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Significant Changes Proposed For Montana in 2010

December 29, 2009.

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission accepted proposals for changes to the 2010 application process and hunting seasons on December 10. Many of the proposals will represent significant change for hunters if they are adopted into the final regulations after the comment period ends.

Comments on the proposals are being accepted through January 22nd.  You can submit comments electronically on the FWP Web page at fwp.mt.gov under "2010-11 Hunting Season Comments."  

"Hunters, landowners, outfitters and others are more involved than ever," said FWP Director Joe Maurier. "We received a lot of participation and interest this summer when we invited the public to propose ideas for the upcoming seasons."

Highlights are summarized below. For complete details, see http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/oppForPubCommentDefault.html.

  • Move the general deer and elk season opener to Saturday, instead of Sunday.
  • Changes in the issuance of antlerless elk tags.
  • Adopt a new 4-year waiting period for those who obtain some either-sex elk permits.
  • Regroup the 23 elk-archery districts outside the Missouri River Breaks into one "bundle" of limited either-sex archery permits.
  • Move nonresident application deadline for either-sex elk permits and antlered buck mule deer permits to March 15. Drawing allotment would be 10% of previous year’s number of permits.
  • Apply a "multiplier" to bonus points. Specifically, bonus points proposed to be squared (1 bonus point squared to 1, 2 bonus points squared to 4, 4 bonus point squared to 16, etc.). This is the same approach currently used by Nevada.
  • Implement a party application for up to 2–5 persons (number set at final adoption of approved changes) for residents and nonresidents for deer and elk special permit and license applications. Residents and nonresidents may not mix if application deadline above is adjusted.
  • Adjust the antelope 900 archery-only license structure and application process to occur on May 1, separate from the existing antelope application and drawing process. Application for this license would then preclude the applicant from applying for other antelope licenses to be allocated in the existing Antelope drawing with an application deadline of June 1.
  • Move the opening day of the general firearm season for antelope to Saturday of Columbus Day weekend and adjust the antelope archery only season to end Friday the day before this opener.
  • Create a more conservative elk season in southwestern Montana’s Hunting District 310 in response to population declines.
  • Allow archers to pursue bears and mountain lions during the archery season, which typically opens in early September.

 

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