Proposed changes would split FWP Region 7 antelope hunting district in two

Antelope hunting could look a bit different in Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park's Region 7 in the coming years after one Fish and Wildlife Commissioner proposed a split in the current hunting district, pending an official decision next week.

Antelope hunting could look a bit different in Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park's Region 7 in the coming years after one Fish and Wildlife Commissioner proposed a split in the current hunting district, pending an official decision next week.

Region 7 Fish and Wildlife Commissioner William Lane announced a proposed amendment at the end of November to split HD 007–20 into two separate districts - north and south - which would require two different licenses for antelope hunting. The commission is scheduled to make a decision at its meeting on Thursday, Dec. 14.

According to FWP Region 7 Wildlife Manager Brett Dorak, the proposed amendment came after Commissioner Lane received comments from the public and landowners throughout the region regarding antelope hunting. He added most amendments include a rationale or background for such a proposal, however Commissioner Lane's did not.

"I know at meetings (Commissioner Lane) made the statement that he's heard from the public and landowners about growing concern of hunter distribution and different densities of antelope North and South," Dorak said, noting the proposal is not necessarily a new concept, rather it does originate from an esteemed member organization in the State of Montana. "I do know the original language from his proposal that he has picked up and carried forward is from the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association."

The current HD 007–20, which simply means there is only one license required to hunt antelope in all of FWP Region 7, has remained the same for countless years and such an amendment, if passed, will require an overhaul of the region's administrative processes.

"For years, we've managed antelope at the Region 7 scale because antelope do migrate and travel great distances, at least portions of the population do, so if this amendment is passed, then we as a department will have to generate new licenses and new portions within the regulations," Dorak said.

If the antelope hunting district is split in two, hunters will need to apply for different licenses depending on where they intend to hunt; either north or south of the Yellowstone River.

"There is going to have to be a pretty big educational push just to inform the public of all these new changes," Dorak said.

Not only would the antelope hunting district boundaries change, but the antelope license quota range of 3,000 to 15,000 would also divide in two.

Quota ranges, Dorak explained, are "pretty standard" and help FWP's wildlife staff such as himself effectively plan for antelope hunting season based on annual survey data collected in late July. Such data informs the number of antelope licenses to allow.

"That allows us to have the best data available to draw the most appropriate amount of licenses as we can based on the biology," he said. "Those quota ranges just give the nice flexibility for wildlife staff to maneuver."

The new quota ranges for the two antelope hunting districts would amount to 1,000 to 4,000 for either sex antelope licenses and 25 to 3,000 for doe–fawn licenses in the northern district, and 2,000 to 8,000 for either sex licenses and 25 to 5,000 for doe–fawn licenses in the southern district.

Such a change will require a bit more planning on a hunter's part due to an inability to hunt in a district a license is not valid. Dorak noted, in the current region–wide district model, hunters can go from hunting antelope in Jordan to hunting antelope in Alzada if none are found.

"(Hunters) have gotten the ultimate flexibility to move as they see fit, so this is going to truncate that a little bit," Dorak said. "If you've drawn that north license, you can no longer go south of the river and vice versa."

The current flexibility is not only advantageous for hunters, but also for FWP Region 7 when they receive game damage hunt requests from landowners.

As an example, Dorak noted producers often request hunters come onto their land to hunt game species if they are densely populated and causing damage to their agricultural land.

"It's going to kind of change that up a little bit," he said.

As of the deadline for written public comments on Thursday, Nov. 30, FWP Region 7 received a total of 10 comments with varying opinions on Commissioner Lane's proposal.

"At this time, the few that I've seen, it's a mixed bag," Dorak said. "We'll see some in support and some in opposition, which is pretty normal I'd say."

A full copy of Commissioner Lane's proposed amendment is available at http://www.rangerreview.com as an attachment to this story.

To register to provide public comment during the Thursday, Dec. 14 meeting of the Fish and Wildlife Commission, visit http://www.fwp.mt.gov. Registrations for public comment must be submitted by 12 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 13.

Brendan Heidner can be reached at bheidner@rangerreview.com