Montana 2026 Elk Proposal

[OpenCountry]

The most baffling thing about today is that it took nearly 30 minutes to try and figure out how to stop killing mule deer does on B licenses on public land….. Montanans only know how to increase licenses not limit them….

I didn’t think that conversation was ever going to end. Thanks for showing up today in person and commenting on multiple amendments.

 

[MTelkHuntress]

I havent finished watching some of the meeting but it was encouraging to see Commissioner Robinson turn to Wargo and essentially encourage him to keep working on his elk proposal. As frustrating as this process was, it was refreshing to see some positive change get through.

Thanks Gerald for your efforts. Good job remembering to state your name

 

[cgasner1]

This Commission demonstrated a lot of responsiveness to public feedback during this
process and during today’s meeting.

We saw Commissioner Burrows attempt to raise the 900 series antelope quota to 7000 and the commission voted to approve the amendment. After multiple public comments in opposition he amended it back to 5600.

Commissioners Walsh pulled his elk amendment due to public feedback.

Two of the mountain lion amendments were dropped after public comment.

Commisssioner Wargo’s original elk amendment failed passage but he got unanimous approval for having it implemented in Region 1. I think that was due in large part to the amount of positive public support from hunters during today’s comment period. A lot of the other Commissioners didn’t seem to understand the effects of his proposal which was really a shame.
IMO the department really dropped the ball on getting it released to the public two days before Thanksgiving when it had been submitted at the end of September and was the first amendment received.

Multiple other amendments and decisions were affected by in person and online comments today.

Involvement in the process is the price to be paid for gaining influence. If there‘s ever proof to that saying that “the world is run by those that show up” MT season setting and FWP Commission meetings are a good example to see that in action.

Thanks to those of you who commented via Zoom. I could see that it made a difference in multiple occasions.

In my opinion Commissioner Wargo, and Chair Robinson deserve a lot of credit for putting action into what the public land hunters have been complaining about.

Cebull wanted to bump the antelope tags up. Thanks for making that drive

 

[WanderWoman]

Cebull wanted to bump the antelope tags up. Thanks for making that drive

Antelope tags did end up increasing. If R3 was removed and overall state quota remained the same, it would have been 500 in R3 and 5100 for R4-7 (what was proposed). They raised the R4-7 quota another 500 to 5600. So, now there will be 6100 total archery antelope licenses.

Then, mere minutes later, I think it was Brooks, who stated, “we need to do something to alleviate pressure.”

 

[Gerald Martin]

Cebull wanted to bump the antelope tags up. Thanks for making that drive

Thanks for clarifying it was Cebull not Burrows. It was a long day…

 

[Gerald Martin]

I havent finished watching some of the meeting but it was encouraging to see Commissioner Robinson turn to Wargo and essentially encourage him to keep working on his elk proposal. As frustrating as this process was, it was refreshing to see some positive change get through.

Thanks Gerald for your efforts. Good job remembering to state your name

The commission was kicking butt and taking names. I couldn’t even remember to say mine in my haste to speak about the butt kicking.