Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host a public meeting in Bozeman on Tuesday, May 22 to share information and answer questions on the proposed 2012-13 wolf hunting and trapping season. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn-Bozeman (5 East Baxter Lane).

The proposed 2012-13 general wolf hunting season would run from September 1 to February 28, 2013, with trapping allowed from Dec. 15 to the end of the general wolf season (trapping and hunting of wolves is provided for in Montana’s wolf conservation and management plan).

Under the proposed 2012-2013 wolf season, there would be no statewide quota, but quotas would be established in two areas near Glacier and Yellowstone national parks.

“With a healthy wolf population we can offer additional opportunities to harvest a wolf while comfortably maintaining the base population and genetic diversity that is important to the long term health and management of the species,” said Ken McDonald, FWP wildlife bureau chief in Helena.

“We’re proposing a season that aims to get us closer to a post-season population count of 425 wolves as stated in 2011,” McDonald said. “This number only represents an annual target for the 2012 hunting season. The 2012 season is designed to help Montana meet management objectives that include reduced impacts to livestock and ungulate populations while maintaining a viable wolf population.”

Features of last year’s hunt that would remain in place include mandatory harvest reporting within 24 hours, and the FWP Commission would have the authority to close the season in any wolf hunting unit or portion of a wolf hunting unit if necessary to prevent overharvest. In addition to reported harvest, criteria used to assess any potential closures would include last year’s harvest, harvest in adjacent units, rate of harvest, amount of open season remaining and population modeling predictions.

Trappers would be required to take a mandatory trapper orientation and to conduct mandatory trap-checks. Snares would not be allowed.

The proposal includes potential adjustments to bag limits and electronic calling if statutory adjustments are made in the 2013 legislature.

Montana’s 2011 wolf season included a statewide hunting-only quota of 220 wolves aimed at reducing the minimum population to about 425 wolves. Hunters harvested 166 wolves last season.

The public is encouraged to read the complete wolf hunting season proposal and submit public comments online. To comment, and to find more details on the proposed changes, visit FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov. Click “Hunting.”

The public may also comment in writing through June 25 to: FWP – Wildlife Bureau, Attn: Public Comment; P.O. Box 200701; Helena, MT 59620-0701. For questions, call the FWP Wildlife Bureau at 406-444-2612.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Meeting on Proposed Wolf Season May 22 in Bozeman, Montana

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host a public meeting in Missoula on Tuesday, May 22 to share information and answer questions on the proposed 2012-13 wolf hunting and trapping season and the proposed changes to the mountain lion quota levels for west-central Montana.  The meeting will begin at 7p.m. at the Holiday Inn, Downtown at the Park (200 S. Pattee).

Under the wolf season proposals for 2012-13, the general season would run from Sept. 1 to Feb. 28, 2013, with trapping allowed from Dec. 15 to the end of the general wolf season. There would be no statewide quota, but quotas would be established in two areas near Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks.

Features of last year’s hunt that would remain in place include mandatory harvest reporting within 24 hours, and the FWP Commission would have the authority to close the season in any wolf hunting unit hunting unit or portion of a wolf hunting unit if necessary to prevent overharvest.

Trappers would be required to take a mandatory trapper orientation and to conduct mandatory trap-checks. Snares would not be allowed.

The proposal includes potential adjustments to bag limits and electronic calling if statutory adjustments are made in the 2013 legislature.

To view the wolf proposal information meeting schedule for all Montana communities, and to find more details on the season proposals and to submit comments online, visit FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov. Click “Hunting.” The comment deadline for the wolf proposals is June 25 at 5p.m., and the Commission will make a final decision in July.

The May 22 meeting in Missoula will also address proposed changes to west-central Montana mountain lion quotas and subquotas and an adjustment to the allocation of special mountain lion licenses. Under the proposal, an unsuccessful special lion license applicant could purchase a general lion license valid for any open district statewide during the fall season and for any open quota areas in FWP Region 2 during the winter season.

Find out more about the lion proposals online at fwp.mt.gov. Click “Hunting.” The lion comment deadline is Friday, May 25 at 5p.m., and the FWP Commission will make a final decision on the proposals at its June 14 meeting in Helena.

Submit comments on all proposals online fwp.mt.gov or in writing to: FWP – Wildlife Bureau, Attn: Public Comment; P.O. Box 200701; Helena, MT 59620-0701. For questions, call the FWP Wildlife Bureau at 406-444-2612.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Missoula Meeting on Proposed Wolf Season and Lion Quotas Set for May 22 in Montana

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on proposed changes to the 2011 mountain lion hunting quotas and sub-quotas.

Public comment is also sought on an adjustment to the allocation of special mountain lion licenses that would allow an unsuccessful special lion license applicant to purchase a general lion license valid for any open district statewide during the fall season and for any open quota areas in FWP Region 2 during the winter season.

These items will be addressed along with the proposed 2012 wolf season at a public information meeting in Missoula on May 22 at the Holiday Inn Missoula Downtown at the Park from 7-9 p.m.

