Final Report on 2010 Tentatives

Feb. 11, 2010

The final FWP Commissioner’s Tentatives meeting took place on February 11th which now establishes our hunting seasons for the next two years. Below are the results of the primary Tentatives the MBA was watching and working on. The full list of results will be out on the FWP website shortly for those who want more information and the region-specific decisions.

Move nonresident deadline for buck and bulls: They followed FWP recommendation to stay the way it was in 2009. (For those who don't know, FWP makes changes to the Tentatives Master List based on all the public comments they receive and these are presented at this meeting as their recommendations to the Commissioners)

Create youth deer hunt 3rd Thursday and Friday of Oct.: They followed FWP recommendation to have the hunt but put a 2 year sunset on it (was not a FWP recommendation), meaning in 2 years it ends and they would have to put it out as a new Tentative again in 2012 to continue past 2011. This will not conflict with the archery season in 2010 and 2011.

HD 290 deer: They followed FWP recommendation to reduce doe opportunities until populations recover.

HD 309 deer: They followed FWP recommendation to increase OTC doe licenses from 1 to 5.

Bundling of 23 districts outside the Breaks: They followed FWP recommendation to keep 2009's 8 bundles and decrease the number of tags available in each of those bundles for 2010 to 100% of the 1st and 2nd choice applicants from 2009. They also voted to reduce those tag numbers again in 2011 to 90% of the 1st and 2nd choice applicants from 2010 (was not a FWP recommendation). They also voted (at the MBA's continued request) to remove HD 441 from the 23 districts and voted not to remove HD 420 (the MBA had also requested 420 be removed).

HD 425 to be added to 23 districts outside the breaks: They did not follow FWP recommendation and instead voted to not have any limited rifle tags in HD 425 in which case the archery will remain as a general area as it was 2009 instead of going to the 23 districts.

HD 290 OTC archery cow tag: They followed FWP recommendation and created the OTC archery cow tags to run through 1/1 each year.

HD 298 OTC archery cow tag: They followed FWP recommendation and created this opportunity during archery season.

900 Antelope earlier draw date: They followed FWP recommendation and did not change the drawing date and in so doing maintained the opportunity to put in for 2nd and 3rd choice. It will remain the way it was in 2009.

Archery bear: They followed FWP recommendation to create the archery only bear season starting with the opening of deer and elk season with the additional provision also recommended by FWP to not exceed 20% of the harvest quota in black bear HD's with quotas established.

Archery mountain lion: They followed FWP recommendation to create the archery only lion season that will fall within the "season without dogs" season structure.

As you'll see, the MBA did quite well in all that we supported and opposed. Bowhunters now have additional opportunity to harvest a bear and lion during archery only seasons that were not possible without the passage of House Bill 74 and this subsequent vote by the Commissioners to create these seasons. I can tell you as a whole the MBA is highly respected by FWP and the Commission. Thanks go out to all of you, our members, that have built our reputation over the years and worked this year to make sure our voice was heard.

We will also be watching for opportunity for the wolf archery-only season as well later this spring.

Steve Kamps – Tentatives Committee Chairman

MBA Positions on 2010 Tentatives

January 14, 2010

FWP Proposal: Assemble existing License Permit Types (LPTs) 401-15, 411-15, 420-15, 500-15, 502-15, 580-15, 590-15 and 799-15 for all or portions of the 23 HDs 401, 403, 441, 450, 411, 412, 426, 511, 530, 420, 447, 455, 500, 570, 502, 510, 520, 575, 580, 590, 702, 704, 705 (as described in 2009 regulations) into one bundle/LPT 900-15. This permit group would be valid only during the archery season throughout the entire area described in total by the 23 districts or portions of districts (see 2009 regulations). These permit holders could also archery hunt in other general license districts. Total number of permits would be equal to the sum of the first and second choice resident and nonresident eligible applicants from the 2009 drawing process. This sum is 2950 (rounded from 2947) and would accommodate 95% of the 2009 eligible resident applications and 45% of the 2009 eligible nonresident applications. This number of permits would apply to both the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Applicants may apply first, second or third choice. Antlerless elk would remain available on the general license during the archery season.
MBA Position – Oppose limited tags
The MBA opposes limited tags in the 23 Districts Outside the Breaks (23 OD) as we always have because they are not necessary. We will acknowledge that bundling would provide more mobility for residents. Propose that HD 441 be removed from limited archery tags due to very strong case for limited tags not being justifiable. We are also looking at considering other districts that may have a strong case for not fitting in the 23 OD including HD 401, 403, 450, 455, 702, 704, and 705.

FWP Proposal: HD 425 – create five ES permits valid throughout HD; add HD archery regulations for 23 HDs outside Breaks (same permit level as proposal above)
MBA Position – Oppose
This HD is proposed to go to limited rifle tags, so because of the precedent that was set with the 23OD, it would go to limited archery tags too even though there is no need. During the archery season there are not leasing and harboring issues, overcrowding, not much non-resident participation, or concern for shifting of hunters from other limited draw areas.

