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FWP Proposing Changes To Elk Shoulder Season In Southcentral Montana

A herd of Elk.
Bob Danley
/
(CC BY-SA 2.0)
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is proposing to eliminate elk shoulder seasons in some parts of south-central Montana and replace them with "damage hunts."

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is holding four public meetings in south-central Montana in January to discuss hunting regulations and seasons for the next two years.

According to FWP spokesperson Bob Gibson, the biggest proposed change is removing elk shoulder seasons in most areas.

Elk shoulder seasons exist between regular hunting seasons and are implemented when there is an overpopulation of elk on private properties. The idea is to open up land that is not open during the regular hunting season.

The issue is that some private property owners want to partake in the season and some do not.

FWP is proposing “damage hunts,” where a property owner must contact FWP if they have an elk population issue on their property that they need taken care of.

FWP can then send hunters to the property. Hunters must purchase a specific “antlerless only” B-tag to partake in damage hunts.

Gibson expects this proposed change to be a “lively topic” in meeting rooms.

“Our biggest goal is for people to have an opportunity to read, understand and comment on the changes we’re proposing. Hunting isn’t just ecological; it’s political and public,” Gibson said.

FWP also plans to create more liberal deer hunting seasons during the rise of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).

Gibson says eliminating more of the deer population can help with preventing the spread of CWD.

Other proposed changes for 2020 can be found here.

Public meetings will be held at the following times and places:

  • Roundup – Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020 at the Musselshell County Central Commons, 610 2nd St. W.
  • Billings – Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, at FWP regional headquarters, 2300 Lake Elmo Dr.
  • Red Lodge – Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, at Mountain View School cafeteria.
  • Big Timber--Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, at the Carnegie Public Library downstairs meeting room, 314 McLeod Street.

FWP biologists will be accepting comments on proposed changes in the regulations for the 2020 and 2021 hunting season.
Comments can be submitted verbally at the meetings, online, email, or in writing mailed to FWP Wildlife Division, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.

The comment period will go until January 22.