Page 2 - Patrick Byorth News Today

Democratic legislators and some hunting and conservation groups question whether FWP will circumvent the public in elk herd management by settling lawsuit with United Property Owners of Montana.

Democratic legislators and some hunting and conservation groups question whether FWP will circumvent the public in elk herd management by settling lawsuit with United Property Owners of Montana.

Democratic legislators and some hunting and conservation groups question whether FWP will circumvent the public in elk herd management by settling lawsuit with United Property Owners of Montana.

The changes mean that in split units, when lion season opens for the winter limited and unlimited permit holders may hunt the same areas.

The commission took 30 minutes of public comment, which focused primarily on hunting wolves in districts 313 and 316 along Yellowstone’s northern border.

Hunting mountain lions in Region 1 has a tumultuous history that pushed wildlife managers to institute limited permits roughly 15 years ago.

The vote followed a passionate hearing where commissioners and public commenters sparred over fair chase ethics, science-based wildlife management and legislative mandates.

In a whirlwind meeting Friday morning, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission made big changes to fishing regulations for the Big Hole and Beaverhead rivers in response to the brown