Comments on the following proposed were accepted through July 24, 2023, with final adoption at the August commission meeting.

Town of Philipsburg Urban Deer Management Plan

• Coversheet (PDF)

• Deer Plan (PDF)

• Deer Ordinance (PDF)

• Mayor's Letter (PDF)

• MCA 7-31-4110 (PDF)

Comments on the following proposed were accepted through July 24, 2023, with final adoption at the August commission meeting.

City of Geraldine Urban Deer Management Plan

• Coversheet (PDF)

• Deer Plan (PDF)

• MCA 7-31-4110 (PDF)

Comments on the following proposed were accepted through July 24, 2023, with final adoption at the August commission meeting.

Future Fisheries Improvement Program projects, Summer 2023 funding cycle

• Coversheet (PDF)

• Memo (PDF)

• Project Prioritization (PDF)

• Recommendations (PDF)

Comments on the following proposed were accepted through July 24, 2023, with final adoption at the August commission meeting.

Property Acquisition for a new Havre Field Office 

• Coversheet (PDF)

• Havre Office DN (PDF)

• Public Comment (PDF)

Comments on the following proposed were accepted through July 24, 2023, with final adoption at the August commission meeting.

Selection of organizations to auction 2024 moose, sheep, goat, mule deer, and elk licenses 

• Coversheet (PDF)

• Public Comment (PDF)

The following are the list of applicants. They are listed alphabetically for ease of reference.

• BHA.zip (Zip File)

• CA Wild Sheep (Zip File)

• Ducks Unlimited (Zip File)

• GSCO (Zip File)

• MOGA EI (Zip File)

• Mule Deer Foundation (Zip File)

• One Montana (Zip File)

• RMEF (Zip File)

• RMGA (Zip File)

• SCI Great Falls (Zip File)

• Wild Sheep Foundation (Zip File)

Comments on the following proposed were accepted through July 24, 2023, with final adoption at the August commission meeting.

Beckman Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Grazing Lease renewal, Region 4

• Coversheet (PDF)

• Beckman EA (PDF)

• Beckman DN (PDF)

• Beckman Maps (PDF)

Comments on the following proposed were accepted through July 24, 2023, with final adoption at the August commission meeting.

Blackleaf WMA Grazing Lease Renewal, Region 4 

• Coversheet (PDF)

• Blackleaf EA (PDF)

• Blackleaf DN (PDF)

• Blackleaf Maps (PDF)

Comments on the following proposed were accepted through July 24, 2023, with final adoption at the August commission meeting.

Fall 2023–Winter 2024 Furbearer and Wolf Trapping and Hunting Seasons and Quotas 

• Coversheet (PDF)

• Wolf Regulations Map 2023 (PDF)

• Proposed Language Based on Settlement Agreement (PDF)

• Amendment to Regulations by Commission Sponsor (PDF)

• Proposed Amendment by Vice Chair Tabor (PDF)

• Department Response to Tabor's Proposal (PDF)

• Additional Wolf Harvest Model Runs (PNG)

• Wolf Quotas Annual Review (PDF)

• Wolf Harvest Historical (PDF)

• Public Comment (PDF)

Comments on the following proposed were accepted through July 24, 2023, with final adoption at the August commission meeting.

Nongame Wildlife Account Workplan for FY2024 

• Coversheet (PDF)

• Public Comment (PDF)

Comments on the following proposed were accepted through July 24, 2023, with final adoption at the August commission meeting.

Mountain lion season structure and quotas for fall 2023–winter 2024 

• Coversheet (PDF)

• Public Comment (PDF)

The public will have a chance to submit oral and written comments on the draft rule language once the draft rules are published in the Montana Administrative Register (MAR), consistent with the Montana Administrative Procedure Act (MAPA) Rulemaking process and the Secretary of State's (SOS) rulemaking procedure. FWP will send out a notice and press release when the draft rules are published in the MAR and the written public comment period opens. FWP will also give specific instructions on how to submit the written comments and the date and location of the public hearing for oral comments on the proposed draft rules/amendments. Written and oral comments submitted during the MAPA/SOS rulemaking process become part of the record of rulemaking, and are considered by the Commission prior to any action (including adoption/amendment) on the draft rules. FWP will collect all of those written and oral public comments submitted through that MAPA/SOS process and put them in front of the Commission for consideration and discussion before the Commission takes any final action on the proposed adoption/amendment of the rules. People may be allowed short oral comments on this agenda item at this Commission meeting, but any such comments during the meeting will not become part of the rulemaking record (as that is governed by the MAPA and SOS process) and will not be put in front of the Commission with the other comments submitted as part of the rulemaking record. Any oral public comments given at this meeting must be limited to the decision before the Commission at this time, which is: should these draft rules and amendments go through the formal MAPA/SOS rulemaking process (which will include an additional public comment period)?

Amendments to Administrative Rules of Montana addressing grizzly bears

• Coversheet (PDF)

• SB 295 (PDF)

• ARM Policy (PDF)

• ARM Drafting (PDF)

The public will have a chance to submit oral and written comments on the draft rule language once the draft rules are published in the Montana Administrative Register (MAR), consistent with the Montana Administrative Procedure Act (MAPA) Rulemaking process and the Secretary of State's (SOS) rulemaking procedure. FWP will send out a notice and press release when the draft rules are published in the MAR and the written public comment period opens. FWP will also give specific instructions on how to submit the written comments and the date and location of the public hearing for oral comments on the proposed draft rules/amendments. Written and oral comments submitted during the MAPA/SOS rulemaking process become part of the record of rulemaking, and are considered by the Commission prior to any action (including adoption/amendment) on the draft rules. FWP will collect all of those written and oral public comments submitted through that MAPA/SOS process and put them in front of the Commission for consideration and discussion before the Commission takes any final action on the proposed adoption/amendment of the rules. People may be allowed short oral comments on this agenda item at this Commission meeting, but any such comments during the meeting will not become part of the rulemaking record (as that is governed by the MAPA and SOS process) and will not be put in front of the Commission with the other comments submitted as part of the rulemaking record. Any oral public comments given at this meeting must be limited to the decision before the Commission at this time, which is: should these draft rules and amendments go through the formal MAPA/SOS rulemaking process (which will include an additional public comment period)?

Amendments to Administrative Rule of Montana (ARM) 12.9.1303 (Control Methods of the Gray Wolf Include Nonlethal and Lethal Means)

• Coversheet (PDF)

• ARM Amendment (PDF)

Comments on the following proposed were accepted through July 24, 2023, with final adoption at the August commission meeting.

Consolidated public use rules (ARM) for lands administered by FWP.

• Coversheet (PDF)
• Proposed Language (PDF)

Comments on the following proposed were accepted through July 24, 2023, with final adoption at the August commission meeting.

Block Management Administrative Rule (ARM) Update

• Coversheet (PDF)
• Public Comment (PDF)

Comments on the following proposed were accepted through July 24, 2023, with final adoption at the August commission meeting.

Contractual Public Elk Hunting Access Agreements (EHA) Administrative Rule (ARM) Update

• Coversheet (PDF)
• Public Comment (PDF)

Comments on the following proposed will be accepted either in-person, or via Zoom, at the August commission meeting.

Implement smallmouth bass catch, kill, and report regulation on lower Bitterroot River

• Coversheet (PDF)
• Memo (PDF)
• ARM language (PDF)

Public comments received during the stated comment period, June 26 to July 24, will be posted below for review.  These comments are taken from postal submissions, email, and online surveys.

Public Comments (PDF)