Archived Story

All-day hearing Saturday on possible hunting rules
By MICHAEL JAMISON of the Missoulian

KALISPELL - State wildlife officials want to know what you think about hunting wolves, and about increasing the number of sheep tags near Thompson Falls, and about creating a bowhunter-only zone east of Libby.

And what about allowing disabled hunters to shoot for both whitetail does and bucks all season long, right from their rigs?

Those are just a handful of the changes being proposed for Montana's 2008-2009 hunting season, which will be discussed at a Saturday meeting in Kalispell.

The all-day hearing on next season's proposed hunting regulations is set for downtown Kalispell, at the Red Lion Hotel, and will have on hand staffers from the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to provide information and take suggestions on the proposals.

Vic Workman, the FWP commissioner representing western Montana, also will attend to gather public comment. Although other meetings may be scheduled, he said, the Jan. 12 hearing is the primary forum for collecting comment from hunters in Region 1.

During the open house - from 9-10 a.m. - wildlife managers will detail the various alternatives, explaining the rationale behind each proposed change. Then, beginning at 10 a.m., the floor will be opened for public comment.

Among the changes to be discussed:

Statewide:

Keep the traditional five-week big-game season that ends the Sunday after Thanksgiving, or initiate a fixed-date season that would open and close on the same date each year.

Replace the unlimited 900-series antelope archery licenses with 4,500 tags available through special drawing.

Limit elk archery permits in places where elk rifle permits are currently limited. Also, allow area-specific unlimited antlerless elk archery permits through special drawing.

Create a wolf hunting season, contingent upon suspension of federal protections.

Establish a youth pheasant season for the weekend prior to the general opener.

Region 1:

Convert antlerless mule deer permits to antlerless mule deer B licenses.

Allow disabled hunters, who hold a permit to hunt from a vehicle, to hunt both doe and buck whitetails all season.

Adjust the boundaries of Hunting District 170 (east of Kalispell), and raise the number of antlerless whitetail deer licenses there to five per hunter; also, eliminate the Old Steel Bridge and Stillwater Game Preserve closures.

Add 10 bighorn sheep ewe permits near Thompson Falls.

Establish an archery-only hunting area east of Libby.

Implement a preference point system for R-1 mountain lion permits.

Adjust R-1 turkey hunting permits by adding fall either-sex licenses in Lincoln County; adding 400 gobbler permits for spring season; creating both west and east seasons in Sanders County; offering either-sex licenses in west Sanders County.

Details on the proposed changes are available at fwp.mt.gov. Just click “2008-2009 Tentative Hunting Regulations” under the “For Hunters” category.

Or pick up a full copy of the alternatives at the Kalispell FWP office. Those who cannot make the Jan. 12 meeting may comment in writing, online or through the mail.

Addresses are fwpwld@mt.gov; or Big Game Regs, Wildlife Division, Montana FWP, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620. Comments must be received by Feb. 1, 2008.

The FWP Commission is expected to adopt final hunting regulations at its Feb. 20 meeting in Helena.
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