State wants comments on new elk management plan

Elk hunters who are interested in how the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks manage elk have the opportunity to weigh in on the new draft elk management plan.

The public is encouraged to comment online if they cannot attend a public meeting for discussion.

Liz Bradley, wildlife manager for Region 2, and Ryan Klimstra, Missoula area biologist, shared information on elk numbers, predictions, habitat and access to private property recently to about a dozen hunters in the multi-purpose room of Superior High School.

The conversation began with Bradley asking the group some questions for feedback as the state agency is in the gathering stage for future decisions; not only about elk but mule deer and large carnivores.

“We are scoping questions in all seven regions as we’d like to know what you’d like to see from us as well as what you feel we are doing right,” she said.

She said that, “Knock on wood, CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) isn’t in Region 2 but it is close by and we’d like to hear your thoughts on ways for FWP to test more mule deer and white-tailed deer.”

Also, the aging of deer is something they need more information on. One idea is that hunters voluntarily mail in a tooth from their harvest to determine its age and see if mule deer buck permit areas are producing more older age deer or are hunters taking younger bucks.

Concerns about MKH Montana being locked up were shared, as well as the possibility of a two-week archery season before the rifle season for moose and goats (bighorn sheep already have the two-week archery season). Incidentally, the Petty Creek herd has well over 130 sheep and there are around 55 in the Bonner area, but no tags are issued there.

After the Q&A conversation, Klimstra began his part on the research that he and others have obtained on the three hunting districts in Mineral County.

HD 200 in the west end has a goal of supporting 240-360 elk. What’s needed is to improve habitat on public land. Not private, but public. Over 90% of Mineral County is public land being federal, state or county and this area needs habitat help.

“Prescribed burns are effective for restoration of habitat,” Kilmstra said. “But the window to perform safe burns is very short so we can’t rely on this method only.”

Expanding carnivore hunting is on the table if objectives are not met for many consecutive surveys. And because of the remoteness of the district, they are looking at a better method of monitoring the harvest.

West and south of I-90 to just east of Alberton sits HD 202. FWP’s research indicates that between 400 and 600 elk with three sub-objectives, could thrive in this area. This is a large chunk of property where they are working with private landowners for elk security and habitat improvement.

The topic of expanding carnivore hunting when not meeting objectives is another option as they work to maintain acceptable distribution of wapiti and provide opportunity for hunters. Here, FWP is working with public land managers to improve habitat and with private landowners to increase access.

Kilmstra also shared that the aerial survey wasn’t as successful as he’d hoped due to the green-up, fog, no-fly-days all contributed to a less than enthusiastic critter-count. He said they are aware that this district has limited habitat along with a high density of large carnivores.

Here the conversation went to, “How do we get more folks involved in trapping? Those who like to trap are doing it, so what does it take to encourage more trapping.”

The expansion of HD 201 isn’t sitting well with many hunters and some in the room expressed their disappointment in that move. The state agency wants to maintain 1,600-2,400 elk with a sub-objective of 170-250 in the north hills just outside Missoula. Housing developments are causing issues and possibly developing urban elk which will be a problem if they become a nuisance.

This area has seen boom and bust with elk populations and FWP believes this is mainly because they move long distances at times and then might return in smaller bunches. Landowner permission and special hunts around the Butler Creek drainage is a possibility, as well as more cow tags distributed.

But how many towns can boast about an elk herd to view on a mountain just outside the city limits? Next winter go to the third floor of the Missoula library and use the spotting scope set up by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for a unique experience.

With the new draft elk plan, FWP aims to balance habitat capacity, landowner tolerance and elk hunter feedback on their desired hunting experience in crafting population goals for each hunting district. Elk goals look at population numbers, as well as bull-to-cow ratios as a way of meeting this balance. The public is invited to comment on the plan and the deadline is July 31.