Details on the proposed changes are available for review on the FWP website. To comment, and to find more details on the proposed changes, visit FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov. Click “Hunting.” Send written comments to: FWP–Wildlife Bureau, Attn: Public Comment; P.O. Box 200701; Helena, MT 59620-0701.

The public can comment through Friday, May 25 at 5 p.m. The adoption of the proposed mountain lion hunting quotas and special mountain lion license allocation adjustment is set for the June 14 FWP Commission meeting.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - 2012 Mountain Lion Quotas Up for Public Comment in Montana

Registration is still open for a Trapper Education Course for northwest Montana, which will be held Saturday, May 5, 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Lawrence Park in Kalispell.

To register for the course, stop by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) on North Meridian Road in Kalispell, or call FWP at 752-5501.  Registrants will receive pre-course materials and the course schedule.  Call FWP at 752-5501 for more information. In the course, Montana Trapper Education Instructors will emphasize trapper ethics, regulations, trapping heritage, and trap sets.  Instructors will show actual trap sets and techniques.  Instructors include members of the Montana Trappers Association and the Montana Fur Harvesters.

People of all ages are invited to attend.  Youngsters will receive door prizes.  A pizza lunch will be provided.

The course is not mandatory for trappers but it is strongly recommended.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Slots Still Open for Montana Trapper Education Course Set for May 5

Based on recent surveys, the bighorn sheep herd in the Thompson Falls area continues to decline.  FWP Biologist Bruce Sterling counted only 52 sheep on his annual flight this spring.  This figure compares to 270 sheep counted in 2008.  These numbers reflect the number of sheep observed in the survey, not the total number of sheep in the population.  But the trend is alarming to Sterling, who attributes most of the decline to highway mortality.

During the 2008-2012 period, a total of 110 sheep (50 ewes, 60 rams) were killed by collisions.  A total of 107 sheep were killed on Highway 200 and 3 were killed by trains.

“We have lost 50 breeding or potentially breeding females during this time frame when hunters have taken only five ewes on permits,” Sterling says.

Sterling says that the highway mortality problem has been ongoing for decades, but seems to be more serious in recent years, noting that five sheep were taken out in one collision a few weeks ago.

“Now that we are at a low population level for sheep, each mortality is more critical,” Sterling says.  He points out that since 1985, 403 sheep have been killed on the highway and 58 sheep were killed by trains.

Sterling cites a number of steps that have been taken to reduce highway mortalities of sheep, but they have not been effective.  Yellow flashing caution signs and reader boards have not been successful in convincing drivers to slow down and avoid collisions with sheep.  He says that the problem will be discussed at a meeting coming up with the Montana Department of Transportation officials on May 10.

Bighorn sheep were native to the Thompson Falls area but were extirpated by overhunting and disease passed by domestic sheep.  Bighorns were re-introduced in the mid 1950s.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Montana’s Thompson Falls Bighorn Sheep Herd Continues to Decline

According to British Columbia wildlife officials, the caribou that was rescued in Montana last week has apparently recovered and was released this past weekend.

The caribou was rescued in upper Pinkham Creek by FWP biologists after having succumbed to apparent tick paralysis.  The caribou was transferred to British Columbia wildlife staff for holding until she recovered.   This past weekend, she was able to stand on her own and walk and appeared healthy.   There was a good weather window so the decision was made to fly the caribou back up into the Purcell Mountain high country.

“They were able to release her on a ridge just above 10 resident caribou” said Jim Williams, R-1 Wildlife Program Manager.   “When they lifted off she was observed walking in their direction.”

Wildlife managers are hoping the caribou will survive and add to the gene pool of the resident caribou in the Cranbrook, B.C. area.

Follow the caribou’s progress and find other current information on wildlife on FWP’s new Region 1 Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/MontanaFWP.R1

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Recovered Montana Caribou Released Back into the Wilds of British Columbia

A two-year sage grouse trapping project that captured a total of 40 birds on the northern Montana prairie for translocation to Alberta has been completed.

In Canada sage grouse are classified as an endangered species, and wildlife officials say their numbers in southeastern Alberta have declined about 80 percent since 1970. In an effort to increase the population of birds there, Alberta biologists in 2010 asked permission to capture up to 40 sage grouse in Montana and bring them across the international border for re-establishment.

Last year biologists and technicians with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, a ministry within the provincial government, were hampered by poor weather and were only able to capture and moved nine of the birds from southern Phillips County. The final trapping and transferring of 31 additional birds from sites in southern Valley County took place over the past few weeks.

“Unlike last year, this year we had excellent weather and operating conditions, which allowed everything to go smoothly,” said FWP Region 6 Biologist Kelvin Johnson, who coordinated the project on the United States’ side. “The releases also took place without any problems. To date, the birds there appear to be keying in on the habitat. Some birds also appear to be nesting.”

The trapping project involved locating the birds during the day at their breeding display areas, commonly known as leks, and coming back to capture them at night using all-terrain vehicles, spotlights and long-handled nets.

