Welcome to the
Gallatin Wildlife
Association
Website
Welcome - to the Gallatin Wildlife Association website.
We certainly hope you become more knowledgeable about GWA as you wander through the pages of our website. We are a small, but vocal non-profit organization located in Bozeman, Montana advocating for wildlife, their respective habitat, and migration corridors across southwestern Montana, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and the northern Rocky Mountains. We advocate for wildlife and fisheries by utilizing science and the law. GWA, founded in 1976, has long recognized the intense pressures on our wildlife from habitat loss and climate change, and we advocate for science-based management of public lands for diverse public values, including but not limited to hunting and angling.
To learn more about GWA, who we are, and what we've done: click here
Become a Voice for
Hyalite/South Cottonwood Canyon -
We're trying to find 1000 Voices to Say -
Leave South Cottonwood Alone!
Concern over the future of South Cottonwood Canyon is once again on the hearts and minds of residents of Gallatin County. Many residents have been through this agony once, if not more than twice. It seems as if the forces determined to log South Cottonwood just won't take a hint.
LEAVE SOUTH COTTONWOOD CANYON ALONE!
We at GWA highlight this issue once again because the public has to become involved. The Custer Gallatin National Forest has requested and they have been approved to receive emergency status for the slightly less than 8,000 acre logging project with logging, fire regiment, and road building. The fight to save South Cottonwood drainage from logging decades ago was a glorious victory with fond memories, it is going to take that same kind of cohesion and passion again among local residents to fight off another logging venture into South Cottonwood. The goal this time should be outright protection, by making this drainage part of the wilderness campaign. We need to do so for many reasons. The protection of the biodiversity of the GYE for one. Timber harvesting and road building will destroy what so many residents have been trying to protect for generations.
To learn more: click here
South Cottonwood and Hyalite drainages are critical for wildlife habitat and for connectivity. While the public comment period has officially closed, GWA is urging the Forest Service to hold public meetings and extend and reopen the comment period again. We do so because the majority of the residents of Gallatin County have no clue as to the potential threat that is about to be imposed upon them. We need an explanation and a robust discussion of why now, why is there an emergency now. Will these vegetative treatments really protect homes and fire threats in the Gallatin Front range? We know the answer to that.
WE NEED TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD NOW!
We're looking to find 1000 Voices in opposition to this Fuel Reduction Project, a project that could very well cause harm to endangered and threatened species as listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Engage in the process and become a voice for Hyalite/Cottonwood.
GWA welcomes our new and first intern as our Communications Director to the Gallatin Wildlife Association.
GWA welcomes Ben Churchwell to the GWA team as our new and first Communications Director.
His short Bio is below -
Ben Churchwell is a science communicator working out of Bozeman Montana. He graduated from Montana State University (MSU) in spring of 2025 with B.S. in environmental biology and a minor in english writing. Currently, Ben is pursuing a M.F.A from MSU in science and natural history filmmaking. He has previously produced public-facing materials for the National Park Service, concerning research initiatives and partnerships.He finds joy in connecting the public with scientific subjects through storytelling and outreach.
Ben has already re-constituted GWA's YouTube Channel, set to run our FaceBook platform, initiated our first Instagram platform in the short time he has been here. Ben actually began working for GWA back in mid-May. He is in an volunteer position as he his working to gain experience in working for a nonprofit in the environmental field. He has also integrated GWA's first online petition over the South Cottonwood issue and soon will be performing the duties and responsbilities of operating our Podcasts from GWA John Shellenberger.
There is so much to do and we certainly are glad to have Ben work with us as we try to inform and educate the public about the ongoing issues of the day. And that my friends seems to be an ongoing issue. So we want to take this time to welcome Ben into the GWA family. Please welcome him in person at our next function. And see if you can tell as we move on the changes and differences as we communicate with you.
A New Organization to Promote the:
Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study Area (HPBH WSA)
The above picture of Grotto Falls on the Hyalite Creek Trail near the north end of the HPBH WSA boundary taken by Clint Nagel, 2011.
