Biennial Hunting Season Process Meetings Begin

Hunting regulations often are the subject of debate, curiosity or even consternation with hunters around Montana. Hunters who want to see changes in regulations or have ideas to improve the regulations will have a great opportunity to make a difference in the coming weeks.

On odd years, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks does a complete run through of hunting regulations to consider both large and small changes. This process is called “season setting” and starts off with scoping meetings around the state to gather ideas from hunters and to answer questions about suggested changes that FWP staff are considering. These scoping meetings will be held in June and July.

FWP staff will look to hunters to provide broad input on regulation changes they’d like to see. These scoping meetings are not the same as public comment meetings. FWP staff will listen at the scoping meetings and capture the general themes. Staff will use this information to develop draft regulations, which will be released for public comment as proposals for the Fish and Wildlife Commission in October. FWP will hold additional public meetings in early November to answer questions about the draft regulation proposals. Comment on the draft regulation proposals will be collected through the FWP website during the fall public commenting period. The final decision on regulations will come at the December Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting.

All meetings are from 6 to 8 p.m.

June 24: Plentywood – Library Jubilee Room June 26: Glasgow – Regional office Region 7 July 8: Miles City – Regional office July 9: Glendive – location TBD