Meetings on Tap to Discuss Proposed Hunting Regulations

Public meetings on Montana’s proposed hunting seasons and regulations for 2012-2013 are set for twelve west-central Montana communities in January.The meetings are for people to learn about the upcoming proposals and make comments.  Attendees will have the opportunity to hear about and comment on the proposed regulations, approved for public review by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission earlier this month.

All meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. with a presentation on the status of western Montana game populations, followed by an overview of the proposals and opportunity for comment, beginning at 7 p.m.

The full Region 2 schedule is as follows:

Jan 3:        Helmville, Community Center

Jan 4:        Superior, high school multi-use room

Jan 5:        Philipsburg, Granite County Museum

Jan 6:        Drummond, Community Center

Jan 9:        Hamilton, Bitterroot River Inn

Jan 10:      Deer Lodge, Community Center

Jan 11:      Missoula, Double-Tree Inn

Jan 12:      Seeley Lake, Community Center

Jan 16:      Lincoln, Lambkins meeting room

Jan 17:      Darby, high school

Jan 18:      Anaconda, AOH Hall

Jan 19:      Potomac, Community Center

The FWP Commission will consider public comments gathered from these meetings, as well as written comments submitted online or by mail, as it prepares to finalize hunting regulations at its Feb. 16, 2012 meeting in Helena.

To view the season proposals and to comment online, go to the FWP website, fwp.mt.gov and select “2012-2013 Hunting Proposals.” Or, call or stop by the FWP office in Missoula at (406) 542-5500 to obtain a hard copy of the proposals. Comments are due by 5p.m. on Monday, Jan. 23.