Letter to the editor: Tester is committed to improving federal land management

We appreciate private landowners who allow hunting and fishing on their land but that can change overnight. Fortunately, we always have public lands for backup.

About 30% of Montana is federal land. It was disconcerting to see Senate candidate Tim Sheehy call for turning over federal lands to states or even counties. The transfer would be overwhelming, leading to selling lands to private owners. Over half the lands given to western states at statehood have been sold. Sheehy was also on the board of PERC which advocates that private ownership will provide the best conservation outcomes. He has since resigned from PERC and tried to walk back the transfer but his management stance hasn't changed. His campaign website states "they need to let Montana start managing our federal lands."

Sheehy founded the Little Belt Cattle Company. FWP Haymaker Wildlife Management Area lies just to the east. Haymaker is open to anyone with a $20 elk license. Sheehy's ranch charges up to $12,500 for an elk hunt. We can't afford that kind of conservation outcome. We doubt killing a few high priced bull elk will control elk numbers.

Sen. Jon Tester is Montana-raised and committed to improving management of federal lands but retaining public ownership so all of us can enjoy the benefits. That's the Montana way.

Jim Vashro and Marty Petritz, Flathead Valley,

Harvey Nyberg, Lewistown