Mike Gurnett of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has released a brief video review of our book, “Montana’s Wildlife Legacy - Decimation To Restoration”, featuring author Terry N. Lonner, volunteer publisher Tim Crawford, and also sportsman & former educator Bud Lily who speaks fondly of the book and many of the memories is brings back.

The video highlights many never before published photos, some lent from albums & personal collections of individuals who were instrumental in the wildlife recovery process, and others salvaged from long forgotten archives.

Both the “Decimation to Restoration” book and “Back From The Brink” DVD are offered for purchase through the Montana’s Wildlife Legacy Online Store, and you’re welcome to contact us by e-mail or give us a call at (406) 587-3583.

March 13th & 14th - Montana Chapter of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep

Bozeman, MT

There will be a book signing at the annual meeting of the Montana Chapter of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep on March 13 and 14, 2009 in Bozeman, MT.

March 27 & 28 - Made in Montana Marketplace

Great Falls, MT (Great Falls Convention Center)

Media Works, the publisher of Montana’s Wildlife Legacy – Decimation to Restoration and producer of the historical video documentary “Back from the Brink – Montana’s Wildlife Legacy”, has been juried into the 11th annual Made in Montana Marketplace at the Mansfield Convention Center and Missouri Room of the Great Falls Civic Center in Great Falls on March 27 and 28, 2009. During this event there will be a wholesale buyer’s day and a retail day with more than 2,500 people in attendance.

The authors were invited to make the introductory presentation about Montana’s Wildlife Legacy at the annual Meeting of the Montana Chapters of the Wildlife and American Fisheries society in Kalispell, MT on February 11, 2009. There was also a formal book signing at this meeting.

For questions or more information, please contact Brent Lonner, Area Wildlife Biologist, at blonner@mt.gov

Book details exploitation, rebirth of Montana’s Wildlife Species

When the Lewis and Clark Expedition arrived in Montana during the summer of 1805 they discovered a diverse country teeming with an abundance of wildlife species - elk, deer, beaver, antelope and other game animals - would be hunted and trapped…
[ Continue reading... ]

1.Country Bookshelf window display for book signing of Montana’s Wildlife Legacy by authors Terry Lonner and Harold Picton.

1.Country Bookshelf book signing (Harold Picton – author, Mary Jane Disanti – store owner, Terry Lonner – author)

Country Bookshelf Store, Bozeman, MT

Terry Lonner & Dr. Harold Picton will be available to sign and discuss the new Montana’s Wildlife Legacy - Decimation to Restoration book, sponsored by The Country Bookshelf in Bozeman, MT.

Event begins at 6:00pm on October 23, 2008 at The Country Bookshelf, located at 28 W Main St in Bozeman, MT just west of Tracy Ave.

View Larger Map

Our friends at Hungry Horse News in Hungry Horse, MT, whose close proximity to Glacier National Park is surely an indication of their great appreciation for Montana’s wildlife, were kind enough to make mention of the Montana’s Wildlife Legacy: Decimation to Restoration book signing which took place alongside a talk given by Wildlife and Parks Region One Wildlife manager Jim Williams at the Sportsman & Ski Haus in Kalispell, MT on October 23, 2008.

Co-authors Terry N. Lonner and Dr. Harold Picton made the journey from Bozeman to Kalispell to attend the “Hunting Heritage” event, as well as sign and discuss their new Montana’s Wildlife Legacy: Decimation to Restoration book, a complete historical reference detailing the exploitation & depletion of wildlife resources in Montana, and the extraordinary restoration that took place through the cooperative efforts of Montana’s farmers, ranchers, hunters, government agencies and universities who saw fit to define the practice of conservation, ensuring recreation & enjoyment for many future generations.

Montana’s Wildlife Legacy: Decimation to Restoration is available for purchase online at our Online Store, along with the Back From the Brink: Montana’s Wildlife Legacy DVD, a 2-part video documentary complimenting much of the information released in the book.

Join Terry Lonner & Dr. Harold Picton for discussion & signing their new Montana’s Wildlife Legacy - Decimation to Restoration book, sponsored by the Sportsman & Ski Haus in Kalispell, MT.

Event begins at 6:00pm on October 23, 2008 at the new Sportsman & Ski Haus store at 145 Hutton Ranch Rd. off of Highway 93, just passed Flathead Valley Community College.

Get a Larger Map and Driving Directions…

Contact: Terry Lonner
Phone: 406-587-3583
E-mail: tlonner@mediaworksmt.com

Just released, a historical wildlife book – Montana’s Wildlife Legacy ~ Decimation to Restoration, providing the most complete written reference of Montana’s wildlife legacy. It was co-authored by Dr. Harold Picton, Emeritus Professor of Wildlife Management in the Ecology Department at Montana State University and Terry Lonner, retired Chief of Wildlife Research and Technical Services for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Together they provided over 90+ years of combined professional wildlife and conservation experience while researching and documenting the decimation and restoration of Montana’s wildlife.

The book documents how exploitation and technology brought the legendary wildlife resources of Montana and the areas, which now include Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, to the brink of extermination by the end of the 19th Century. This led to major wildlife restoration and conservation efforts during the 20th Century. As we enter the 21st century, Montana is blessed with exceptional wildlife resources. This abundance of wildlife is not due to chance or accident. Montana’s wildlife restoration and conservation is truly a classic endeavor extending through six generations, five wars, an economic collapse and the greatest North American climate disaster of the 20th century.

Citizen leadership arose in generation after generation and melded with the leadership and science furnished by the state and federal agencies and universities to bring about this successful effort in wildlife restoration. This effort resulted in the creation of the National Bison Range at Moiese, Montana in 1908, which played a major role in the restoration of bison and several other wildlife species. Yellowstone National Park also played a key roll in the restoration effort, especially for elk and pronghorn antelope. The restoration included big game, upland game birds, waterfowl, furbearers and nongame. The first big game transplant was elk in 1910 supported primarily by sportsman. This effort produced a model example of the success of the hunter-funded North American approach to wildlife conservation in caring not only for wildlife and its habitat, but also for people.

The book is visually appealing, printed in full color with hundreds of illustrations, maps and historical photographs never before published – a “must read” historical wildlife book for anyone who enjoys and values Montana’s wildlife. Educators, students, historians, book collectors, tourists and anyone interested in Montana’s wildlife and its history will find it interesting and a valuable reference. It also contains the only complete record, starting in the early 1900s, of the thousands of Montana’s wild animals trapped and transplanted as citizens struggled to rebuild their wildlife resource during the 20th Century. Numerous individual interviews of Montana’s wildlife pioneers, along with their field notes and reports were used to write the story. It emphasizes how Montanans using passion, perseverance, science and government restored their wildlife resource during the 20th Century.

The wildlife resources that we enjoy today are a gift from the people of the 20th Century to the people of the 21st Century. They come with an important message, to care for and cherish them and to value and maintain them. Wildlife or any natural resource that is not valued tends to end up on the trash heap of human history.

The historical account of this unique contribution to Montana’s culture is available from the book’s website www.montanaswildlifelegacy.com . MSU’s KUSM TV in Bozeman, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks regional offices, sporting goods stores, bookstores and gift shops across the state. The book expands upon and complements the video documentary “Back from the Brink - Montana’s Wildlife Legacy” released in December 2005, which is also available from KUSM TV and continues to be featured on Montana Public Television. The DVD can be purchased on line at www.backfromthebrinkmt.org or also from the same locations as mentioned above for the book.