Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission Adopts Tentative Deer, Elk And Antelope Quotas

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The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission is seeking public comment on the tentatively adopted deer, elk and antelope quotas for the 2002 hunting season. Final quotas will be adopted at the FWP Commission’s August meeting.

The tentative deer quotas are essentially unchanged from last year except for some isolated increases or decreases in antlerless whitetail and mule deer B licenses in FWP Regions 2, 3 and 4. Antlered mule deer buck permits in hunting district 652 have been reduced from 125 to 100.

Mule deer winter and spring population surveys show that the total number of mule deer is at or above the long-term average in many of the areas surveyed. However, higher than average fawn losses in some portions of FWP Regions 3, 4, 5, 6,and 7 may have set the stage for isolated population declines in areas without good summer precipitation.

Tentative elk quotas are similar to last year’s, with a few exceptions. Tentative quotas for either sex and antlerless elk in the Beartooth Wildlife Management Area near Wolf Creek, hunting district 455, were significantly reduced because population numbers are under objective in this area. Reductions in either sex and antlerless elk quotas are also tentatively recommended in FWP Region 6 in the Missouri River Breaks hunting districts because these populations are down.

In the Sun River country near Choteau, the tentative antlerless and either sex elk quotas in hunting district 441 increased because this population is now above objective after three to four years of more restrictive quotas. In hunting district 339 the tentative recommendation is to increase the quota from 15 to 20 either sex elk.

Tentative antelope quotas are mainly unchanged from last year except that new doe and fawn permits have been recommended in hunting districts 215 and 381. Final quotas will reflect any changes observed in antelope populations during the annual July surveys.

Public comments should be emailed to: fwpwld@state.mt.us or submitted in writing to FWP Wildlife Division, 1420 East Sixth Ave., PO Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701 by July 22. The tentative quotas and any related material can be obtained by calling (406) 444-2612.