Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks, has adopted tentative hunting regulation changes for the upcoming biennium. One change would give repeat applicants of sheep, moose, and goat tags a greater chance of drawing a tag each time they apply. Currently, applicants receive one bonus point when they don’t pull a tag; the proposal apparently would take the number of times an applicant didn’t pull a tag, and square that number to generate the number of bonus points. Of course, first-time applicants would have much less a chance of drawing.
Another proposed change would give more flexibility to bow hunters who pull an elk tag for a limited elk area. Mary Ellen Schnur of the Montana Outfitters & Guides Association said that her organization does not want restrictions while Montana has a surplus of elk.
FWP Commissioner Dan Vermillion notes that the “proposals are not written in stone.” The public will be able to comment on the changes through the end of January.