Proposed changes to Montana elk hunting regulations could make tagging a bull more challenging for public land hunters and open up more opportunities for landowners.
With large concentrations of elk on private land causing damage to ranches and public-land elk scarce, tensions are high. Landowners want elk numbers reduced without opening up their properties to the public, while hunters want access and opportunity without having to pay extra.
From “shoulder seasons” to the Block Management Program to the Game Damage Program, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) has made several attempts to address complaints from both sides. But the most recently proposed regulation changes don’t seem to hit the mark for many on either.
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According to Montana’s current elk management plan, the statewide elk population goal is about 92,000 animals. In 2020, FWP estimated the population to be nearly twice that at 170,000.
With a legal obligation to reach the objectives laid out by the Fish and Wildlife Commission, WFP is proposing changes it claims will “fulfill the statutory requirement of managing to population objective, address the increasing impacts of high elk populations on Montana farmers and ranchers, and improve quality opportunities for hunters.”
The proposal targets 14 hunting districts where elk numbers are at least 200% above population objectives — mostly on private land. Here’s a breakdown of some of what the proposed regulations would do:
- Remove some or all of the limited either-sex permits in 14 hunting districts
- Retain limited either-sex permits but make them vaild only on public land in eight hunting districts: 411, 417, 426, 535 (newly proposed for 2022), 590, 702, 704, and 705. In most of these districts, the 2021 permit quotas will be halved.
- General licenses would be valid on private land for bulls in those eight districts.
- In HD 401 a general license could be used to hunt bulls during the archery season. A limited permit would still be required during the general season. (The current permit quota is 50.)
- In HD 450 a general license would be valid for the entirety of the hunting season. (The current permit quota is five.)
“The public land hunter would be penalized while the private land hunter gets to play,”
—Montana Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
- HD 500 and HD 570 would be combined to form the new Hunting District 515. Current permits would be removed and hunting would be open on a general license.
- In HD 575 and HD 580, permits would be removed and hunting would be open on a general license.
- HD 511 and HD 530 would be combined to form the new Hunting District 535. Permit quotas would increase from 300 to 400.
- HD 411 would see hunting permits increase from 300 to 400
In a news release announcing the proposed changes, FWP Director Hank Worsech says running different regulations in hunting areas with similar issues will help them trial several strategies for the best outcome.
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“We can’t keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. We have to try something different,” he said. “This proposal is a new strategy we can implement for two years and see if it has the desired effect — more elk harvest, better elk availability on public lands, fewer landowner conflicts, and elk at population objective.”
Worsech and FWP say the changes should ultimately “improve quality hunting opportunities on public lands.” But many Montanans have been unhappy with the state’s model for years, and frustrated hunters are calling out this latest move as an attempt to appease landowners and outfitters at the expense of the average Joe.
Montana Backcountry Hunters & Anglers calls it the “privatization of a public resource” in plain sight.
“Once again, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is considering a proposal that would separate the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ when it comes to elk hunting in Montana. This will change the face of elk hunting in Montana in ways not seen in decades, catering to landowners and outfitters at the expense of our opportunity to hunt,” said the organization’s statement issued in response to the proposed changes.
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“The public land hunter would be penalized while the private land hunter gets to play,” the statement continues.
The fact FWP’s long-awaited updated elk management plan will only come after this biennial season-setting process also seems a bit backward. With expected adjustments to objectives and strategies, the new plan could stir up even more bad blood.
The FWP will present this proposal to the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission on Dec. 14. If it’s approved, the public can voice their concerns during a 30-day comment period.
“Don’t just tell us what you don’t like,” said Worsech in the release. “I want to hear your ideas to improve the situation. I hope we can all see and realize a better day for landowners, hunters, and the elk resource itself.”
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Brennan Albrecht says
What Montana should do is implement something like Utah’s CWMU program. It’s a separate public drawing for being able to hunt large private lands where elk, deer, pronghorn, or moose numbers are too high and messing with ranch or recreation opportunities. Ranches like the Deseret do it. The hunter only pays the public tag price, and the state gives a tax incentive to these land owners to allow a few (sometimes up to a dozen) public DIY hunters on their property per species. Allows more people to hunt and helps manage game populations on private lands. Maybe they could work that with the landowners?
Wayne Baker says
Hunting is not the only consideration. Mass numbers of elk in large herds gathered on private land is a ticking bomb waiting to explode in the CWD arena. Many of these animals are exhibiting behavioral patterns similar to domestic elk farms in Canada where CWD has become a problem. If CWD gets into these herds then everybody loses, but you will get to your population objectives fairly quickly. Also some legal precedence must be established. Elk herds that have found sanctuary on large pieces of private land around the state are NOT the property of land owners. Some land owners need to be reminded of that, yet many profit financially from elk that belong to the state. There are also sections of public land that can not be accessed by the average hunter because they are landlocked. Some of these areas are in the checkerboard pattern common in many western states. Allow for corner to corner
Delbert Orr says
Give more incentives to the landowner to allow poor working class conservationist’s, the opportunity to hunt the private property. Only allow a certain amount of hunters per day or cycle , with strict rules of entrance, expected codes of conduct. You may be surprised how well it works. Just because we don’t own property, doesn’t mean we’re-a bunch of low life’s looking for a hand out! We are hard working blue collar men and women that feed our families worth our quarry. HELP US TO HELP YOU FOR GOD SAKE!
R.C. says
I think.the public should have much.more access to public, state, government land within private property boundaries. I d9nth think the private property owners should be able to hunt those lands inside their boundaries.