Scope
The scope of the group includes providing overarching elk management guidance for the state of Montana. Specific decisions regarding management tools, regional/hunting district specific strategies, or writing the Elk Management Plan are outside the scope of the group.
Duration and Time Commitment
The assembled group will be active for a limited time, likely 2-3 meetings that will occur late summer and fall of 2020. Meetings will follow Governor Steve Bullock’s Reopening the Big Sky Plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Selection Process
FWP solicited applications for the Elk Management Plan Initial Guidance Citizens Group over a 30-day period and received 59 applications. FWP deliberated extensively before recommending a subset that could provide a diversity of perspectives including that of landowners, outfitters, hunters, backcountry pack guides, fishing and hunting guides, and interested members of the public. The group represents different locations and elk management situations across Montana. Members were chosen to serve based on demonstrated ability to respectfully express an important and unique perspective and to hear others voices equally well, to think independently, and to lead effectively. Group members affiliated with organizations are expected to think independently and represent themselves rather than the organizations with which they are associated.