Montanans for Wildlife and Wilderness
(M4WW)
The Gallatin Wildlife Association is proud to join forces with several independent activists and scientists of southern Montana to promote a cohesive group of concerned citizens to fight for the protection of the HPBH WSA and all Wilderness Study Area lands across Montana. GWA has been in the fight for wilderness protection for the Gallatins as long as we have been an organization.
Needless to say, there are many reasons as to why more progress has not been made. Much of that time had to do with the broken up nature of lands due to the checkerboard nature of land ownership. Much had to do with politics and sadly to say it still does. And now it is because of politics and the falling away of other eco-friendly non-governmental organizations (NGO)s.
This issue is larger than just one NGO or entity can promote. Those who are in opposition to the full protection of the HPBH WSA have joined forces with other interest and user groups to promote an alternative approach. Even the US Forest Service has turned away from full protection of the HPBH WSA. GWA needed help, sad to say, but we are not ashamed to say the problem is much larger than any one group can handle on their own.
We will be announcing our new organization (M4WW) soon in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, but stay tuned for more progress and news to come. Our job has it has always been is to prepare an alternative to the Gallatin Forest Partnership and to influence and inform the public about the importance and need of preserving biological and forest integrity of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Help Us, won't you?
Our National Forests
and Public Lands are under attack by our
own Government.
We have been fighting land-use issues at nauseum, or so it seems. If it isn't the state, it's the Federal Government and that is where we find ourselves at this time. This time our National Forests and public lands are under attack on several fronts: Legislation, Executive Order, and the Reconciliation Bill otherwise known at the Big Beautiful Bill - H.R. 1. The following is a letter sent to Montana's U.S. Senators.
=====================================================
June 16, 2025
Subject: The Selling of America’s Public Land –
Lands included in H.R. 1 – One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Senator Steve Daines Senator Tim Sheehy
320 Hart Senate Office Building Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington D.C. 20510 Washington D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Steve Daines and Senator Tim Sheehy:
Ten days ago, the Gallatin Wildlife Association wrote you, Montana’s Senate Delegation, urging a vote against the Reconciliation Bill, otherwise known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill”. We did so at that time based upon the inclusion of partisan forest management policies that we incorporated into the legislation. We realized this bill had many other shortcomings and we stated so at the time of our June 6, 2025 letter. However, we believe this is even more true now than ever.
Since then, the Gallatin Wildlife Association (GWA) has learned, and it has been reported the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee released the text of a provision that includes the selling of approximately 3.2 million acres of public land, land holdings contained within the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, lands of 11 western states. Strangely enough, Montana lands were not included in this provision.
The rationale of that latter statement is most likely due to the well-established claim that Montana’s Congressional delegation has decided to take up opposition to the selling, transfer, and releasing of public lands in Montana. While we applaud that claim, the hypocrisy here cannot be overlooked. To be in favor of the selling of public lands in all other western states, but not those of Montana is just as wrong as the day is light. It is hypocritical and it is in violation of the American people’s trust. For these lands do indeed belong to all Americans, including the people of Montana.
By taking such a position, Montana’s Senate Delegation is basically removing the right of the people to visit those lands from all Americans, including Montanans. You are removing the right from all of us to appreciate the wildlands and the wildlife that inhabit those lands. This is nothing more than a land grab for special interests, denying the American people their heritage, setting up the possibility of similar actions being taken against Montana in the future, and setting bad precedent.
It is corrupt and it sets to increase the transfer of wealth from the American people to those already of wealth, making the wealth gap even more pronounced than it already is in our country. This type of action shows a lack of character, and it highlights the fact that our Congressional Delegation does not understand the concept of America’s heritage. It simply highlights the concept of transactional politics.
According to SEC. 206. {43 U.S.C. 2305} the deposit of proceeds is supposed to be contained in the FEDERAL LAND DISPOSAL ACCOUNT. The law states the following: —Notwithstanding any other law (except a law that specifically provides for a proportion of the proceeds to be distributed to any trust funds of any States), the gross proceeds of the sale or exchange of public land under this Act shall be deposited in a separate account in the Treasury of the United States to be known as the ‘‘Federal Land Disposal Account’’.
