What is going on in Montana? Currently, their Dept of Wildlife allows 500 Cougars to be killed annually in the State...............And now they want to increase the quota and up the number of females that can be killed? Going, going gone for our Rocky Mountain Pumas?

Montana Seeks Public Comment on "Surplus Quota" Cougar kill Increase 

The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comments on their proposed mountain lion sport hunting quotas (the maximum number of lions allowed to be killed) for the 2011 season. Many of the hunting zones are planning to increase their overall quotas, as well as up the number of females that can be killed. The overall lion quota for the state of Montana exceeds 500 lions every single year. This is drastically more than biologists recommend, and there is no science to prove the lion population can sustain this hammering year after year. What's even more disturbing is that in recent years, hunters have not reached the 500+ quota max, despite using hounds to track and tree lions... so if there aren't enough lions left in Montana to support the current season, why would anyone consider increasing the quota? Instead, the state should decrease hunting and protect this treasured creature.
Please submit comments to Montana FW&P telling them to LOWER ALL QUOTAS, or better yet, to stop lion hunting entirely and begin drafting a sustainable lion management plan based on peer-reviewed research. Click here to submit comments online, or mail written comments to FWP--Wildlife Bureau, Attn: Public Comment, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701. And please hurry, the deadline to comment is Monday, May 16th.