Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' Bighorn Sheep Restoration Advisory Panel will hold its first in-person meeting on Oct. 22 and 23 at the Region 3 Office in Bozeman.
The meeting will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, and from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23. Meeting times are approximate and subject to change.
The meeting will also be broadcast over Zoom. The link to join and comment over Zoom, the meeting agenda, and additional background materials are available on the FWP website here.
The advisory panel was convened to provide input and recommendations on strategies for restoring bighorn sheep populations in Montana, particularly in areas that are predominantly private land. The recommendations will address state management authority, public hunting opportunities and stakeholder concerns, including those of private landowners. If adopted, the recommendations would guide FWP's evaluation of potential restoration projects alongside its Bighorn Sheep Conservation Strategy.
During the meeting, panel members will review their purpose and charge, discuss informational materials, and work in small and large groups to define the restoration issues the framework will address and develop objectives. The panel will also discuss next steps and plans for future meetings.
FWP recognizes the public's interest in bighorn sheep conservation and encourage their participation in this advisory process. Members of the public are invited to listen in and will have an opportunity to provide comments during a designated public comment period each day.
For more information about this advisory panel or the upcoming meeting, please contact Kelly Proffitt at kproffitt@mt.gov.