Any species antelope bighorn sheep deer elk moose mountain goat upland game bird. Yet, according to the elk management plan put forth by montana fish. Montana fwp elk shoulder season fundamental objectives evaluation. 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. Mt elk shoulder season legislation page 3 hunt talk. A proposal calls for shoulder seasons to cull the herd. Elk shoulder seasons open in montana natural resources news. Those opposed to the shoulder season questioned whether it pandered to landowners and outfitters, and they questioned how hunting elk half the year would impact both the animals and hunter ethics. Proposed shoulder season newest attempt to thin montana elk. Fwp signs off on 43 new shoulder season hunting districts. Information on elk shoulder season local news stories. 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. This was a trip we had been planning for a few years.
Montana will have its fourth elk shoulder season beginning in august, but many folks arent happy about the decision the fish and wildlife. Montana has a lot of elk 4,557, to be more precise. General big game season ends in region 6, elk shoulder season. Elk shoulder season could see some changes for 2019 gohunt. Montana elk shoulder season set to start again outdoor. A shoulder season occurs outside the 5week general firearms season. Comments on proposed elk shoulder season pilot projects will be taken until 5 p. Elk shoulder season north of livingston proposed for. Montana fish, wildlife and parks is proposing to eliminate elk shoulder seasons in some parts of southcentral montana and replace them with. Aug 20, 2019 montana will have its fourth elk shoulder season beginning in august, but many folks arent happy about the decision the fish and wildlife com montana untamed idaho fish and game commission. Elk shoulder seasons are firearms seasons that can occur as early as aug. Mwf calls for elimination of elk shoulder seasons montana.
Shoulder seasons will vary in timing and function from hunting district to hunting district. Elk reign prominently in our states identity and montana is better for it. I dont know of any shoulder season 16 minute hunts on land open to the public. When the elk presented themselves, sam took the shot and hit his elk. Home hunting public comments 2015 guidelines for elk shoulder seasons proposed guidelines for elk shoulder seasons proposed site index. The 2016 dates for common snipe will be determinedfinalized at the august. On thursday, the fwp commission reluctantly voted to approve fwps plan to reinstate shoulder seasons for elk. Hunters raise concerns about shoulder seasons for elk. Two members of the montana fish and wildlife commission indicated at the boards thursday meeting in missoula that they were. Montana fish, wildlife and parks will not extend big game hunting seasons following below average elk harvest across the state, but the agency is. Bullocks charge to improve landowner relations and specifically in response to criticism that fwp was not meeting elk objectives. 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.
Launching the map provides you with the opportunity to view hunting regulations, harvest statistics. Elk can cause a large amount of property damage and a growing population of. Elk shoulder seasons open in montana natural resources. Elk shoulder seasons underway in montana rocky mountain. Montana fwp elk shoulder season fundamental objectives.
Elk shoulder seasons to begin next week in some places. Jan 19, 2018 first hunt of the year montana elk shoulder season i wasnt able to go out with my father in law in lewistown the 15th of august as i was out of town on vacation with family. Hunters raise concerns about shoulder seasons for elk local. 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. Antelope, bison, black bear, elk and mountain lion are all included in montanas hunting seasons. Elk hunters will have opportunities to fill their tags beginning aug. Members of the montana fish and wildlife commission approved the establishment of a third elk shoulder season. Dec 19, 2019 montana has a lot of elk 4,557, to be more precise. The state of montana is rewriting its elk management plan, and as an initial step in. Fwp proposes changes for several helenaarea hunting districts. The others notsomuch and not even meeting recruitment. Montana shoulder seasons proposed in hds that are above objective, meet all harvest criteria, proposed to continue with no change for the 20202021 biennium summary. 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. First hunt of the year montana elk shoulder season i wasnt able to go out with my father in law in lewistown the 15th of august as i was out of town on vacation with family.
Montana will have its fourth elk shoulder season beginning in august, but many folks arent happy about the decision the fish and wildlife com. The seasons focus on antlerless elk harvest on private land and are not intended to replace or reduce harvest during the existing general archery and 5week general firearms season. 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. May 17, 2019 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. If landowners want elk numbers controlled they need to allow access to them. Montana hunting seasons, 20192020 hunting season hq. The seasons focus on antlerless elk harvest on private landand are not intended to replace or reduce harvest during the existing general archery and. Yet, according to the elk management plan put forth by. Shoulder seasons will take place in 58 hunting districts. 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. The whole reason for this fwp elk shoulder season proposal is stated in the background information, first paragraph, this was in response to gov. In addition to the 10week general season in the fall, montana hunters can now hunt elk into february with the acceptance of the new shoulder season. Elk shoulder seasons contentious during hunting season.
Elk are part of our states identity and were better for it. Donate mwf calls for elimination of elk shoulder seasons. 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. Hunting licenses and permits are available for purchase on the fish, wildlife and parks department website for both montana residents and nonresidents. The shoulder seasons have been morally and ethically wrong since their inception and incongruent with rmefs mission statement from the beginning. Mt fwp elk shoulder season proposal enhancing montanas. In 632, in eastern montana, fwp says there arent many cow elk there anymore, meaning theres nothing available for shoulder season hunters. Here are some numbers i tabulated from data on fwp page for 20162018 seasons. Feb 18, 2019 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 including two members. Elk shoulder seasons ineffective lets think outside the box. For the fourth year, montana fish, wildlife and parks region 6 has a shoulder season that allows antlerless elk hunting with a specific. Elk shoulder seasons underway in montana rocky mountain elk. 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.
