Biennial hunting season-setting process will begin in June: FWP

Scoping meeting set for June 18 at the Metcalf Center

Hunting regulations often are the subject of debate, curiosity or even consternation with hunters around Montana. Hunters who want to see changes in regulations or have ideas to improve the regulations will have a great opportunity to make a difference in the coming weeks.  

On odd years, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks does a complete run through of hunting regulations to consider both large and small changes. This process is called “season setting” and starts off with scoping meetings around the state to gather ideas from hunters and to answer questions about suggested changes that FWP staff are considering. These scoping meetings will be held in June and July, including one that will be held in Anaconda on Wednesday, June 18 at 6 p.m. at the Metcalf Memorial Senior Citizens Center.  

FWP staff will look to hunters to provide broad input on regulation changes they’d like to see. Staff will also look for feedback on a few specific proposals. 

These scoping meetings are not the same as public comment meetings. FWP staff will listen at the scoping meetings and capture the general themes. Staff will use this information to develop draft regulations, which will be released for public comment as proposals for the Fish and Wildlife Commission in October. FWP will hold additional public meetings in early November to answer questions about the draft regulation proposals. Comment on the draft regulation proposals will be collected through the FWP website during the fall public commenting period. The final decision on regulations will come at the December Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting. 

FWP stated they know hunting regulation changes are important for hunters, and they need the public’s input early in the process to make sure any changes are made with careful consideration of what hunters think and what they want.  

Here is the scoping meeting schedule for Regions 2 and 3, both of which Anaconda-Deer Lodge County are located within (all meetings will run from 6-8 p.m.): 

Region 2:

• June 9: Philipsburg – Granite County Museum;

• June 10: Drummond – Drummond Community Center;

• June 11: Hamilton – Bitterroot River Inn;

• June 12: Missoula – Regional office;

• June 16: Deer Lodge – Powell County Community Center;

• June 17: Superior – Superior High School multi-purpose room;

• June 18: Anaconda – Metcalf Center;

• June 24: Ovando – Ovando School gym;

• June 25: Lincoln – Lincoln Community Hall.

Region 3:

• June 10: Dillon – SAR building;

• June 11: Bozeman – Regional office;

• June 12: Helena – Montana Wild;

• June 16: Livingston – location TBD;

• June 17: Butte – location TBD.