FWP seeking comment on proposals for August commission meeting

Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting August 17, comment deadline July 24

HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on several proposals slated to go to the Fish and Wildlife Commission in August. Comment is open through July 24.

After public comment, commissioners can offer amendments to the proposals as they see fit. The proposals and supporting documents, commissioner amendments and collected public comment are available on the commission webpage.

The commission will make a final decision on these proposals at its meeting on Aug. 17.

Fall 2023–winter 2024 furbearer and wolf trapping and hunting seasons and quotas

FWP is proposing draft furbearer and wolf trapping and hunting regulations for the upcoming trapping and hunting season.

• Rename trapping districts, to be called regions. Trapping districts correspond with FWP regional boundaries and legal descriptions will remain the same. This will limit confusion about the applicability of quotas for hunters pursuing bobcats and wolves.
• FWP has detected a gradually declining trend in the statewide wolf population and predicts the proposed harvest quotas will continue that trend. Wolf harvest quotas are being proposed that sum to the average annual statewide harvest from the last five years, which is 289 wolves statewide, distributed as follows:
  • Region 1 – 120 wolves
  • Region 2 – 91 wolves
  • Region 3 – 52 wolves
  • Region 4 – 15 wolves
  • Regions 5 through 7 – 5 wolves
  • Wolf Management Unit 313 – 6 wolves
• Wolf trapping season floating start date that would apply to an area described as the mapped occupied grizzly bear range, which is based on a modeled occupancy based on known locations and exclusions of mathematical outliers. The mapped occupied grizzly bear range will be available for download through the FWP Hunt Mapper application for field use.
• Harvest data characteristics for bobcat indicate recruitment was limited in recent years in Regions 5 and 6. In response, reductions in harvest are recommended.
  • Recommend reducing the quota for bobcat within Region 5 from 100 to 50.
  • Recommend reducing the quota for bobcat within Region 6 from 50 to 25.
• Amending the closed area for marten in response to continued efforts to introduce these furbearers into formerly occupied habitat.
  • Marten trapping is closed in Wheatland and Judith Basin counties and those portions of Meagher and Cascade counties that are east of the Smith River or east of Highway 89 as it runs south from White Sulpher Springs that portion of Montana north of Interstate 90 and east of Interstate 15.

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

FWP is presenting a recommendation to allow any mountain lion license that is unfilled on March 1, 2024, to become eligible for use in any LMU that has not yet reached its quota.  This does not alter the bag limit or season dates for any LMU.

Beckman Wildlife Management Area (WMA) grazing lease renewal

FWP is asking for renewal of the Beckman WMA-Roe Ranch cooperative grazing lease for a three-year term beginning in April 2024. This lease renewal would help achieve habitat objectives for the WMA and adjacent private lands in cooperation with a local ranch operation.

Blackleaf WMA Grazing Lease Renewal

FWP is asking for approval of the Blackleaf WMA lease for an eight-year term beginning in June 2024. This approach would help achieve wildlife habitat objectives for the WMA while cooperating with an adjacent livestock producer.

City of Geraldine Urban Deer Management Plan

FWP is looking to proceed with proposed City of Geraldine Urban Deer Management Action Plan. The plan as written will allow peace officers and city employees trained with firearms to remove problematic deer selectively and safely within city limits. No effect on the overall deer population within the surrounding hunting districts of 447 and 471 is anticipated.

Property acquisition for a new Havre field office

FWP is proposing the purchase of the property at 21 River Road in Havre for a new field office.

Town of Philipsburg Urban Deer Management Plan

FWP is looking to proceed with proposed Town of Philipsburg Deer Management Action Plan. The plan as written will allow peace officers trained with firearms to remove problematic deer selectively and safely within town limits. The town may take additional steps to limit or reduce overall deer density within town limits. No effect on the overall deer population within the surrounding hunting districts of 210 and 212 is anticipated.

Future Fisheries Improvement Program (FFIP) projects, summer 2023 funding cycle

Approval of FFIP Citizen Review Panel funding recommendations for the summer 2023. FFIP funding continues to restore rivers, streams, and lakes to improve Montana's wild fish habitats by providing funding for projects that revitalize wild fish populations.

Nongame wildlife account workplan for fiscal year 2024

Endorsement of the proposed workplan for the nongame wildlife account that includes the marijuana tax revenue. The workplan puts emphasis on finding ways to minimize impacts of Endangered Species Act listings on landowners, recreationists and other user groups.

Grizzly bear ARM rule

FWP is looking for approval of draft language to amend current ARM rule 12.9.1401 and create additional new rules. The language was drafted after Senate Bill 295 passed during the 2023 Legislative Session and became law. The law clarifies how Montana will manage grizzly bears once they are delisted. The law focuses on human safety, conflict with livestock and genetic exchange. The law also requires the commission to adopt rules prior to delisting. 

The proposed rules look to solidify how FWP plans to manage grizzly bears, particularly as it pertains to mortalities related to livestock conflicts and genetic interchange between the recovery zones. If the commission approves, FWP will initiate the ARM process as outlined in statute.

Wolf ARM rule

FWP is looking for approval of draft language to amend current ARM 12.9.1303.  Current ARM 12.9.1303 addresses nonlethal and lethal control methods consistent with the Montana Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Plan. Given Montana’s wolf management plan is being reviewed for potential changes and updates, any specific ARM reference to the first (current) wolf plan should be edited to represent the reality of plan evolution over time.

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

The commission will select conservation organizations to conduct moose, sheep, goat, mule deer and elk license auctions or lotteries. The 2023 species auction licenses were awarded to: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation – elk; Mule Deer Foundation – mule deer; Wild Sheep Foundation – bighorn sheep; Safari Club International Great Falls – goat; and Montana Ducks Unlimited – moose. The licenses were auctioned at fundraising events or online auctions.

To comment and for more information on these proposals, go online to https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/commission/august-2023-meeting.

 

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