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When: Thursday, December 14 at 8:30 a.m.
Where: Montana State Capitol, Room 317, and virtually via Zoom
Meeting Agenda (PDF)
Watch: Recording of meeting
Public Meetings to Discuss Proposed Hunting Regulations
In preparation for the December meeting, FWP hosted a series of virtual and in-person public meetings around the state to present proposed hunting regulations for 2024/2025 hunting seasons found below.
The Commission will take public comment on the agenda items via Zoom and in person at the December meeting. The deadline to register to comment via Zoom, was noon on Wednesday, December 13.
December Meeting Topics and Commissioner Amendments
The public comment period for general topics at the December 2023 meeting closed at midnight on November 21. The public comment period for commissioner amendments closed at midnight on December 7. No further comments can be accepted.
The public is invited to attend the meeting in-person at the Capitol Building (Room 317), or any FWP regional office, to provide comment. Registration for comment online, via Zoom, is currently open until Noon on December 13.
The following amendments have been either proposed or sponsored by commissioners for the December 14 meeting:
Commissioner Brooke (PDF)
Public Comment (PDF)
Commissioner Brooke Sponsored Amendment (PDF)
Public Comment (PDF)
Commissioner Burrows (PDF)
No public comment received
Commissioner Cebull (PDF)
Commissioner Lane (PDF)
Public Comment (PDF)
Chair Robinson (PDF)
Public Comment (PDF)
Vice Chair Tabor (PDF)
Vice Chair Tabor 2 (PDF)
Vice Chair Tabor 3 (PDF)
Vice Chair Tabor 4 (PDF)
The public comment period on these amendments closed at midnight on December 7.
Comments on the following proposals were accepted through November 21, 2023, with final Commission action at the December commission meeting.
2024 and 2025 Bighorn Sheep Hunting Regulations, Season Structures, and Hunting District Boundaries
Coversheet (PDF)
Regulation Proposals (PDF)
Justifications (PDF)
Comments on the following proposals were accepted through November 21, 2023, with final Commission action at the December commission meeting.
2024 and 2025 Bison Hunting Regulations, Season Structures, and Hunting District Boundaries
Coversheet (PDF)
Regulation Proposals (PDF)
Justifications (PDF)
Comments on the following proposals were accepted through November 21, 2023, with final Commission action at the December commission meeting.
2024 and 2025 Moose Hunting Regulations, Season Structures, and Hunting District Boundaries
Coversheet (PDF)
Regulation Proposals (PDF)
Justifications (PDF)
Comments on the following proposals were accepted through November 21, 2023, with final Commission action at the December commission meeting.
2024 and 2025 Mountain Goat Hunting Regulations, Season Structures, and Hunting District Boundaries
Coversheet (PDF)
Regulation Proposals (PDF)
This topic has been removed from consideration by the commission at the December 2023 meeting. The topic, and all related documents, will be brought forward to the February 2024 meeting; again with ample time for public comment as well as review and consideration of those public comments by the commission.
Comments on the following proposals were accepted through November 21, 2023, with final Commission action at the December commission meeting.
Comments on Commissioner Brooke's proposed amendment and Chair Robinson's sponsored amendment will be accepted at FWComm@mt.gov through November 30th and comments MUST BE limited to the scope of the amendment.
Comments on Commissioner Cebull's proposed amendments will be accepted at FWComm@mt.gov through December 7 and comments MUST BE limited to the scope of the amendment.
2024 and 2025 Deer and Elk Hunting Regulations, Season Structures, and Hunting District Boundaries
Coversheet (PDF)
Regulation Proposals (PDF)
Justifications-Region 1 (PDF)
Justifications-Region 2 (PDF)
Justifications-Region 3 (PDF)
Justifications-Region 4 (PDF)
Justifications-Region 5 (PDF)
Justifications-Region 6 (PDF)
Public Comment - All other (PDF)
Comments on the following proposals were accepted through November 21, 2023, with final Commission action at the December commission meeting. Comments on Commissioner Lane's proposed amendment will be accepted at FWComm@mt.gov through November 30 and comments MUST BE limited to the scope of the amendment.
2024 and 2025 Antelope Hunting Regulations, Season Structures, and Hunting District Boundaries
Coversheet (PDF)
Regulation Proposals (PDF)
Justifications (PDF)
The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will move the review of proposed 2024-2025 black bear hunting regulations to its February meeting.
The change provides additional time for FWP to assess potential commission amendments to the FWP’s proposed black bear regulations, which have included statewide changes. The public comment period deadlines for the proposed black bear regulations and commission amendments will remain unchanged. Comments already submitted will be reviewed by commissioners prior to the February meeting, which is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 16.
