ISSUE #17 

 Commercial Operations — 19 comments 



Summary 



Public comment embraces the following points (received from a broad cross-section of groups and 

 individuals). 



FWP should be the lead agency responsible for inspecting and licensing of private game 

 farms. 



If FWP cannot prevent establishment of new game farm operations, then funding for 

 administration that includes licensing, inspecting, and enforcement should come from a source 

 other than license dollars. 



The alternative point of view was that privately ovmed game animals should be treated as any other 

 livestock and regulated by DOL. 



Sample of Comments 



• Who better than the FWP to do this; certainly NOT the DOL. 



• Develop I&E programs related to the detrimental impacts to Montana's wildlife heritage from 

 wildlife domestication and game farming. Such impacts should include but not be limited to: 

 disease transmittal, escaped exotic species, ethics of captive shooting, and the genetic integrity 

 of Montana's wildlife. 



• On the issue of game farms, I think that it is a big mistake for the department to be involved in 

 this type of operation at all. I personally know the laws and regulations that game farm 

 owners now face, and I feel that they should be treated as any other livestock operation and 

 left at that. 



• Condoning commercial use of wildlife is in exact opposition to managing native wildlife 

 populations in Montana. FWP should absolutely charge commercial operators for all 

 expenses of inspecting their facilities. In fact, a moratorium on any new commercial 

 operations should be immediately imposed. 



• First and foremost Fish & Game should be the leader in licensing and regulating game farms 

 in Montana. These operations should bear the costs for all work done by Fish & Game 

 personnel and not sportsmen. 



Response: Under the preferred alternative, FWP would provide oversight of game 

 farming and other commercial uses of wildlife. This alternative also would seek 

 legislation to provide finding for such oversight from a source other than license 



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