Hunter and Angler Defense Fund
Do you appreciate the opportunity to hunt and fish Montana?
If you are not a Montana resident, your access to outdoor recreation is under attack. In the most recent legislative session, the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association (MOGA) fought more than a dozen bills intended to limit the ability of non-residents to hunt and fish in the state.
The Hunter Angler Defense Fund is the only organization representing the interests of the Montana outfitting industry and preserving the opportunity to hunt and fish for the clients they serve.
Why HADF matters now
From drastically limiting non-resident bird hunters, to a permanent 90/10 split between residents and non-residents for waterfowl, upland, lions, bears, wolves, and turkeys — anti-out-of-state rhetoric is rising. The outdoor recreation industry is facing more restrictions, making it harder to host the clients that sustain Montana's outfitting economy.
2023 Legislative Session — bills MOGA tracked
- Revise laws related to nonresident hunting and fishing
- Revise nonresident license laws related to harvesting mountain lions
- And ten-plus additional bills targeting non-resident access
Ongoing fights at the FWP Commission
The fight to preserve access continues through the FWP Commission's Season Setting Process. MOGA is advancing commonsense proposals that will:
- Address conservation issues for mule deer
- Expand resident and non-resident big game hunting opportunity
- Distribute hunters across the landscape to reduce crowding
- Ensure that the non-resident hunting tourism industry remains viable
What your contributions accomplished in 2024
Thanks to unwavering supporter contributions, HADF enabled MOGA to take decisive action on key issues with results that directly benefit contributors and the outfitting community:
- Provided critical funding for attorney fees to protect outfitter rights and ensure regulatory compliance.
- Delivered impactful messaging through articles, media outreach, newsletters, and the Voter Voice platform — amplifying contributor voices across Montana.
- Prepared for the pivotal 2025 legislative session, ensuring contributor interests are prioritized in Helena.
- Represented contributor voices at six Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) Commission meetings, influencing over 20 key regulations on fishing and wildlife management.
100% of HADF donations go to legal defense and advocacy on behalf of Montana's outfitting industry and the sportsmen who travel here to hunt and fish.
Donate to HADF