The deadline for public comment on the amendments is December 7; the deadline for comments on the original proposals was November 21.
Comments on the following proposals were accepted through November 21, 2023, with final Commission action at the December commission meeting.
2024 and 2025 Mountain Lion Hunting Regulations, Season Structures, and Hunting District Boundaries
Coversheet (PDF)
Regulation Proposals (PDF)
Justifications (PDF)
Comments on the following proposals were accepted through November 21, 2023, with final Commission action at the December commission meeting.
2024 and 2025 Game Damage Management Season, Wildlife Health, and Urban Wildlife Quota Authorizations
Coversheet (PDF)
Comments on the following proposals were accepted through November 21, 2023, with final Commission action at the December commission meeting.
Translocation of marten to the North Bridger, Big Snowy, and Crazy mountains
Coversheet (PDF)
Comments on the following proposals were accepted through November 21, 2023, with final Commission action at the December commission meeting.
Request for approval of the Circle Urban Deer Management Plan
Coversheet (PDF)
Deer Plan (PDF)
Comments on the following proposals will be accepted in-person, or via Zoom comment, during the meeting on December 14. No comment will be accepted here since the official comments were taken and officially recorded during the MAPA process with the Secretary of State's office. There will be final commission action at the December commission meeting after the in-person and Zoom comments are considered during the meeting.
Consolidated Public Use Rules (ARM) for lands administered by FWP
Coversheet (PDF)
Draft Adoption Notice (PDF)
Public Comment (PDF)
Comments on the following proposals were accepted through November 21, 2023, with final Commission action at the December commission meeting.
Weapons restrictions for certain state parks
Coversheet (PDF)
Comments on the following proposals were accepted through November 21, 2023, with final Commission action at the December commission meeting.
2024-2025 Flathead Indian Reservation Non-Member Fishing and Bird Hunting Regulations
Coversheet (PDF)
Comments on the following proposals were accepted through November 21, 2023, with final Commission action at the December commission meeting.
Kelly Reservoir Illegal Fish Introduction Removal
Coversheet (PDF)
What follows are comments made to the Fish and Wildlife Commission that relate to topics not being considered in the December meeting. ALL public comments submitted within the defined public comment period are provided to the commissioners for review and consideration.
Public Comment - Regulations (PDF)
Public Comment - Wolves (PDF)
Public Comment - MWF re: Grizzly Bear (PDF)
Public Comment - ESC re: Grizzly Bear (PDF)
Public Comment - ESC Letter (PDF)
Public Comment - Mr. Perszyk re: Grizzly Bear (PDF)
Public Comment - Crossbows (PDF)
Public Comment - General (PDF)
There will be no public accepted online, via postal submission, email, or phone call since there was extensive time for public comment at the June commission meeting as well as through the official MAPA process with the Secretary of State's Office. All raw public comments will be posted in their entirety below as soon as they are compiled. Additional public comment will be accepted during the December meeting, either in-person or via Zoom registration which will open on December 1st.
Rulemaking Petition to Abolish the Brinkman Game Preserve
The following petitions will be reviewed at the December 14 meeting. Public comment can be made via Zoom (registration begins Dec. 1) or in-person at the Capitol or at one of the FWP Regional Offices during the meeting.
Comments on the following proposals will be accepted in-person, or via Zoom comment, during the meeting on December 14. No comment will be accepted here since the official comments were taken and officially recorded during the MAPA process with the Secretary of State's office. There will be final commission action at the December commission meeting after the in-person and Zoom comments are considered during the meeting. Registration for comment will be open on December 1.
Cover Sheet (PDF)
Draft Adoption Notice (PDF)
Comment - Greater Yellowstone Coalition (PDF)
This ARM Rule has been through the Secretary of State's MAPA process where public comment was collected as part of the official record. Public comment will be accepted during the meeting with the scope of the comment being only "for" or "against" final adoption of the rule.
Grizzly Bear ARM Rule
The following links provide documentation of the sent emails from each commissioner's state email account for the period of October 20 to December 12, 2023 inclusive. Emails sent to staff attorneys have been withheld to protect attorney-client privilege.
Commissioner Sent Emails
The commission may take action on all matters specifically noticed on any agenda.
Extensive opportunity is provided for public comment on hunting, fishing and trapping regulations. As a matter of equity for citizens who cannot attend commission meetings, when making final decisions on these regulations, the commission will not open public comment unless a significant amendment to the tentative proposal is brought forth by the commission or department. Comments will be limited to the amendment only. Time for comment may be limited at the Chair's discretion.
The department ensures its meetings are fully accessible to persons with disabilities and if special accomodations are needed, please contact the Commission Coordinator in the Director's Office at 406-444-7826 or by cell at 406-594-8921.