Don Thomas (the guy DU fired) is presenting at the Westslope Chapter meeting tonight!

Today, Wednesday, December 9th, 2015, Don Thomas will be giving a presentation about fly fishing in Alaska at the monthly Westslope TU meeting in Missoula, MT.  This is the same Don Thomas who was fired from DU for writing an article critical of James Cox who is leading the fight against Montana's Stream Access Law in the Ruby Valley.

While the focus of Don's presentation will be on his many years of fishing SE Alaska, he is also planning to discuss the Ducks Unlimited fiasco.  Click here for more information on the meeting.

Jerry Kustich, Co-founder of Sweetgrass Rods, criticizes DU in the Standard

Jerry Kustich wrote a great Letter to the Editor for the Montana Standard about the Ducks Unlimited/James Cox ordeal.  He has lived in Twin Bridges for the last 30 years (the area where Cox's contested bridges are).  He's also the co-founder of Sweetgrass Rods, a bamboo rod company in Twin Bridges.  

Great article Mr. Kustich!!

Ducks Unlimited fires columnist who criticized landowner fighting MT's Stream Access Law

Photo by Lane Coulston of the Jefferson River Canoe Trail Association

An article in the Montana Standard today described that a columnist for Ducks Unlimited Magazine was fired after he wrote an article critical of James Cox Kennedy's legal battle to deny the public their constitutional right to access the Ruby River in Montana.  Kennedy was formerly a board member of the organization and is a large donor. 

Kennedy is a huge financial supporter for conservation organizations and programs, but I assume he only thinks rich landowners should have access to these public (see MT constitution and Supreme Court Rulings) conserved lands or waterways.

  

Although I see this as duck egg on the face of Ducks Unlimited, they also do great work in the conservation world and according to the article, Ducks Unlimited has not taken a stance on stream access (although this move seems to make a statement).  

This guy sucks...

James Cox Kennedy - Photo From Forbes.com

This Atlanta billionaire has been leading a calculated and well-funded opposition to public access to the Ruby River in Southwest Montana.  So far, he's not done so well. 

Learn more here:

MT Standard article "Hearing set Sept. 21"   

and

"A River Runs Through Cox Land"