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John Brenden (April 17 guest opinion) pretended to be a “friend” of public recreationists while promoting a Bureau of Land Management land exchange with his political supporters, the Wilks brothers.

Montana hunters and anglers who are familiar with Brenden’s attacks on the public estate in the Legislature have finally stopped laughing long enough to write a reply to his facetious concern for “hikers, campers, birdwatchers, anglers and on and on.”

Even as he writes for the Wilks brothers, (both of whom donated the legal maximum to his 2012 election campaign along with their wives), Sen. Brenden is busy in Helena chairing a committee that is intended to be the first step in a right-wing attempt to force the federal government to surrender our national forests and BLM lands to control of state government.

Brenden has spared no effort in the State Senate to prevent Fish, Wildlife and Parks from acquiring any more lands for public hunting access. His “no net gain” bills have infuriated hunters and anglers who must travel to Helena to oppose Brenden’s “friendship.” The harm Brenden has done to Montana hunters and anglers, and the greater harms he has attempted, would fill a book.

Some friend.