Proposed hunting regulation changes to be discussed
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News from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
KALISPELL — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will hold a northwest Montana meeting on the 2014-2015 hunting regulation proposals at the Red Lion Hotel, Kalispell Center Mall, on Saturday, Jan. 4. Other informational meetings are scheduled in other towns around the Region, but this is the main hearing for collecting public comment from hunters across Region One.
The schedule calls for an open house to be held from 9 to 10 a.m. where FWP biologists and managers will explain information on wildlife populations and proposed regulations. The actual hearing will begin at 10 a.m. Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Gary Wolfe will be on hand to listen to comments. Each member of the public who wishes to speak will have a time allotment for each group of tentative regulation.
Northwest Montana (Region One) proposed regulations include:
• White-tailed Deer – offer a limited number of antlerless B-licenses through the drawing. In Hunting Districts 101, 102, 109, 110 and 120 they would be valid only on private land, excluding Plum Creek and Stoltze Timber Company land. In HDs 121, 122, and 124 they would be valid district wide on all lands.
• Mule Deer – no change, remaining in a restrictive season.
• Elk – no change, remaining in a restrictive season.
• Moose – no change
• Bighorn Sheep – no change except eliminate ewe licenses in HD 123
• Mountain Goat – no change
• Black Bear – no change
• Mountain Lion – initiate a male subquota in most HDs
• Upland Bird – no change
• Turkey – allow two turkeys to be taken in the fall, one either sex and one hen
Other Statewide issues:
The proposals encompass hunting season dates and nearly every huntable species in the state, including antelope, black bear, bighorn sheep, bison, deer, elk, moose, mountain goat, mountain lion and a variety of upland game birds and waterfowl.
Details on all the proposed hunting regulations are available on FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov. Click “2014-2015 Hunting Proposals,” where one can provide comment, find a complete calendar of 40 statewide meetings times and locations and additional information on each proposal. Comments can also be mailed to: Wildlife Bureau, Attn: Public Comment, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701. The F&W Commission will adopt final regulations at its Feb. 13 meeting in Helena.
