Comments on proposed elk shoulder season pilot projects will be taken until 5 p. While most shoulder seasons focus on antlerless elk harvest on private land and are not intended to replace or reduce harvest. Wyoming officials to use hay trail to lure elk to new ground. Proposed shoulder season newest attempt to thin montana. The season in 393 is proposed for removal because hunters arent killing enough elk to drop the numbers. The seasons focus on antlerless elk harvest on private land and are not intended to replace or reduce. The goal of the shoulder seasons is to reduce elk populations to desired objective levels while also offering additional opportunities for the public to hunt. Fwp proposing changes to elk shoulder season in southcentral montana according to fwp spokesperson bob gibson, the biggest proposed change is removing elk shoulder seasons in most areas. Landowners speak out against shoulder seasons montana on. A shoulder season is a firearms season that can occur as early as aug.
Montana fish, wildlife and parks has proposed ending the extra twoandahalf months of hunting there, one of two shoulder seasons statewide it. Montana fish, wildlife and parks is proposing to eliminate elk shoulder seasons in some parts of southcentral montana and replace them with. For the fourth year, montana fish, wildlife and parks region 6 has a shoulder season that allows antlerless elk hunting with a specific. Montana fish, wildlife and parks will not extend big game hunting seasons following below average elk harvest across the state, but the agency is encouraging hunters to participate in shoulder. A shoulder season is a firearms season that occurs outside the 5week general firearms and archery seasons. This is an early rifle season and the hunts are 7 days long. The window of opportunity for elk to come their way was a small one and had to be taken when presented. Some areas you can hunt public land during the shoulder season. The others notsomuch and not even meeting recruitment. The montana wildlife federation mwf has called for the end of all elk shoulder seasons for the 20192020 hunting season so state wildlife biologists can. Montana is home to a lot of elk4,557 to be more precise.
Our backcountry elk hunts start during the bugle season, september 15 and run through to october 15. Elk shoulder seasons underway in montana rocky mountain. The proposed walkin hunt will replace mfwps initial suggestion of holding a limited lateseason elk hunt. Montana has a lot of elk 4,557, to be more precise. Terrain high alpine mountain ranges, large rivers, and prairie in the east. We have a remote backcountry camp in the absarokabeartooth wilderness in montana, adjacent to the northern boundary of yellowstone national park. Montana fish, wildlife and parks fwp use shoulder seasons in some hunting districts to help reduce elk populations in areas that are considere. There could be a few changes to montanas elk shoulder season if house joint resolution 18 hjr 18 is approved. Montana proposes eliminating some extended elk hunts.
Montana elk shoulder season set to start again outdoor. Montana has introduced shoulder seasons for elk hunting, designed to take advantage of elk being driven from higher elevations due to snow accumulations. Montana bha comments on elk shoulder seasons backcountry. First approved by the montana fish and wildlife commission in october 2015, shoulder seasons are an opportunity for hunters in hunting districts where elk populations are over objective. Elk shoulder seasons open in montana natural resources. For the 2019 hunting season, the fourth year of the long hunting periods known as elk shoulder seasons, 50 hunting districts had the extended. According to the montana department of fish, wildlife and parks there is a special elk shoulder season as follows. Also the mt fwp website has a great hunt planner map system that will show you block management, and differentiate between type 1 and 2. Montana fish, wildlife and parks will not extend big game hunting seasons following below average elk harvest across the state, but the agency is. Elk harvest during montana shoulder season estimated at more than 350 jan 18, 2016 billings since starting after the regular hunting season ended in november, the newly enacted elk shoulder. Commission chastises montana fwp for continuing elk shoulder.
Montanans share concerns over elk shoulder seasons state. Montana fish, wildlife and parks developed a set of elk hunting season guidelines to improve elk harvest management and bring more elk populations to objective with performancebased shoulder seasons. Members of the montana fish and wildlife commission approved the establishment of a third elk shoulder season. In montana elk hunting is a popular event and many anticipate it all year waiting for the season to arrive.
Mwf calls for elimination of elk shoulder seasons montana. Antelope, bison, black bear, elk and mountain lion are all included in montanas hunting seasons. Sam had never shot an elk before so john was going to give him the first go at it. Montanas long elk hunting seasons causing consternation. This year certain hunting districts in montana will be considered for a bonus shoulder season. Montana fwp elk shoulder season fundamental objectives. Fwp proposing changes to elk shoulder season in southcentral. A shoulder season is a firearms season that can occur as. Fwp proposing changes to elk shoulder season in southcentral montana. Mt fwp elk shoulder season proposal enhancing montanas.
Hunters raise concerns about shoulder seasons for elk. Sixteen hunting groups from throughout montana recently sent a letter to the montana fish and wildlife commission requesting that state biologists stick with the agreement when elk shoulder seasons were created and evaluate how theyre working the groups included general wildlife groups, local sporting clubs, and archery hunting. Montana elk hunting shoulder seasons continue as general. Elk shoulder season north of livingston proposed for removal. Cow elk shoulder season hunt september 2017 youtube. The whole reason for this fwp elk shoulder season proposal is stated in the background information, first paragraph, this was in response to gov. Montana fish, wildlife and parks is holding four public meetings in southcentral montana in january to discuss hunting regulations and seasons for the next two years. It is scheduled to begin in august and continue through february of 2019. Montana fish, wildlife and parks mfwp have proposed an elk shoulder season on the spotted dog wildlife management area wma to help manage the flourishing elk population within the 38,000acre wma.
