Letter to the Editor - Washington, leave the Breaks alone

Editor,

This year, an exciting thing happened: I drew a bull elk tag for the Missouri River Breaks. Yes, it is “just” the archery tag, but to all us hunters - it’s practically a Wonka golden ticket. Why? Because the Breaks are one of the best hunting spots in the state, if not the entire West.

It’s not just elk. The mule deer bucks taken are on another level. And it’s no secret, the Breaks are home to the world’s best Big Horn rams. Hunters try to draw those tags for most of their lives. Conservation groups auction tags for up to $400k - each.

Many factors play in to the Breaks being a hunter’s paradise. The most notable of which is the Monument. Successful hunters know where to look for quality game animals. In the natural world, you need plenty of water, food and shelter. The Breaks provide these in spades. And, the Monument gives animals something not found in most of Montana: shelter from people.

If there is one thing that screws up my hunts, it’s running into people. The problem gets worse when you have liberal use of ATVs and pickups in the backcountry. Animals that can’t escape human influence — yes, even the ones mobbing ranches — don’t act naturally. Anyone I hear argue this often complains in the same breath that “all the animals are gone.” Huh. The Monument gives game animals a place to escape to - and grow.

At a press conference in June, Zinke said he doesn’t want to make changes to the Breaks. Recently, he issued press releases taking three other Monuments off review.

Why not the Breaks?

Over 12,000 of us Montanans sent him letters to keep the Monument as is. Fifty-nine percent polled say they don’t want to see any changes. The discussion was settled 16 years ago when Montanans spent 18 months publicly working it out - before it was a Monument.

Montanans and sportsmen wanted the Monument back then, and we want it now.

I’m tired of Washington bureaucrats messing with my hunting heritage. Leave the Breaks alone.

Jared Frasier

Manhatta