Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks state commission votes on proposals

Last week on February 16, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks commission met to determine what was needed to be adjusted for the upcoming hunting season. The changes that were discussed included those mentioned at the Fish, Wildlife and Parks meeting in Kalispell for personnel involved in the Region One area.

While not all changes to Region One have been released, one change for sure will be in the black bear hunting season. The black bear seasons were approved as recommended with the season ending date extended to May 31 in BMUs 100, 102, 104, 105, 108. The validation requirements in the Region One season were eliminated.

This was only one of the actions taken on the 2012-2013 hunting season. Other actions that were approved were more conservative moose seasons in Region One as well as reduced deer and antelope quotas that were consistent changes throughout the state.

As far as overall changes that were approved at the committee meeting, one was allowing hunter education students and nonresidents that did not have an opportunity to purchase a license before March 15 will get a second chance. They will be able purchase a permit for an unlimited permit are after March 15.

While there were changes approved by the committee, there were some statewide ideas that weren’t approved or were voted down. This included denying a petition requesting an administrative rule banning personal watercraft on Upper Thompson Lake. Other suggestions that were voted down included increasing lion quotas in hunting district 250 as well as not extending the wolf season in hunting district 250. 

These are only a few results of the February 16 commission meeting. This story will be updated as more information is released.