Montanas elk shoulder season, which has turned out to be extremely popular, is meant to reduce the number of elk on private land. Montana has introduced shoulder seasons for elk hunting, designed to take advantage of elk being driven from higher elevations due to snow accumulations. Montana begins rewrite of elk management plan montana. The proposed walkin hunt will replace mfwps initial suggestion of holding a limited lateseason elk hunt. Click on the calendar icon in the table s to see the date setting process for each specieshunting season. The seasons focus on antlerless elk harvest on private land and are not intended to replace or reduce. A number of the shoulder seasons, which had run as late as feb.
Some areas you can hunt public land during the shoulder season. Montana fish, wildlife and parks fwp use shoulder seasons in some hunting districts to help reduce elk populations in areas that are considere. Commission chastises montana fwp for continuing elk shoulder. 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. There could be a few changes to montanas elk shoulder season if house joint resolution 18 hjr 18 is approved.
Parks commissioners approved five hunting districts for a late elk. Elk hunters could see a number of regulation changes for the coming year for westcentral and southwest montana. The shoulder seasons would only be valid on private property and some public land thats. Montana elk hunting shoulder seasons continue as general. Elk shoulder season north of livingston proposed for removal. Montana hunt planner the hunt planner combines updated maps with hunting regulations and statistics. Montanans share concerns over elk shoulder seasons state. For the 2019 season the commission approved shoulder seasons in more than 50. They want to sell 6pt bulls during the regular season, and then have the public clean up the mess in the shoulder seasons.
I have never had luck finding permission to fill any cow tags during the late shoulder season around central montana. Montana bha comments on elk shoulder seasons backcountry. 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. Hjr 18 was endorsed by the senate fish and game committees republican majority this week and is sponsored by rep. 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. Looking over the netgunners shoulder, a helicopter closes in on elk during a study near the ruby mountains. While most shoulder seasons focus on antlerless elk harvest on private land and are not intended to replace or reduce harvest during the. Elk shoulder season to be extended across montana fort. 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. Fwp has proposed ending the extra seasons only in districts 393 and 632. 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. 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. Fwp considers elk shoulder seasons across montana local. Bobcat season may close earlier when the quota is reached.
Montana is home to a lot of elk4,557 to be more precise. In some districts the shoulder seasons will start as early as aug. These dates are provided only as a general reference. A shoulder season is a firearms season that can occur as early as aug. I know in my area there are some that are not open for elk in the shoulder season no idea why but they still show up on my onx. Montana offers a large selection of big game for avid hunters to choose from. Montanas long elk hunting seasons causing consternation. 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. Jun, 2015 called an elk shoulder season, the plan is to allow rifle hunting in certain districts or portions of districts before or after the regular seasons to give hunters more opportunity. Simply put, money and politics ruled the decisions made by rmef and others back in 2016 regarding the shoulder season program. The season in 393 is proposed for removal because hunters arent killing enough elk to drop the numbers.
Commission approves elk shoulder season guidelines, pilot. For the 2018 season, the commission approved shoulder seasons in more than 50 hunting districts, in six of fwps seven regions. Elk managementgame damage hunts that were used before the shoulder season were sometimes like that. Jan 24, 2020 shoulder season cow elk hunt in montana. While most shoulder seasons focus on antlerless elk harvest on private land and are not intended to replace or reduce harvest. You can begin planning your hunt using either a regional map by species or go right to the hunting district information you are interested in. Montana fish, wildlife and parks has proposed ending the extra twoandahalf months of hunting there, one of two shoulder seasons. While most shoulder seasons focus on antlerless elk harvest on private land and are. So be sure to check which ones are still open dec 6, 2018. Aug 22, 2018 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. Montana approves third elk shoulder season rocky mountain. Jan 03, 2020 montana is home to a lot of elk4,557 to be more precise.
The window of opportunity for elk to come their way was a small one and had to be taken when presented. 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. Elk shoulder seasons exist between regular hunting seasons and are implemented when there is an overpopulation of elk on private properties. Montana s elk shoulder season, which has turned out to be extremely popular, is meant to reduce the number of elk on private land. Montanas general biggame rifle season for elk and deer lasts five weeks in october and november. Then fwp sidestepped some of the new guidelines when it proposed pilot shoulder seasons to begin in december. It is scheduled to begin in august and continue through february of 2019. For the 2019 hunting season, the fourth year of the long hunting periods known as elk shoulder seasons, 50 hunting districts had the extended. Proposed shoulder season newest attempt to thin montana. Fwp proposing changes to elk shoulder season in southcentral. Montana expands shoulder seasons for elk hunting the. A shoulder season is a firearms season that occurs outside the 5week general firearms and archery seasons. Being this was a cow only shoulder season, sam was eager to get the chance at an elk. 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.
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. This year certain hunting districts in montana will be considered for a bonus shoulder season. Montana fish, wildlife and parks has stepped back a decade in its management of elk populations. 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. Elk can cause a large amount of property damage and a growing population of elk has caused many landowners to look to the fwp for help.
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