left in a mess. We tried to make them clean up the area but the buck was 

 passed from one sub-contractor to the next. 



Environmentalists have been responsible for stopping the harvesting of 

 a timber area in our mountains. This probably involved clear-cutting. The 

 timber should have been harvested 25 to 50 years ago. It is too dense for 

 game and a real fire hazard besides providing evaporation rather than groiind 

 penetration of water. Several miles over the mountain is the first clear 

 cut I ever saw and what a horrible scene, I thought. Today the trees are 

 6 to 10 feet high, there has been grazing for game, ground penetration of 

 moisture plus an excellent potential timber stand. 



Environmental organizations are strong nationally, except in Alaska, 

 I have heard. They have big budgets and a strong lobby. They make arran- 

 gements for land purchase with the plan to sell it to the state and federal 

 governments for recreational purposes. 



To my knowledge no fee in lieu of taxes is paid to state and local gov- 

 ernments from federal lands. I understand that produce such as timber from 

 federal lands pay 2'jfo of the income to the county. Many of these lands, if 

 privately owned, would pay taxes to local governments. 



The Montana Fish & Game Department is beginning to look like a landed 

 empire. Looks like they are the big land buyer in recent years and there 

 is more to come. They recently purchased over 50»000 acres south of Butte 

 and Anaconda for wildlife and recreation. Much of the adjoining area bor- 

 ders the Forest Service and a Primitive area. Sportsmen and recreationists 

 make such a project politically expedient. Some Montana residents wonder if 

 this is to be a private hunting ground for the adjoining metropolitan areas. 

 If so, when will the other areas in the state get a hunting reserve? 



Recently the Fish & Game purchased several thousand acres near Choteau. 

 I heard but never confirmed a purchase near the Crazy Mountains. There is 

 talk of buying an island in Flathead Lake. In recent years a large ranch 

 out of Wolf Creek was purchased. We have a Fish & Game unit that joins our 

 ranch. Usually the improvements are removed and a fee is paid to the county 

 in lieu of taxes. Who makes up the difference? You know. 



Our experience is that hunters flock to these areas. Several years ago 

 vehicles were prohibited from entering the area until 10 a.m. Where did they 



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