T
TFinalshot
Guest
Look like they felt the pinch from their stupid program so they are throwing a little money as us - it wont work, and it's not enough, Cabelas is a tape worm. . . .
Cabela?s gives FWP $50,000
By EVE BYRON - Independent Record - 01/18/08
Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission members cautiously accepted a $50,000 check Thursday from Cabela?s, as the outdoor retailing giant tried to smooth ruffled feathers over its listing of ?trophy? properties for sale in Montana.
It's the latest move in a flap that began in the summer, when some Montana Wildlife Federation members sent back their Cabela?s catalogs and called for a boycott because they believe the Nebraska-based company is involved in selling key wildlife habitat and properties that are subsequently being closed to hunters and anglers.
The action came after Cabela?s started its Trophy Properties Web site, which showcases high-end recreational parcels for sale or lease around the globe.
Some of the properties touted their exclusive access to public lands ? a bone of contention among Montanans being gated off from traditional hunting or fishing grounds.
Other lands were marketed as being ripe for subdivisions.
Recently, Cabela?s changed its marketing approach and is now committed to promoting access and educating potential buyers about access issues, Mike Callahan, Cabela?s senior vice president, told the commission before presenting the check.
The company also will drop references to subdivisions, he said.
Callahan added that the company will donate $12,000 each year for the next five years to FWP, with the only stipulation that the money be used for public access programs in Montana.
Commission member Shane Colton worried that accepting the money might look like Cabela?s ?came in and bought the commission off,? and said Montanans felt betrayed by Cabela?s.
?We thought you were one of us when it came to access issues, then we see the properties you're marketing as exclusive and private access to public lands,? Colton said.
But he noted the money wasn?t solicited, and Cabela?s future actions will be closely watched by Montanans.
?Cabela?s understands the public and commission will scrutinize their representations and follow through regardless of the money,? Colton said after the meeting. ?It's a nice gesture and appreciated, but it will not change our scrutiny.?
Commission Chairman Steve Doherty added that FWP accepts donations all the time from organizations, and the money often can be used as matching funds for government grants.
?You don't look a gift horse in the mouth,? Doherty said.
Cabela?s new attitude came about after high-level executives ?broke away during one of our busiest times of year? to fly to Montana in December and discuss concerns with MWF and FWP representatives, Callahan said.
They also talked about the state?s block management program, in which farmers and ranchers are paid by FWP to provide free public access to hunters.
?We came away impressed and appreciative of how well the program is managed,? said Callahan, who noted that he grew up in Red Lodge and attended a three-room school near Big Fork.
?It became clear to us that Montana?s public access program and block management should be the model for public access planning nationwide, and we would like to promote that on our trophy property Web site.?
He then offered the check, calling it a ?gesture of good faith and good will, and with the intent of becoming a contributing member of the business community, and an advocate and supporter of sportsmen and women in Montana.?
Cabela?s is opening its only Montana store in Billings later this year.
Chris Marchion, MWF board president, said they were frustrated by the initial dialogue with Cabela?s, but it has evolved into ?frank and sincere? discussions.
?One thing this has done is shone a really bright spotlight on the commercialization and privatization of hunting opportunities in Montana,? Marchion said. ?They?re not going to resolve the issue for us ? but I commend them for the direction in which they're heading.?
MWF member Bill Schneider, who's been active in the Cabela?s dispute, said he thinks the ?jury is still out? over Cabela?s real estate activities, and that with hundreds of brokers and thousands of real estate agents working on sales, Cabela?s will have little control over access or subdivision issues.
And while he thinks Cabela?s was surprised by, and is taking very seriously, the outcry over its real estate practices, he thinks the issue is far from over.
?People are just waiting to see if they walk the talk,? Schneider said. ?Cabela?s is flirting with disaster here, in my opinion. This could easily move to other states and cause a major revolt.?
Reporter Eve Byron: 447-4076 or [email protected]
Cabela?s gives FWP $50,000
By EVE BYRON - Independent Record - 01/18/08
Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission members cautiously accepted a $50,000 check Thursday from Cabela?s, as the outdoor retailing giant tried to smooth ruffled feathers over its listing of ?trophy? properties for sale in Montana.
It's the latest move in a flap that began in the summer, when some Montana Wildlife Federation members sent back their Cabela?s catalogs and called for a boycott because they believe the Nebraska-based company is involved in selling key wildlife habitat and properties that are subsequently being closed to hunters and anglers.
The action came after Cabela?s started its Trophy Properties Web site, which showcases high-end recreational parcels for sale or lease around the globe.
Some of the properties touted their exclusive access to public lands ? a bone of contention among Montanans being gated off from traditional hunting or fishing grounds.
Other lands were marketed as being ripe for subdivisions.
Recently, Cabela?s changed its marketing approach and is now committed to promoting access and educating potential buyers about access issues, Mike Callahan, Cabela?s senior vice president, told the commission before presenting the check.
The company also will drop references to subdivisions, he said.
Callahan added that the company will donate $12,000 each year for the next five years to FWP, with the only stipulation that the money be used for public access programs in Montana.
Commission member Shane Colton worried that accepting the money might look like Cabela?s ?came in and bought the commission off,? and said Montanans felt betrayed by Cabela?s.
?We thought you were one of us when it came to access issues, then we see the properties you're marketing as exclusive and private access to public lands,? Colton said.
But he noted the money wasn?t solicited, and Cabela?s future actions will be closely watched by Montanans.
?Cabela?s understands the public and commission will scrutinize their representations and follow through regardless of the money,? Colton said after the meeting. ?It's a nice gesture and appreciated, but it will not change our scrutiny.?
Commission Chairman Steve Doherty added that FWP accepts donations all the time from organizations, and the money often can be used as matching funds for government grants.
?You don't look a gift horse in the mouth,? Doherty said.
Cabela?s new attitude came about after high-level executives ?broke away during one of our busiest times of year? to fly to Montana in December and discuss concerns with MWF and FWP representatives, Callahan said.
They also talked about the state?s block management program, in which farmers and ranchers are paid by FWP to provide free public access to hunters.
?We came away impressed and appreciative of how well the program is managed,? said Callahan, who noted that he grew up in Red Lodge and attended a three-room school near Big Fork.
?It became clear to us that Montana?s public access program and block management should be the model for public access planning nationwide, and we would like to promote that on our trophy property Web site.?
He then offered the check, calling it a ?gesture of good faith and good will, and with the intent of becoming a contributing member of the business community, and an advocate and supporter of sportsmen and women in Montana.?
Cabela?s is opening its only Montana store in Billings later this year.
Chris Marchion, MWF board president, said they were frustrated by the initial dialogue with Cabela?s, but it has evolved into ?frank and sincere? discussions.
?One thing this has done is shone a really bright spotlight on the commercialization and privatization of hunting opportunities in Montana,? Marchion said. ?They?re not going to resolve the issue for us ? but I commend them for the direction in which they're heading.?
MWF member Bill Schneider, who's been active in the Cabela?s dispute, said he thinks the ?jury is still out? over Cabela?s real estate activities, and that with hundreds of brokers and thousands of real estate agents working on sales, Cabela?s will have little control over access or subdivision issues.
And while he thinks Cabela?s was surprised by, and is taking very seriously, the outcry over its real estate practices, he thinks the issue is far from over.
?People are just waiting to see if they walk the talk,? Schneider said. ?Cabela?s is flirting with disaster here, in my opinion. This could easily move to other states and cause a major revolt.?
Reporter Eve Byron: 447-4076 or [email protected]
