Page 24 - Mac Minard News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Supporters of House Bill 505, brought by Speaker of the House Wylie Galt, R-Martinsdale, said they appreciated the incentive-based approach to address ballooning elk numbers in many areas and their impact to landowners. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is legally obligated to manage elk to objectives, meaning population targets based on biological factors and social tolerance of the animals. In many hunting districts elk have topped and in some places far exceed objectives, leading to extended “shoulder” seasons for cow elk and up to three licenses per hunter. Success has been mixed i...

The Montana Senate Fish and Game Committee advanced a pair of bills late Thursday evening that would allow private payments to wolf trappers and hunters as well as directing Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to consider more aggressive means of taking the animals. Sen. Bob Brown, R-Thompson Falls, brought Senate Bill 267 and Senate Bill 314 to a marathon committee meeting that included multiple bills on wolves, grizzly bears and management of game fish. SB 267 would allow private reimbursement for costs incurred for hunting or trapping wolves. A similar bill in the 2019 session was voted down as...

Lawmakers aiming to shape wildlife management in Montana are advancing a number of bills this legislative session that some believe would be better debated by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission. The commission is a governor-appointed and Senate-confirmed body responsible for adoption of fish and wildlife management policies proposed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Those may range from animal transplants to hunting, fishing and trapping licenses. The body has broad authority to pass regulations on the types of equipment that may be used to harvest fish and wildlife, season timing and ...