FWP to consider changes to Bitterroot hunting seasons
The Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission agreed to consider proposed changes to elk, deer, mountain lion, black bear and mountain goat seasons in the Bitterroot at its regular meeting last week.
Sportsmen will have a chance to offer their input at a pair of meetings coming up in January in Hamilton and Darby on the proposed seasons.
"There is a lot on the table this year in the Bitterroot," said FWP regional wildlife manager Mike Thompson. "With all the noise going on in the public arena, it's hard to draw a bead on what the average sportsmen and landowners want."With it being so loud on both ends of the spectrum, this is a year that we need to hear from people to help us shape things," Thompson said.
The proposed change likely to catch most sportsmen's eye is the proposal that would make all elk hunting in the East Fork of the Bitterroot by permit only.While there would be no limit to the number of permits issued by the state, hunters would have to give up their opportunity to put in for bull elk permits in places like the Missouri Breaks or the Elkhorn Mountains.
"The need is definitely there to protect those bulls in the East Fork," said Tony Jones, president of the Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife Association. "Right now, there are still a good number of cows left. If there's something we can do for the next two years and fix the bull/cow ratio, then we should consider it."
Another major change could happen with mountain lion hunting in the region. The state is considering changing mountain lion hunting in the Bitterroot from a permit-only season to a hybrid season that allows permit holders to hunt during the early part of the season and opens it up to anyone with a license in the later portion of the season until a set quota is met.
The idea was supported by Rep. Pat Connell, R-Corvallis."I look at this as a win/win," Connell said. "It will maintain quality hunting for houndsmen in the early portion of the season, but there will also be opportunity for outfitters and non-houndsmen in the later part."Connell said a study started this year on elk herd dynamics in the Bitterroot show that mountain lions are impacting elk calf numbers.
"The idea is not to eliminate predators, but we are looking to try get their numbers more back in balance with our elk populations," he said.
Another proposal calls for extending the black bear hunt to June 15 throughout the entire valley. Last year, that extended season was available only in a couple of hunting districts.
The opportunity to hunt mountain goats in the Bitterroot will decrease dramatically under another proposal that combines a number of hunting districts and lowers quotas.
"We do support that proposal," Jones said. "We need to find out why those numbers of goats is decreasing. I've been putting in for a permit for 25 years and now it's going to be even harder to get."
The final proposal would provide mule deer hunters with some additional opportunity for a wilderness hunt.It's really something of a plus that we could add some hunter opportunity with very little impact," Jones said.
The proposal calls for adding a two-week mule deer rifle hunting season inside the wilderness boundary between Oct. 1 and Oct. 15."We had it one time back in the mid-1990s, but it went away due a lack of hunter participation," Jones said. "With the situation we face now with less hunting opportunities, people might be more interested."
The Hamilton meeting will be held Jan. 9 at the Bitterroot River Inn from 6:30 to 9 p.m. In Darby, the meeting will be at the high school on Jan. 17 at the same times.
Following public comment, the commission will make a decision on which proposals to approve at its Feb. 16 meeting.
Sportsmen will have a chance to offer their input at a pair of meetings coming up in January in Hamilton and Darby on the proposed seasons.
"There is a lot on the table this year in the Bitterroot," said FWP regional wildlife manager Mike Thompson. "With all the noise going on in the public arena, it's hard to draw a bead on what the average sportsmen and landowners want."With it being so loud on both ends of the spectrum, this is a year that we need to hear from people to help us shape things," Thompson said.
The proposed change likely to catch most sportsmen's eye is the proposal that would make all elk hunting in the East Fork of the Bitterroot by permit only.While there would be no limit to the number of permits issued by the state, hunters would have to give up their opportunity to put in for bull elk permits in places like the Missouri Breaks or the Elkhorn Mountains.
"The need is definitely there to protect those bulls in the East Fork," said Tony Jones, president of the Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife Association. "Right now, there are still a good number of cows left. If there's something we can do for the next two years and fix the bull/cow ratio, then we should consider it."
Another major change could happen with mountain lion hunting in the region. The state is considering changing mountain lion hunting in the Bitterroot from a permit-only season to a hybrid season that allows permit holders to hunt during the early part of the season and opens it up to anyone with a license in the later portion of the season until a set quota is met.
The idea was supported by Rep. Pat Connell, R-Corvallis."I look at this as a win/win," Connell said. "It will maintain quality hunting for houndsmen in the early portion of the season, but there will also be opportunity for outfitters and non-houndsmen in the later part."Connell said a study started this year on elk herd dynamics in the Bitterroot show that mountain lions are impacting elk calf numbers.
"The idea is not to eliminate predators, but we are looking to try get their numbers more back in balance with our elk populations," he said.
Another proposal calls for extending the black bear hunt to June 15 throughout the entire valley. Last year, that extended season was available only in a couple of hunting districts.
The opportunity to hunt mountain goats in the Bitterroot will decrease dramatically under another proposal that combines a number of hunting districts and lowers quotas.
"We do support that proposal," Jones said. "We need to find out why those numbers of goats is decreasing. I've been putting in for a permit for 25 years and now it's going to be even harder to get."
The final proposal would provide mule deer hunters with some additional opportunity for a wilderness hunt.It's really something of a plus that we could add some hunter opportunity with very little impact," Jones said.
The proposal calls for adding a two-week mule deer rifle hunting season inside the wilderness boundary between Oct. 1 and Oct. 15."We had it one time back in the mid-1990s, but it went away due a lack of hunter participation," Jones said. "With the situation we face now with less hunting opportunities, people might be more interested."
The Hamilton meeting will be held Jan. 9 at the Bitterroot River Inn from 6:30 to 9 p.m. In Darby, the meeting will be at the high school on Jan. 17 at the same times.
Following public comment, the commission will make a decision on which proposals to approve at its Feb. 16 meeting.
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