Shoulder seasons will take place in 57 hunting districts. Cody goes on a shoulder hunt on a local ranch in montana looking for a cow elk to shoot. The montana wildlife federation mwf has called for the end of all elk shoulder seasons for the 20192020 hunting season so state wildlife biologists can evaluate how theyre working in their third season of widespread use. Montana will have its fourth elk shoulder season beginning in august, but many folks arent happy about the decision the fish and wildlife com. Any species antelope bighorn sheep deer elk moose mountain goat upland game bird. In 632, in eastern montana, fwp says there arent many cow elk there anymore, meaning theres nothing available for shoulder season hunters. The primary purpose of elk shoulder seasons is to reduce elk populations in areas that are over population objective as outlined in the montana elk management plan. Yet, according to the elk management plan put forth by. Elk managementgame damage hunts that were used before the shoulder season were sometimes like that.
Being this was a cow only shoulder season, sam was eager to get the chance at an elk. Hjr 18 was endorsed by the senate fish and game committees republican majority this week and is sponsored by rep. The agency proposed shoulder seasons as a way to augment the number of elk killed in the general season and condition elk to stay away from places where they are considered a nuisance. Montanas elk shoulder season, which has turned out to be extremely popular, is meant to reduce the number of elk on private land. Final information on these shoulder seasons will be available online by the end of february and at all license providers in midmarch in the 2016 deer, elk and antelope hunting regulations. He finds there tracks, misses the first shot, then manages to find their tracks again and catch up with. Montana offers a large selection of big game for avid hunters to choose from. For the 2018 season, the commission approved shoulder seasons in more than 50 hunting districts, in six of fwps seven regions. When the elk presented themselves, sam took the shot and hit his elk. Elk are part of our states identity and were better for it. The main difference with the shoulder season is that it would target an entire hunting district, not just one place where elk are congregated such as a landowners irrigated alfalfa field.
Elk can cause a large amount of property damage and a growing population of. While most shoulder seasons focus on antlerless elk harvest on. General big game season ends in region 6, elk shoulder season. Elk shoulder season to be extended across montana fort. I dont know of any shoulder season 16 minute hunts on land open to the public.
Hunting licenses and permits are available for purchase on the fish, wildlife and parks department website for both montana residents and nonresidents. Montana fwp is proposing to continue the shoulder season into the 4 th year, even in hunting districts where elk populations are are at or below the 2005 emp objectives. Bullocks charge to improve landowner relations and specifically in response to criticism that fwp was not meeting elk objectives. Montana hunting seasons, 20192020 hunting season hq. Donate mwf calls for elimination of elk shoulder seasons. Simply put, money and politics ruled the decisions made by rmef and others back in 2016 regarding the shoulder season program. Montana hunting groups weigh in on shoulder seasons. Here are some numbers i tabulated from data on fwp page for 20162018 seasons.
I have never had luck finding permission to fill any cow tags during the late shoulder season around central montana. Shoulder seasons should be removed from all districts where elk populations have met, or are below, the 2005 emp population objectives. Elk shoulder seasons to begin next week in some places. Elk shoulder seasons exist between regular hunting seasons and are implemented when there is an overpopulation of elk on private properties. Two members of the montana fish and wildlife commission indicated at the boards thursday meeting in missoula that they were. It is every hunters responsibility to know the land ownership of the area he or she intends to hunt and any land use restrictions that may apply there. A shoulder season is a firearms season that can occur as early as august 15 and run as late as february 15 depending on the hunting district. While most shoulder seasons focus on antlerless elk harvest on private land and are not intended to replace or reduce harvest during the. Government lands % 44% private lands 53,002,542 acres. Other elk shoulder season tweaks in region 3 other than removing hunting district 393, montana fish, wildlife and parks has mostly proposed continuing shoulder seasons in its southwestern region. Elk shoulder seasons ineffective lets think outside the box.
Montanas general biggame rifle season for elk and deer lasts five weeks in october and november. The shoulder seasons would only be valid on private property and some public land thats. Summary of 202021 proposals for montana hunting districts with elk shoulder seasons by population objective status, harvest criteria, changenochange. Elk shoulder season could see some changes for 2019 gohunt. Elk shoulder season north of livingston proposed for. Fwp considers elk shoulder seasons across montana local. This winter marks the second year of montanas statewide antlerless elk shoulder season primarily on private land after the end of the general elk season.
The shoulder seasons have been morally and ethically wrong since their inception and incongruent with rmefs mission statement from the beginning. Elk reign prominently in our states identity and montana is better for it. The new elk shoulder seasons will be tested in a handful of pilot projects this winter, but the seasons are getting pushback from the very people they were supposed to help. Yet, according to the elk management plan put forth by montana fish. It always seems that they outfit and do not allow hunters to come in for it, i have offered working and helping around the property when i could and still no luck. With montana fish and wildlife commission still taking public comment on this topic, it has been stated that of the 8 elkmanagement areas in montana. Montana will have its fourth elk shoulder season beginning in august, but many folks arent happy about the decision the fish and wildlife commission made wednesday. Mt elk shoulder season legislation page 3 hunt talk. Fwp has proposed ending the extra seasons only in districts 393 and 632. Montana expands shoulder seasons for elk hunting the. Elk hunters will have opportunities to fill their tags beginning aug.
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