, ammo, and archery gear that we’ve been pumping into wildlife conservation since 1937. House Bill 932 amps that up with state matching funds, targeting everything from sagebrush restoration to elk winter range, directly benefiting species we pursue with our rifles and bows. For the 2A community, it’s a reminder of our outsized impact: every box of .308 or sack of Federal duck loads keeps these programs flush, countering anti-hunting narratives from urban enviros who want to lock up the land. Appointing a livestock producer and tribal rep ensures ranchers—who graze on the same turf we hunt—and sovereign nations get a voice, fostering alliances against overregulation that could crimp access for sportsmen.

The implications? A well-stocked council means smarter spending on habitats that sustain deer, antelope, and upland birds, preserving the hunting heritage that underpins our Second Amendment rights. Weak links here could let radical greens steer funds toward rewilding fantasies that sideline human use, but strong 2A-aligned voices—like a biologist who gets population management or a producer who knows predator control—can keep it grounded. Montana’s leading the charge; 2A patriots elsewhere should watch and replicate. Get involved, apply if you qualify, and let’s ensure our outdoor freedoms stay bulletproof.

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