FWP holds hunting regulation hearing
The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will hold the annual northwest Montana hearing on the 2006 tentative hunting regulations at the West Coast Hotel in Kalispell (formerly Cavanaughs), Kalispell Center Mall, on Saturday, Jan. 14.
FWP Commissioner Vic Workman of Whitefish noted that other informational meetings may be scheduled in other towns, but this is the main formal commission hearing for collecting public comment from hunters across Region 1. The attendance at this annual formal hearing averages about 200 and has been as high as 500.
Region 1 FWP Supervisor Jim Satterfield notes that the schedule calls for an open house to be held from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. FWP biologists and managers will be on hand to explain information on wildlife populations and proposed regulations. Satterfield urges all interested persons to attend the open house before the formal hearing so that their questions can be answered.
The formal hearing will begin at 10 a.m. Each member of the public who wishes to speak will have a time allotment for each tentative regulation.
Interested persons can also pick up a copy of the tentative regulations highlights at the FWP Headquarters on North Meridian Road in Kalispell and comment in writing.
According to FWP Wildlife Manager Jim Williams, several major changes are proposed for big game hunting regulations in Region 1 (northwest Montana, R-1). The public comment period on these 2006 tentative hunting regulations opens Dec. 21. The proposed changes include:
?A proposal to significantly reduce existing antlerless whitetail deer permits and instead create a single-region antlerless B-tag for whitetail deer, valid in all R-1 hunting districts; this tag could be purchased over-the-counter, one per resident hunter.
?Change to a "limited entry" mountain lion hunting strategy for most of R-1. Similar to moose, sheep and goats, harvest of lions would be by permit only; permits would be issued through a drawing. Since the chase season is established in Montana statute and not by the commission, the chase season would remain the same.
The demand for mountain lion hunting has significantly exceeded the supply that is established at the present time by an open quota. This race atmosphere has resulted in short seasons and lack of predictability for the harvest. This change is proposed to bring more of a biological basis into our mountain lion management program by improving harvest management and hunt logistics.
?Other changes for northwest Montana include: reductions in numbers of mountain goat permits in two hunting districts, expanding the Hunting District 170 over-the-counter whitetail antlerless permit area to add the Whitefish and Lone Pine areas, increase the number of moose tags in several districts, eliminate the Hunting District 132/170 late general antlerless elk season (per statewide direction), and eliminate the Hunting District 121 and 109 late elk season permits (per statewide direction).
Williams also said that there were several statewide proposals, such as age requirements for youth hunters, which would affect hunters here in Region One as well.
FWP Commissioner Vic Workman represents western Montana on the FWP Commission. He invites all hunters and interested persons to attend the meeting and present their views on proposed changes.
Copies of the tentative hunting regulations highlights can be picked up at the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks headquarters on North Meridian Road in Kalispell.
For more information, interested parties may also call 752-5501.