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I can not speak for the habitat in western Montana, but in SE Montana it is not the problem. Two thirds of the Custer has burned in the past 25 years. Even with the past two years being the driest consecutive years on record there is still plenty of food for a deer.
I was at my go to spot in the 90's this last week. Spotted at least one 180 class buck from that spot every year in the 90's and even on a poor morning you would see at least 10 bucks. This year I was good for two does and two 2 year old three points. The food looked great, Sumac everywhere, the draws full of snowberrys, winterfat up to my knees and rabbit brush nearly as tall me. Habitat is not the issue in SE Montana.
Fire up the mini-van. It's only a 12hr driveIf it wasn't 800 miles, I would be there! Best of luck to you gentlemen!
If we stay silent and disengaged, that future will be determined by lobbies with goals that do not align with our interests as hunters.
Director Worsech did say that this is the new administration’s FWP (driven by Governor Gianforte, wealthy landowners, Ag and outfitters) and it’s unlikely to change much as they feel it is their mandate. The heads seemed to say, yeah keep writing those emails they might listen if these emails contain ideas of compromise…but maybe not. I’m not sure I’m ready to compromise on my ideals formed from 30years of hunting the right way. My favorite comment came from Worsech or Wemple—Sorry if you don’t like the way things look now because your best bet is to hold your breath until the next election then vote for Gianforte’s opponent as this administration is not going to stray much from its current course on elk management and the FWP commissioners are far more beholden to the Governor than an average hunters like myself. The director all but confirmed most of my pessimistic ‘conspiracy’ theories about what’s going on with elk management currently.A recap of the Sept. 7 Region 3 meeting as I remember it.
Due to work, I missed the first 45 minutes. Apparently this was not BYOB because I saw folks with beverages in hand even though I missed out on the Sammichs. I take back my earlier negative comments on leaving bad Yelp reviews about the food and drink.
When I arrived at 5:45 the topic was wolves. The general conversation from a well defined segment of the crowd is that FWP and the commission didn’t listen to the social sentiments expressed during the public comment session. It was the same old “ all the little wolfies are gonna get kilt” in various forms.
You could see the relief on the directors face when the topic switched to elk management. General sentiment was that the Commission completely ignored popular sentiment with expansion of shoulder seasons. FWP personnel did not defend the expansion but essentially said that the Commission did so because they could and they wanted to try something different to see if it would work.
I asked if FWP had any data to measure the effectiveness of shoulder seasons? Who was it that included 314 in the expansion onto public land? Had there been consideration of snowmobiles being used during the late muzzleloader season?
Unfortunately during my questioning I think I asked too many questions because the answer about data supporting the effects of shoulder seasons was overlooked during the director’s response. I don’t think it was necessarily intentional but there wasn’t any reference to studies or data that we can study to determine whether shoulder seasons are effective or not. I think this is a good question that it would be helpful for other people to ask in other meetings.
There were questions regarding stream flows and water rights. It was explained that in many cases FWP’s water rights are junior to older rights and they made the decision not to call any water rights on rivers that they didn’t actually have a senior right to and that would be defensible.
The director was asked about his stance on the recent lawsuit regarding crossbows for the handicapped in archery season. His response was that during the lawsuit he had been unable to comment, but now that it was settled, he was adamantly opposed to allowing crossbows during archery season.
There were a few more attempts at regenerating the wolf conversation but FWP personnel and most of the crowd made it obvious that topic had been beat to death and was settled for the time being.
The meeting changed from a formal question and answer session to an informal discussion between individual FWP personnel and the public @ 7:15 or so. Most people left soon afterwards but I was actually very favorably impressed by Director Worsech and Deputy Director Temple’s accessibility and willingness to talk afterwards.
Several of us stayed until about 9 pm discussing various issues, many that we have talked about here on Hunttalk.
I actually came away with the feeling that FWP is open and welcoming to ideas that might help them ease some of the conflict areas @ wildlife management.
