DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE 



During the past biennium, the Fish and Game Department saw 

 changes probably greater, than any experienced since its inception. 

 The transfer of State Parks to the department and legislative assent 

 to the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act gave impetus to the 

 department's designation as the official state recreation agency. The 

 added responsibilities have been welcomed. 



Every effort has been made to effect the transition to a full- 

 fledged recreation agency smoothly. The department's philosophies 

 have necessarily been broadened to place in proper perspective all 

 phases of outdoor recreation. The division of Recreation was ex- 

 panded to include parks. This division is charged with operation of 

 state parks, the purchase and development of fishing access and 

 other recreational lands, and administration of the Outdoor Recrea- 

 tion Fund in Montana. 



As one would expect, the widening scope of operations has 

 been accompanied by new and additional problems. For example, 

 the increasing interest in Montana's waters is being viewed anxious- 

 ly. The department's interest now lies not only in the maintenance 

 of quality fish habitat, but also in quality outdoor recreation. With- 

 out well-conceived, well-defined guidelines, Montana's water pic- 

 ture could become one of complete chaos. Since water is insepa- 

 rably tied to much of the state's recreation potential, the Fish and 

 Game Department has a great stake in any major decisions that will 

 affect water use. A Water Resources Development Section has been 

 established to serve the public interest in water oriented recreation. 



Another possible problem which I foresee, and cSfcJ^^J$H^|fll'^'^50 

 sure we will want to avoid, has developed in at least one eastern 

 state. The mounting storehouse of information being gain^cl^through ..^ 

 research, the conflict of public use on private lands, and'"{^s^m'ea**J * 

 from national and local interests have all tended to make huntina 

 and fishing regulations progressively more complicated. There is;a _ 

 real danger of overcomplicating regulations to a point where hunt^MONTANA 

 ers and fishermen become so discouraged that they lose interest in 

 the sport. This has apparently been a major factor in the decline of 

 hunters and fishermen in some parts of the United States. 



One tendency toward overcomplication is severely restrictive 

 firearms legislation. A rising tide of anti-gun sentiment among the 

 nonhunting public could push through legislation which represents 

 a stumbling block to legitimate hunters. 



I would like to thank the Fish and Game Commission, the Mon- 

 tana legislators, and all other Montanans for the support given the 

 department during the past biennium. The department will continue 

 striving to provide high quality outdoor recreation for the future. 



Frank H. Dunkle 



Director 



Montana Fish and Game Department 



