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Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks hunting regulation proposals are available for public review and comment, with the exception of black bear, deer, and elk regulations. Those proposals will be available for public review and comment by Thursday.
The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will make a final decision on the regulations at their meeting Dec. 4 in Helena. The deadline for public comment on the regulation proposals is Nov. 23.
“Our staff is dedicated to working with hunters, landowners and other members of the public on developing these hunting regulation proposals,” said FWP Director Christy Clark. “This public comment period is a critical next step for Montanans who want a say in how hunting regulations look for the next two years.”
In Montana, the commission approves hunting regulations every two years (except furbearer and wolf trapping and hunting regulations are approved every year), during which regulations go through an expansive review that includes a lengthy public process starting in the spring and culminating with the commission meeting in December. The commission often addresses smaller changes to regulations on an annual basis.
This biennial public process involves scoping meetings around the state in the spring in which FWP staff hear from the public about things they’d like to see changed in the regulations. Staff take those suggestions and develop regulation proposals that are now out for public comment.
FWP staff are still working on the black bear, deer, and elk regulation proposals and those will be available for public review and comment by Thursday.
Commissioners can suggest amendments to the regulation proposals. If these amendments are offered before the meeting on Dec. 4, there will be an opportunity for written public comment. Commissioners can also propose amendments during their meeting on Dec. 4. The public can comment on all regulations proposals during the meeting.
Along with the hunting regulation proposals, the commission will take up the following agenda items:
Public meetings
FWP will be hosting public meetings around the state to discuss the regulation proposals, and answer questions. Formal comment on the proposals must be done online or via mail to the Fish and Wildlife Commission. These meetings will be held at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the following dates. The meetings at FWP regional offices will have a virtual option. More information on the meetings, including links for virtual options, can be found on the FWP website.
Public comment
Commenting on commission items can be done two ways, either through the online portal via the commission webpage or by mailing comments to Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission, P.O. Box 200701, Helena MT 59620-0701.