FWP seeks comment on hunting seasons

Residents interested in changes to the 2018 and 2019 hunting seasons have an opportunity to provide comments next week. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) is hosting a public meeting to discuss proposed changes 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, at the Lakeside Motel & Resort in Trout Creek.

FWP Biologist Bruce Sterling said there are no major changes to the hunting season structure in this area. Hunting dates and regulations are adopted every two years for most game species across Montana. The proposed changes are for 2018 and 2019.

Sterling said that if this winter turns out to be just as harsh as 2017, there may be changes to the deer season. He said it’s rare to get back-to-back hard winters, but that if the cold weather persists in the area, changes may be needed. He said any decisions in number of tags would be made after FWP completes harvest and animal surveys in the spring.

FWP is proposing to expand the youth hunt to four days prior to the start of the rifle season. The youth hunt the past two years has been limited to two days.

Sterling also noted that there haven’t been many bighorn sheep in the valley this winter. He said one ram was hit between Thompson Falls and Plains, but “it seems like sheep prefer higher, timbered ground when there’s more snow.”

A late anterless elk hunt began Nov. 27 and ends Feb. 15. This includes 20 tags for what was supposed to be the Heron Flats portion of district 121, excluding Stimson and Avista land. However, a glitch ended up having those tags listed for the entire district. Sterling did not have any details about harvest from the late hunt, but said they will after the spring surveys.

Sterling said that winter is not as hard on elk as it is on deer, and that even calves can withstand a tougher winter.

The meeting in Trout Creek is one of four being held in Northwest Montana. The others are Saturday, Jan. 6, in Kalispell; Tuesday, Jan. 16, in Libby, and Thursday, Jan. 18, in Eureka. Public comments may be submitted at the meetings or by mail to: FWP Wildlife Division, Attn: hunting season proposals, PO Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620. The proposed changes are available for review and comments can be submitted online at fwp.mt.gov/hunting under “Opportunity for Public Comment.”

The deadline to submit comments is 5 p.m. on Jan. 24. The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will review comments and recommendations and adopt final regulations at its Feb. 15 meeting in Helena.