The proposal in this legislation, the Reconciliation Bill, bypasses this statute. Our organization believes this legislation, the Reconciliation Bill, would be illegal should it become law. We contend these funds would not be utilized as prior laws state or as intended violating the concept of good governance. It is time to start obeying the laws as they were intended and written rather than changing the rules in the middle of the game to suit special interests and partisan whims.
GWA stated ten days ago in our letter that “to sacrifice the quality of our Nation’s public lands for political gamesmanship, based upon a fictitious claim of a National emergency is not the kind of government we need”. We second that sentiment now! The Reconciliation Bill has many shortcomings. It is a hodgepodge of many pork barrel wants and wishes of partisans, harming the overall majority of American people. For these reasons and for those in our previous letter, GWA strongly urges Montana’s Senate Delegation to vote down HR 1, the Reconciliation Bill.
Gallatin Wildlife Association (GWA) is a local, all volunteer wildlife conservation organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of wildlife, fisheries, habitat and migration corridors in Southwest Montana and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, using science-based decision making. We are a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1976. GWA recognizes the intense pressures on our wildlife from habitat loss and climate change, and we advocate for science-based management of public lands for diverse public values, including but not limited to hunting and angling.
It is time to return dignity and respect to the legislative process. Thank you for any attention you can give to this matter, vote down HR 1, the Reconciliation Bill.
Sincerely,
Clinton Nagel, President
Gallatin Wildlife Association
Call and/or write your U.S. Senator to vote against H.R. 1 - The Reconciliation Bill. Tell our Senators to not support the Radical Forest Agenda and the radical agenda to sell of Public Land.
Montanans for Safe
Wildlife Protection: MSWP
Most of you should know, GWA has been involved with and are supporters of MSWP for several years now. Being as one representative on the MSWP Steering Committee, we try to propagate the energy and resources for wildlife infrastructure across the state of Montana.
Below is their most recent website:
Montanans for Safe Wildlife Passage
There is much to do in this realm of establishing wildlife connectivity across highways and railways, etc. Please help out in any way you are able.
Climate Forest Coalition:
Another alliance that GWA is participating in is that of the Climate Forest Coalition, an organization of likeminded NGOs across the country that are trying to change forest policy. We're trying to promote policies of protecting mature and old-growth forests in order to preserve biodiversity, ecological integrity and to use our forests as a mitigative approach fighting climate change by carbon sequestration. Here is their link:
https://www.climate-forests.org/
There is much material here for references and they have already testified before Congress.
We urge all members to follow this group and follow us as we try to incorporate their strategy into ours as appropriate.
GWA's Facebook page is Going Strong!
Check us out -
The link is here!
Thanks to Ben Churchwell for managing our Facebook page.
GWA's First Ever Instagram Account
Thanks to Ben Churchwell for managing our Instagram page.
GWA's Podcast on KGVM -
Wildlife and Wilderness -
take a listen!
After Christmas of last year (Dec. 30, 2020) Clint Nagel of GWA was fortunate enough to be interviewed by J. Shell, host of the program Wilderness and Wildlife on KGVM, 95.9 on the radio dial.
http://kgvm.org/program/wilderness-and-wildlife/
Wilderness and Wildlife, presented by the Gallatin Wildlife Association, features discussions of issues involving the wildlife of southwestern Montana, and the wilderness habitat that makes this area appealing to adventurous people from around the country. You'll hear interviews with wildlife experts and naturalists reporting on species they have studied, which are threatened by the pressures of a rapidly growing populace in the Greater Yellowstone Region.
For other shows presented, simply click the following.
The Gallatin Wildlife Association also produces the short Wildlife Capsules.
Thanks to John Shellenberger for taking the initiative to establish this mechanism of outreach for GWA and keeping at it for these past seven years.
