Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is taking public comment on several items, including brucellosis, forest management, setting hunting seasons, proposed changes in fishing regulations, and proposed ice fishing contests.
Further information, on the items is provided below. Additional clarification and materials can be provided by calling the Wildlife Division office at 406-444-2612 or emailing fwpwld@mt.govor the Fisheries Division at fwpfsh@mt.gov.
Public comments can be submitted electronically or by mail. Both fishing and wildlife comments can be mailed to MT Fish, Wildlife and Parks, P.O. Box 200701, Helena MT 59620. Please mail fisheries related comments to the attention of the Fisheries Division, Don Skaar and Wildlife related comments to the attention of the Wildlife Division. Fishing comments can also be sent electronically to FWP Fishing. Wildlife comments can be electronically sent tofwpwld@mt.gov, or you can click on any of the following links:
Brucellosis Proposed 2018 Annual Work Plan (http://fwp.mt.gov/
FWP Draft Forest Management Plan (http://fwp.mt.gov/
Public Scoping – Biennial Season Setting for the 2018-19 Hunting Seasons)
http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/
The brucellosis proposed 2018 annual work plan
In January 2013, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission endorsed elk management recommendations from a citizen working group for use in areas with brucellosis (the designated surveillance area as described by the Montana Department of Livestock). Annual work plans describe specific management actions available for implementation based upon these recommendations.
Management efforts during 2016/2017 included fencing two stackyards in the Dillon area, hazing efforts in the Paradise Valley and west of Bozeman, and limited kill permits in the Paradise Valley (no elk were killed).
The proposed 2018 annual work plan largely restates the 2017 plan to include hazing, limited fencing, limited lethal removal of elk, habitat modifications, and other efforts to adjust elk distribution away from cattle at small scales to mitigate the risk of brucellosis transmission from elk to cattle.
The proposed 2018 plan also clarifies/restates elements of the previous work plan, adds fence modifications to reduce impacts to existing fences when hazing elk away from cattle, and aligns the dates of the high-risk period with Department of Livestock dates for the same period (Feb. 16 – July 15).
Comment on the brucellosis annual work plan will be taken until 5 p.m. Sept. 18.
FWP draft forest management plan
Almost 200,000 acres of forested lands are distributed amongst 170 different sites including fishing access sites, fisheries conservation areas, wildlife management areas, wildlife habitat protection areas, and state parks. FWP's draft forest management plan is a programmatic approach designed to provide consistent management direction and guidance for developing property-specific forest management plans, implementing forest management projects, and identifying forest management priorities. This plan applies to all forested land under fee-title ownership administered by FWP.
Comment on the draft forest management plan will be taken until 5 p.m. Sept. 18. The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission could take up the plan again early in 2018.
Biennial season setting process (2018-2019 hunting seasons)
In Montana, hunting seasons can be changed every two years. Between Aug. 23 and Sept. 24FWP will reach out to local sporting groups, work groups, citizens advisory committees, interested individuals, and more on any recommendations for season changes and encourage comment and additional ideas and through an on-line survey. Following this scoping, additional opportunity to comment on season proposals presented to the Fish and Wildlife Commission are encouraged in December.
Comment on the biennial season setting process will be taken until Sept. 24 at 5 p.m.
Proposed fishing regulation changes
The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission recently approved five proposed changes for the 2018 Fishing Regulations for public comment.
Changes that have been proposed are:
Prohibiting the harvest and possession of Western Pearl Shell Mussels from the Western and Central Fishing Districts.
Establishing a catch and release regulation for Arctic Grayling on Handkerchief Lake in the South Fork Flathead River drainage.
Prohibiting the collection and use of live bait from waters in the Rock Creek drainage portion of the Clarks Fork Yellowstone River drainage.
Expansion of the time and location that fishing is allowed for trout on the upper portions of the Big Hole River.
Reinstitute the seasonal closure on Little Prickly Pear Creek and tributaries to protect this spawning tributary for rainbow and brown trout in the Missouri River system.
The comment period will be Aug. 21 through Sept. 21. People may view the proposed changes and rationale on the FWP website at: fwp.mt.gov/news/publicNotices/
2017-2018 ice fishing contests proposed
Each year, groups and organizations around Montana celebrate a treasured winter tradition with local ice fishing contests.
These contests are permitted by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks through a public process to ensure the contest meet regulations and will have no negative impact to the fishery.
Not only are these contests, or derbies, a fun way to fish Montana's waters year around, but they often support a great local cause.
"Ice fishing is just one of the many ways Montanans enjoy winter months in Big Sky Country and these contests are one of the many fishing opportunities we manage at FWP," said Eileen Ryce, Fisheries Administrator for FWP.
Public comment on the fishing contests should be emailed to fwpfsh@mt.gov by Sept. 21.
The following are the ice fishing contests and dates proposed for the coming winter:
Northwestern Montana, Region 1
Dec. 30 Sunriser Lions Family Fishing Derby - Smith Lake
Dec. 31 Wild West Panfish Trail - McWennegar Slough
Jan. 7 Wild West Panfish Trail - Blanchard Lake
Jan. 20-21 Perch Assault - Lake Mary Ronan
Jan. 20-21 Bull Lake Ice Fishing Derby - Bull Lake
Jan. 27-28 Fisher River Valley Fire/Rescue Winter Fishing Derby - Thompson Chain of Lakes
Feb. 1-24 Perch Pounder - All R1 Lakes
Feb. 4 Wild West Panfish Trail - Echo Lake
Feb. 10 Ryan Wagner Memorial Ice Fishing Derby - Murphy Lake
Feb. 17 Snappy's Lake Mary Ronan Perch and Salmon Derby - Lake Mary Ronan
Feb. 24 Canyon Kids Christmas Fund Fishing Derby - Lion Lake
Feb. 24-25 Perch Assault – Middle Thompson Lake
South Central Montana, Region 3
Jan. 14 Hebgen Lake NAIFC Qualifier - Hebgen Lake
Jan. 27 Stan Shafer Memorial Ice Fishing Derby - Clark Canyon Reservoir
North Central Montana, Region 4
Jan. 13 Valier Area Development Ice Fishing Derby - Lake Frances
Jan. 20 Western Bar Willow Creek Fishing Derby - Willow Creek Reservoir
Jan. 20-21 Central Montana Perch Derby - Eastfork Reservoir
Jan. 27-28 Broadwater Lions Perch Derby - Canyon Ferry
Jan. 28 Ackley Lake Club Ice Fishing Derby – Ackley Lake
Northeastern Montana, Region 6
Jan. 27 Ice Classic Fishing Tournament - Nelson Reservoir
Jan. 27-28 Fresno Ice Derby – Fresno Reservoir or First Lake
Feb. 10 Hell Creek Marina Ice Fishing Tournament - Fork Peck Reservoir - Hell Creek Bay