I came away with more understanding of the realization that hunters must be active on two fronts. We need to engage FWP personnel to advocate for our interests during the processes they are in charge of and we need to be politically active in lobbying our legislators and holding them accountable for the bills they are pushing through. I got a sense that FWP is also frustrated about some of the legislation they have to implement by law that is imposed by the legislature.
I am more convinced than ever that we need to organize to make the impact of our voices more compelling to those who set the policies that affect wildlife management. If we provide solutions, we get to help determine the future of the health of Montana’s wildlife.
If we stay silent and disengaged, that future will be determined by lobbies with goals that do not align with our interests as hunters.
Fwp is receptive to public outcry, we have to make sure that the Governor, Commission and the Legislature hears us. Unfortunately fwp can only recommend.It sounds like there was some woof lobbyist in attendance, which is not surprising.
That actually sounds like FWP may be receptive to those of us that have issue with the policy's getting ready to be put in place.
I agree that organizing soon to get involved as much as possible will help us in the long run. Glad to see they seemed receptive.
Did anyone get any contact information for further questions?
This seemed to be the same sentiment shared by a couple of us at the R1 meeting.I was actually very favorably impressed by Director Worsech and Deputy Director Temple’s accessibility and willingness to talk afterwards.
Several of us stayed until about 9 pm discussing various issues, many that we have talked about here on Hunttalk.
I actually came away with the feeling that FWP is open and welcoming to ideas that might help them ease some of the conflict areas @ wildlife management.
I came away with more understanding of the realization that hunters must be active on two fronts. We need to engage FWP personnel to advocate for our interests during the processes they are in charge of and we need to be politically active in lobbying our legislators and holding them accountable for the bills they are pushing through. I got a sense that FWP is also frustrated about some of the legislation they have to implement by law that is imposed by the legislature.
I am more convinced than ever that we need to organize to make the impact of our voices more compelling to those who set the policies that affect wildlife management. If we provide solutions, we get to help determine the future of the health of Montana’s wildlife.
If we stay silent and disengaged, that future will be determined by lobbies with goals that do not align with our interests as hunters.
That area was absolutely piss pounded by NR's.I can not speak for the habitat in western Montana, but in SE Montana it is not the problem. Two thirds of the Custer has burned in the past 25 years. Even with the past two years being the driest consecutive years on record there is still plenty of food for a deer.
I was at my go to spot in the 90's this last week. Spotted at least one 180 class buck from that spot every year in the 90's and even on a poor morning you would see at least 10 bucks. This year I was good for two does and two 2 year old three points. The food looked great, Sumac everywhere, the draws full of snowberrys, winterfat up to my knees and rabbit brush nearly as tall me. Habitat is not the issue in SE Montana.
and from western Montana residents that either didn't draw or have very few mule deer near home. Eastern Montana can no longer be counted on to bail out the mule deer management in the west.That area was absolutely piss pounded by NR's.
In another post I mentioned that issue. The FWP really needs to get a handle on Region 1.and from western Montana that either didn't draw or have very few mule deer near home. Eastern Montana can no longer be counted on to bail out the mule deer management in the west.
Every apex predator Montana has to offer, suburbia pushing at breakneck speed into wildlife habitat, thick as thick public forest canopy, open season w/o any limited tag districts, worst check station counts for all elk country in MT, Private land lovers of their elk including the pretend - we need private tags to reduce elk on our land...The FWP really needs to get a handle on Region 1.
I came away with more understanding of the realization that hunters must be active on two fronts. We need to engage FWP personnel to advocate for our interests during the processes they are in charge of and we need to be politically active in lobbying our legislators and holding them accountable for the bills they are pushing through. I got a sense that FWP is also frustrated about some of the legislation they have to implement by law that is imposed by the legislature.
To quote the director… “How do you know which elk are the wrong elk?…”In the director’s response to Gerald he also noted they don’t know if the public land shoulder seasons will work, it’s an experiment… Don’t think you need to be a biologist to figure this one out though, the wrong elk will get killed.