A total of 37 female sage grouse and three males were captured and moved. All captured and released birds were fitted with GPS radios to allow Canadian biologists to follow them and determine their survival and reproductive success.

Biologists say the Canadian birds are naturally associated with the northern Montana sage grouse. In many areas of Montana, particularly in FWP Region 6, sage grouse numbers remain steady and strong because important habitat has been protected.

“This translocation came out of a larger, cooperative conservation and habitat effort called the Northern Sage Brush Steppe Initiative, which has resulted in close coordination over the last six years for the Alberta, Saskatchewan and Montana wildlife agencies,” said FWP Region 6 Supervisor Pat Gunderson.

The sage grouse translocation project – which underwent public review in an Environmental Assessment and approval by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission — is not expected to negatively impact overall bird numbers. In Valley and Phillips counties the estimated minimum spring population of sage grouse has been 15,000 birds over the past five years.

“We feel that helping Alberta wildlife managers maintain their sage grouse population will help to keep the birds off the endangered species list in the United States by maintaining and hopefully expanding their overall range,” Gunderson said.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Final Round of Sage Grouse Trapping and Canadian Translocation Completed

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks in Great Falls has scheduled two more field days for anyone 18 years and older who takes FWP’s online bowhunter education course.

For online students in FWP’s Region 4 the two remaining field days are May 19 and July 14.

State law says all first time bowhunters must take a bowhunter education course. The online course is a chance for an adult to take the course at his, or her, convenience.

All students, whether taking the course in a classroom setting or online, must take a field course to receive their certification card.

Registration is only available on the Internet to those who successfully complete the online course, and space is limited.

To register go to the FWP website at http://fwp.mt.gov. Click on Education, then Hunter Education followed by Bowhunter Education Program and finally Field Day Registration.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Field Days Set for Online Bowhunter Education Students in Montana

A pair of men from the Craig area facing 25 counts related to poaching and illegal outfitting agreed to a plea bargain recently and will pay $21,000 in total restitution and lose forever their privileges to hunt, fish and trap or accompany anyone else doing so.

Steve Bruyere, 52, pleaded guilty to eight misdemeanors: three counts of hunting with an artificial light, hunting from a public highway, trespass, hunting without a valid license, unlawful sale of a game animal, and violation of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission rules.

Bruyere agreed to pay $9,932.60 court costs and restitution for illegally killing a trophy mule deer buck, at least three other mule deer bucks, two bull elk and a black bear.

He was also fined $3,000 and sentenced to 12 months in the county jail. Both were suspended, however, as long as Bruyere pays the restitution.

John Lindow, 23, pleaded guilty to seven misdemeanors: two counts of hunting with an artificial light, two counts of trespass, hunting without hunter orange, unlawful possession of game animals and hunting from a public highway.

Lindow agreed to pay $11,157.60 court costs and restitution for illegally killing a trophy mule deer buck, two other mule deer bucks, two bull elk, two spike bull elk, a 5×5 whitetail buck, a 4×4 whitetail buck, and another whitetail buck.

Lindow was also fined $3,000 and sentenced to 18 months in the county jail. Both were suspended as long as Lindow pays the restitution.

Bruyere and Lindow were sentenced April 25 by Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Dorothy McCarter.

Bruyere and Lindow were arrested Feb. 10, 2011, after a three-year investigation initiated by FWP game warden Bryan Golie, of Cascade, and conducted by FWP investigators.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Two Craig Area Men Sentenced, Fined for Poaching in Montana

A radio-collared woodland caribou that wandered south into Montana from British Columbia has been returned to Canada.

On Thursday, FWP biologists received a report that a caribou was dead in the Salish Mountains in Pinkham Creek south of Eureka.  The report was based on a “mortality signal” from the radio collar the caribou wore. The female caribou was part of a woodland caribou augmentation effort in the south Purcell’s near Cranbrook just across the border.  In this effort, 19 caribou from northern B.C. had been released about 40 miles north of the U. S. border last month.

FWP’s Jim Williams, Tim Thier, and Tim Manley traveled by snowmobiles to the caribou location based on signals from the Argos collar the caribou wore.  They found the caribou alive but unable to stand.  After loading the animal on a sled, they transported her to the trailhead and then on to a veterinarian’s office in Eureka. The veterinarian treated the caribou with a drug to counter the effects of tick paralysis, which was the expected problem.  The caribou was also given two bags of IV fluid to combat dehydration.

FWP contacted biologists in British Columbia and the caribou was transported north.  As of today the animal is on its feet.  If the caribou recovers, B. C. wildlife officials plan to re-release the animal near resident caribou in B. C.

FWP Wildlife Manager Jim Williams noted that it is common for some animals to wander after they are released into new habitat.  Fortunately, this valuable animal was found alive and returned to wildlife managers in Canada.

Caribou were once native to Montana but are now considered very rare.  Occasionally, a caribou wanders south of the Canadian border into Montana.

Contact: Jim Williams, FWP Wildlife Manager, 751-4585.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Wandering Caribou Returned to Canada from Montana