Comments Sought On Proposed Nonresident Elk And Deer License Rule

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The Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission is seeking public comment on the proposed annual rule that will set the prices for nonresident elk and deer hunting licenses in 2001. Commissioners tentatively adopted the rule in September. An advisory committee of hunters, outfitters and landowners made recommendations to the Commission regarding sale of nonresident elk and deer licenses for the 2001 big game season. The annual rule implements a five-year program designed to set a market-price for outfitter-sponsored licenses and a "target average" of licenses sold over the five year period. For the past five years, sales of the cost-fluctuating market-based licenses were within 1 percent of the target average. Prices for 2001 are proposed to increase to help ensure average sales remain within the targets established by the Montana Legislature. The revenue generated by the market-based licenses funds the bulk of the very successful Block Management Hunter Access Program. In 1999 the Access Program was used by approximately 85,000 hunters who spent in excess of 250,000 hunter days in the field on BMAs. For the 2000 hunting season, approximately 1,015 landowners have enrolled nearly 8 million acres. Based on the committee recommendations, the management objectives of FWP and comments from sporting groups, outfitters, landowners and the general public, the following schedule of proposed prices and license numbers was adopted: Category Price Quota/Target General Public Big Game Combination* $478 11,500 Elk Combination** $428 Deer Combination*** $248 2,300 Outfitter Sponsor (Market Based) Big Game Combination $975 5,500 Elk Combination $875 Deer Combination $850 2,300 Landowner Sponsor Deer Combination $253 2,000 *The Big Game Combination License includes elk, deer A, upland game bird, fishing and conservation license. ** The Elk Combination License includes elk, upland game bird, fishing and conservation licenses. ***The Deer Combination License includes deer A, upland game bird, fishing and conservation licenses. To receive copies of the proposed license rule, people should contact FWP’s License Section in Helena at 444-2950. Comments on the proposed rule should be sent to the License Section, 1420 East Sixth Avenue, PO Box 200701, Helena MT 59620-0701 by October 31, 2000.