FWP Seeks Comment On Hunting Quotas And Limits

Print

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission is seeking comment on tentatively approved hunting harvest quotas for the upcoming deer, elk and antelope seasons and for upland game bird limits.

Most big game harvest quotas and upland game bird bag limits are similar to those in effect last year.

The tentatively approved sage grouse bag limit, however, is set at three for 2007. The sage grouse bag limit was four last season.

Because antelope population surveys are conducted in July, adjustments to the antelope quotas are possible. Also related to antelope, the commission decided to open Montana’s 2007 general antelope hunting season on Oct. 7, a week earlier than the date listed in Montana’s big game hunting regulations.

Proposed big game quota changes for 2007 include:

Deer

Region 1—Northwestern Montana

o        HD 100-00 – increase antlerless white-tailed deer B licenses from 500 to 600

o        HD 101-00 – increase antlerless white-tailed deer B licenses from 600 to 750

o        HD 103-00 – increase antlerless white-tailed deer B licenses from 400 to 500

o        HD 104-00 – increase antlerless white-tailed deer B licenses from 400 to 500

o        HD 109-00 – increase antlerless white-tailed deer B licenses from 300 to 400

o        HD 120-00 – increase antlerless white-tailed deer B licenses from 300 to 500

o        HD 130-00 – increase antlerless white-tailed deer B licenses from 500 to 650

Region 3—Southwestern Montana

o        HD 318-00 – decrease antlerless mule deer B licenses from 50 to 25

o        HD 326-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 500 to 800

o        HD 331-01 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 150 to 250

o        HD 335-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 150 to 200

o        HD 339-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 250 to 350

o        HD 343-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 250 to 300

o        HD 360-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 25 to 75

o        HD 391-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 50 to 100

o        HD 392-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 50 to 100

Region 4—Central Montana

o        HD 400-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 700 to 900

o        HD 401-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 400 to 600

o        HD 404-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 800 to 1200

o        HD 406-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 400 to 600

o        HD 410-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 300 to 600

o        HD 411-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 600 to 800

o        HD 412-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 600 to 800

o        HD 413-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 500 to 600

o        HD 417-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 300 to 400

o        HD 419-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 125 to 300

o        HD 432-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 300 to 400

o        HD 441-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 150 to 500

o        HD 445-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 500 to 600

Region 5—South-central Montana

o        HD 530-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 200 to 500

o        HD 530-01 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 120 to 250

o        HD 570-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 100 to 300

Region 6—Northeastern Montana

o        HD 600-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 200 to 500

o        HD 611-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 300 to 500

o        HD 620-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 300 to 600

o        HD 630-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 650 to 800

o        HD 640-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 300 to 400

o        HD 652-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 25 to 100

o        HD 670-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 600 to 1000

o        HD 680-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 300 to 500

o        HD 690-00 – increase antlerless mule deer B licenses from 300 to 500

o        HD 699-00 – increase antlerless white-tailed deer B licenses from 2,500 to 3,500

Elk  

Region 1—Northwestern Montana

o        HD 101-00 – increase antlerless permits from 10 to 20

o        HD 109-00 – increase antlerless permits from 25 to 35

o        HD 110-00 – increase antlerless permits from 5 to 25

o        HD 121-00 – increase antlerless permits from 550 to 800

 

Region 3—Southwestern Montana

o        HD 302-10 – increase brow-tined bull/antlerless permits from 300 to 400

o        HD 313-11 – decrease either sex permits from 48 to 24

o        HD 318-00 – increase antlerless permits from 75 to 100

o        HD 332-20 – reduce either sex permits from 300 to 250

 

Region 4—Central Montana

o        HD 401-00 – increase antlerless permits from 100 to 200

o        HD 410-00 – decrease antlerless permits from 600 to 400

o        HD 410-80 – decrease antlerless B licenses from 600 to 400

o        HD 412-00 – increase antlerless permits from 100 to 150

o        HD 412-20 – increase either sex permits from 40 to 60

o        HD 425-00 – increase antlerless permits from 20 to 30

o        HD 425-01 – increase antlerless permits from 25 to 35

o        HD 425-02 – increase antlerless permits from 30 to 40

o        HD 425-20 – decrease either sex permits from 5 to 2

o        HD 445-20 – increase either sex permits from 40 to 50

o        HD 455-00 – increase antlerless permits from 25 to 50

o        HD 455-20 – increase either sex permits from 70 to 75

 

Region 5—South-central Montana

o        HD 570-20 – increase either sex permits from 10 to 25

 

Region 6—Northeastern Montana

o        HD 621-00 – increase youth antlerless permits from 50 to 100

o        HD 680-80 – decrease antlerless B licenses from 50 to 5

o        HD 690-00 – increase youth antlerless permits from 5 to 25

o        HD 690-20 – increase either sex permits from 25 to 30

o        HD 690-80 – increase antlerless B licenses from 100 to 150

Antelope

Region 3—Southwestern Montana

o        HD 310-00 – increase either sex licenses from 175 to 200

o        HD 310-10 – increase doe/fawn licenses from 100 to 150

  Comments on deer and elk quotas and upland game bird bag limits must be received by June 22. The commission will take final action on these items at its July 19 meeting in Dillon. Comments on antelope quotas are due by July 12 and final commission action is set for Aug. 2 in Helena. Send comments to Wildlife Division, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701, or E-mail to fwpwld@mt.gov .