FWP Public Scoping Meeting in Miles City tonight 6 PM

[Pagosa]

Fyi, if you can’t attend in person attached is the link for the zoom call-in for the Region 7 FWP license setting process for 2026/27. I was going to attend but currently working in northern WY, but plan to attend via zoom. You can give public comment through zoom. Preston

 

[bigsky2]

Note the proposed changes for some of the region 7 rifle bull permits...

 

[Forkyfinder]

Note the proposed changes for some of the region 7 rifle bull permits...

Are you for or against those?

 

[Pagosa]

Against. They should be vaild for private land only or split the districts up. I do agree that there is a significant increase of elk in isolated areas outside of the core habitat, but its not a tag availability issue its an access issue.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Against. They should be vaild for private land only or split the districts up. I do agree that there is a significant increase of elk in isolated areas outside of the core habitat, but its not a tag availability issue its an access issue.

I see your point - but i feel that the heards should be managed seperately.

The issue, to me, is that there was no reduction 799-20 tags with the additon of the others.

 

[Pagosa]

I see your point - but i feel that the heards should be managed seperately.

The issue, to me, is that there was no reduction 799-20 tags with the additon of the others.

Please call in

 

[DFS]

Adding tags to 704/705 was not on the table at the initial scoping. Those districts are right in the middle of the objective for Bull to cow ratio and population objective, neither are high. There was agreement from everyone tags shouldn’t be added to 704/705. Something changed likely in Helena and they added 150 for those regions and the justification was equity to rifle hunters. It’s a bunch of bullchit and unfortunately when a proposal makes it this far into season settings it’s hard to get it shut down. I fully expect this to get shoved right down our throats.

 

[bigsky2]

I see your point - but i feel that the heards should be managed seperately.

The issue, to me, is that there was no reduction 799-20 tags with the additon of the others.

Agreed, trying to focus more harvest where it's mostly private is one thing, but adding more permits to 704/705 will just ruin a good thing.

 

[DFS]

I’ll add this is where FWP struggles with transparency and why the public has lost trust in the agency.

 

[Forkyfinder]

I’ll add this is where FWP struggles with transparency and why the public has lost trust in the agency.

How so?

 

[bigsky2]

How so?

It wasn't mentioned in the initial public scoping proposals. Usually this sort of thing only comes about when a commissioner introduces it as an amendment.

 

[Forkyfinder]

It wasn't mentioned in the initial public scoping proposals. Usually this sort of thing only comes about when a commissioner introduces it as an amendment.

Well it does show where/how it got modified...

 

[bigsky2]

View attachment 392445
Well it does show where/how it got modified...

Yeah, outfitters and landowners go to the directors office and Wakeling gets his marching orders.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Yeah, outfitters and landowners go to the directors office and Wakeling gets his marching orders.

Not much different than what happens in Helena, just a hired $middleman$ to sell it to useful idiots.

 

[antlerradar]

Agreed, trying to focus more harvest where it's mostly private is one thing, but adding more permits to 704/705 will just ruin a good thing.

I would not be surprised if more rifle bulls are taken off the Custer on the BLM and State then are taken on the Custer. Those places are busy right now. Adding 150 more tags is not going to make things better. It is time to split 702 away from 704 and 705. 702 is almost entirely private and just doesn't fit with 704 and 705 in regards to land ownership.

 

[bigsky2]

Not much different than what happens in Helena, just a hired $middleman$ to sell it to useful idiots.

The directors office is in Helena.

 

[Pagosa]

Very good commets on the addition of 300 elk tags in districts 702, 704, and 705. The FWP had very lame excuses on this proposal and were caught flat footed. About 8 comments were directed in opposition to this proposal and I didn't feel the FWP had any justification other than trying to appease landowners/outfitters and wealthy nonresident hunters. Certainly not from their 2023 elk management plan. We need to contact the FWP commissioners. I wish there was a senate bill requiring commissioners to be an elected position with a 4 year term limit. The guys from the Colstrip Sportsmen’s Club gave excellent comments and one rancher too, Antlerradat was that you?

 

[bigsky2]

Very good commets on the addition of 300 elk tags in districts 702, 704, and 705. The FWP had very lame excuses on this proposal and were caught flat footed. About 8 comments were directed in opposition to this proposal and I didn't feel the FWP had any justification other than trying to appease landowners/outfitters and wealthy nonresident hunters. Certainly not from their 2023 elk management plan. We need to contact the FWP commissioners. I wish there was a senate bill requiring commissioners to be an elected position with a 4 year term limit. The guys from the Colstrip Sportsmen’s Club gave excellent comments and one rancher too, Antlerradat was that you?

What do you mean?! It was a good faith effort!!

 

[Forkyfinder]

What do you mean?! It was a good faith effort!!

They were probably just "collaborating" and "awarding incentives" - who are we to judge? We need a vision with them as "partners in conservation" rather than adversaries.

The old way of the last 25 years doesnt work, lets sing koombaya and let them take public resources.

 

[Schaaf]

They were probably just "collaborating" and "awarding incentives" - who are we to judge? We need a vision with them as "partners in conservation" rather than adversaries.

The old way of the last 25 years doesnt work, lets sing koombaya and let them take public resources.