My name is Terry L. Zink, I am the houndsman and hunter that started this bill and got the bill into the hand of our representive to carry in this session of the Montana Legislature. All the information came from Idaho's Predator Management Biologist., we are mirroring their management of Black Bears. From 2018--2020 the harvest rates in Idaho's Spot & Stalk and Hounds which would be the harvest rates which would be used here in Montana were, Spot & stalk --- Hounds. The difference for Montana would be hounds would only be in the spring, where Idaho it was fall and spring. The chart below was Idaho 2018-2020 for fall and spring.
So here is my letter in support of HB 468 to the house and senate. trying to create more hunting opportunities is my goal for all hunters.
Hello My name is Terry L. Zink, I am a 55 year old 3rd generation houndsman & my 16 year old son Dylan Zink is our 4th generation in the Zink family. I live in Marion, Montana and I was raised in Lewistown. I run an archery business here the Flathead Valley. I take great pride in being a husband, father, and mentor. In all my years here in Montana I have mentored a lot of the younger generations of houndsmen here the state. I am a life long member of the Montana State Houndsmens Association and have great pride in doing so. I would like to see see HB 468 introduced by House Member Paul Fielder given some consideration to be used under the FWP’s commission as a tool for management purposes helping with the ever growing Black Bear population. The information that has been compiled for consideration for the bill has been used in Idaho for generations for management. The Black Bear densities we have here in the state are very comparable with Idaho. We are heavy Predator state with the populations of Black Bears, Mountain Lions, Grizzly Bears and Wolves, plus coyotes. Last spring there was a Predator summit held in Bozeman to discuss what tools could be used in our state to help offset our Ungulate populations from being damaged anymore than they already are. I live in the most densely populated predator part of state in Region 1 and yes during the testimony of the snaring bill it really touched a spot in my heart of how predators are being managed. We need tools at the FWP’s Disposal like snares and the use of hounds and houndsmen to help strengthen our ungulate populations. We are all elk and deer hunters, I am a lifelong bowhunter. The Black Bear in the spring are the biggest threat to elk & moose calves and deer fawns. The bears noses are attracted to the afterbirth and brings the Bears into the birthing grounds. Some will say we are over objective on elk, only in parts of the state, western, SW Montana and NW Montana have had long troublesome time now with predators, this bill HB 468 for hunting Black Bears with Hounds is one more tool for our FWP commission to use. We have to manage our wildlife encluding predators.
To address the grizzly from being chased we can use the island approach where the grizzlies are so highly populated this would be a no hunting zone or no chasing in that Hunting District. Idaho uses the same method.
The island approach for staying away from the grizzly bear Corredor‘s. Here in NW Montana you would start by Eureka, Mt. Head south on hwy 93 down to whitefish and head east on hwy 40 and then east to Columbia Falls and then south on Highway 35 and then from there you go all the way south down into the Swan Valley all the way to sealy lake then east heading back towards Lincoln Montana and then north along the east front of the Rockies all the way back up to the Canadian borders. That would be one no hunting zone for black bears with hounds. The next no hunting zone in Northwest Montana would be the cabinet Mountains wilderness area and a zone around that. The next one would be the wilderness area and anything near Yellowstone national park. This would be just an outline for you folks to give you an idea of what I was talking about is an island approach. We can hoe our professional biologists in Montana Fish wildlife and parks can draw up all our zones. I hope this gives you a idea my thoughts and thinking on this part of the management tool.
HB 468 will create a spring chase and harvest season of bears with hounds and create a summer training season, which is an important tool for us to train hounds to be used during bear hunting and mountain lion hunting. It is an outstanding bill being introduced to help with our FWP’s efforts in the ever demanding predator problems, please use us as houndsmen. In the Flathead Valley over the years my services to the FWP have been used more than most, I take great pride in this and being able to help when ever I’ve been called upon to deal with Mountain Lion problems. Bear hunting with hounds is enjoyed in many other states across our Union and has been apart of hunting tradition since our country’s founding. If this bill is passed it will give our state another method of hunting + our coveted spot-and-stalk method of hunting black bears. Instead, it is an alternative method that allows hunters to identify the gender of the bear treed more accurately, determine if cubs are present, and gauge the age, weight, and size of the bear to determine the prospect of harvesting. We as houndsmen have been sort of in charge of making sure mountain lion tag holders know what they are looking at in the tree after the chase. This bill will expand the opportunities of Montana hunters and houndsmen to aid in the harvest of bears with dogs, just like many use dogs to assist in the harvest of lions, raccoons, coyotes, and other wildlife. In our current day, our hunting rights and freedoms are perpetually under assault by the anti-hunting coalition - for example, the California Senate Bill 252, whose purpose was to outlaw black bear hunting completely. Through combined efforts from outdoorsmen, sportsmen, hunting groups, and many other organizations, Bill 252 was rescinded before moving past committee. We have to ask ourselves - How long before those types of bills are introduced in Montana? Hunting rights and opportunities have been shrinking in every state for the last 50 years. This bill is an opportunity for us to take the offensive in protecting what is ours and guarding the gate of the tradition of hunting that has been apart of human kind’s culture and survival. Let’s not only continue to defend the hunting rights we have remaining but seek to expand and create new opportunities for future generations in our great state to enjoy the great outdoors with family, friends, and man’s best friend. Hunting with hounds is a low-hanging fruit for the anti-hunting community to attack. Let’s demonstrate that the house of hunters, no matter your preference for style, approach, or method of harvest, is not divided, and this house will stand and expand the hunting rights of the people who make Montana the great state that it is. Please support and pass HB 468 and support more hunting opportunities and hunting rights in Montana and the United States of America. Thank you for your time and your service to the state of Montana, our state is a Treasure and Treasured.
Sincerely, Terry L. Zink
PO Box 1272
Marion, Montana 59925
1-406-253-4670
| Hounds | fall 694 | spring 722 | GT 1416 |
| Stalking | fall 914 | Spring 1482 | GT 2396 |
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