Wyoming briefs
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Judge favors Brokaw in hunting dispute
LIVINGSTON, Mont. -- A Wyoming outfitter's request to bring more hunters on land next to the Montana ranch of NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw poses a safety threat to Brokaw, his family and employees, a judge here ruled.
District Judge Randall Spaulding ordered the Montana Board of Outfitters to revoke David Nelson's additional permits to guide big-game hunting trips on land bordering Brokaw's West Boulder Ranch near here.
"We're very happy with the decision," Brokaw told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "We want to reiterate that this is not about trying to stop all hunting by any means. ... Our concern is about the safety of an out-of-state outfitter bringing hunters to an area they were likely not familiar with."
The Montana State Board of Outfitters in September granted Nelson, an outfitter from Sheridan, 10 additional big-game hunting permits on 2,700 acres owned by Brokaw's neighbor, Chuck Reid. According to court documents, the permits would have allowed hunting anywhere on Reid's land, which nearly surrounds Brokaw's ranch.
Brokaw sought a judge's order to prevent the increased hunting, citing the danger posed by high-powered rifles.
In his ruling, dated Friday but released Monday, Spaulding ruled that "serious safety reasons ... exist and require a permanent injunction against Mr. Nelson."
Nelson did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment Monday.
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