Meetings will discuss proposed hunting regs

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host a series of virtual and in-person public meetings around the state to present proposed hunting regulations for 2024/2025 hunting seasons.

Every other year, broad changes to hunting regulations are considered through a public process that includes public scoping and comment on regulation changes proposed by FWP. Ultimately the Fish and Wildlife Commission adopts most hunting seasons for two-year intervals. This season-setting process looks at all aspects of hunting regulations, including season structure, regulations and hunting district boundaries.

The commission will vote on hunting regulations for the 2024/2025 hunting season during its Dec. 14 meeting, which will include the opportunity for the public to comment.

The proposed regulations maintain conservative measures FWP already put into place last year and earlier this year to address mule deer declines in parts of Montana.

To view proposed regulations and to comment, go to fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/commission/december-2023-meeting.

Public input was solicited through 34 public meetings during June and July where concepts for biennial season-setting were discussed. Seven hybrid virtual/in-person meetings are scheduled between Nov. 1 and Nov. 14. These meetings will be the public’s opportunity to ask questions about the regulation proposals. Comments will be taken online through the FWP website.

Public comment on the proposals will be accepted through Nov. 21. Prior to the Dec. 14 Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting, any of the commissioners can propose amendments to the FWP proposals. Any amendments will be discussed at the Dec. 14 meeting.

The public meetings schedule is as follows (all meetings are from 6 to 8 p.m.; Zoom links will be provided online at a later date):

Region 1 – Nov. 14, Region 1 Headquarters, 490 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell

Region 2 – Nov. 8, Region 2 Headquarters, 3201 Spurgin Road, Missoula