Additional MBA Proposal:
HD 441 and 420 – Eliminate the limited archery elk permits from these HD’s and re-establish them as general archery districts again. During the archery season there are not access issues, leasing and harboring issues, overcrowding, not much non-resident participation, or concern for shifting of hunters from other limited draw areas. During the archery season, elk in these HD are largely on public land. The main reason for the permits being limited for rifle is because these are migratory herds of elk that are susceptible when they come down during the rifle season. Because of the specific circumstances in these hunting districts it does not make sense to limit archery permits for elk just because the rifle permits are limited.

FWP Proposal: Move nonresident application deadline for either-sex elk permits and antlered buck mule deer permits to March 15. Drawing allotment would be 10% of previous year’s number of permits.
MBA Position – Oppose
This will give NR 10% of the permits instead of up to 10% as it now stands. It will also put non-residents 2 ½ months ahead of the residents in knowing they drew a permit which would allow some of them to lease up ground sooner in the year or get permission to hunt before residents. Some places allow access on a first come first served basis which would automatically put residents at a disadvantage. It would also allow outfitters to book clients earlier and there too lease up more ground before residents even know they have drawn. This would create a large inequality and make access problems even larger.

FWP Proposal: HDs 700/701 -- reduce archery ES permits 798-15 from 820 to 600.
MBA Position – Neutral
35% of the tags went to NR last year and there were surplus tags left over. 600 tags might limit NR at 10% of the tags and allow most 1st and 2nd choice R to draw.

FWP Proposal: HD 290 – create unlimited OTC archery only antlerless elk license 290-80 from 9/5-1/1.
MBA Position – Support
This extends the OTC cow tag through the entire archery season of 1/1 rather than just the middle of October. Elk populations are doing well.

FWP Proposal: HD 298 – add HD to unlimited OTC archery only antlerless elk licenses 002-80
MBA Position – Support
Elk are well over objective in this district.

FWP Proposal: LPT 002-80 – adjust archery only antlerless elk license 002-80 to be valid only in portions of HDs 201 and 203.
MBA Position – Support
They are taking portions of districts 201 and 203 out of this opportunity because of lower elk numbers.

FWP Proposal: Replace all antlerless and brow-tined bull/antlerless elk permits (hereafter “antlerless permits”) with antlerless elk licenses. This replacement would exchange these permits for antlerless licenses everywhere antlerless (or BTB/antlerless) permits are in place or proposed to be in place. Unless otherwise noted, biennial quota ranges for antlerless permits would apply to antlerless licenses. Holding this license would not limit the hunter to just an antlerless elk in the district for which the license is valid. All other components (time, place) would remain unchanged in this conversion. These antlerless licenses are “stand alone” licenses with no prerequisite purchase except the conservation license. They are commonly referred to as “A9/B12” licenses in reference to their statutory identification (resident and nonresident versions of the same license). This proposal would not preclude individual districts from offering permits in addition to these antlerless licenses to secure individual hunter harvest of two antlerless elk. Landowner preference extended to antlerless licenses. If adopted and due to the conversion to a license, this proposal would separate the current antlerless elk archery permits 410-16, 620-16 and 798-16 from the prerequisite first choice ES permit application in those districts.
MBA Position – Neutral
This replaces elk permits with licenses (A9/B12 tags) which cost $16 more and would allow hunters to take two elk in a year and instead of having to shoot a cow (one elk total) in the district they drew, they can shoot a bull and a cow or two cows.

FWP Proposal: Adjust the antelope 900 archery only license structure and application process to include a separate application process from the existing antelope application and drawing process. Specifically, adjust the antelope 900 archery only license to first and only choice with an application deadline of May 1 (same as Moose, Sheep, Goat and Bison). Application for this license would then preclude the applicant from applying for other antelope licenses to be allocated in the existing Antelope drawing with an application deadline of June 1. If successful in securing an antelope 900 license, the applicant may still purchase up to two antelope doe/fawn 900-30 licenses and could still purchase any surplus antelope licenses within the existing limitation of only three antelope licenses per hunter only one of which may be either sex.
MBA Position - Oppose
This came from concerns about how late people, mainly NR, were finding out if they had this tag or not in relation to the Aug 15th opener. It would be nice to have the earlier draw date, however it isn’t worth giving up our option for 2nd and 3rd choice drawings. Should the 900 tag get harder and harder to draw, the 2nd and 3rd choices would be all the more important over time.

FWP Proposal: Move the opening day of the general firearm season for antelope to Saturday of Columbus Day weekend and adjust the antelope archery only season to end Friday the day before this opener. The proposed opening date for the general firearm season for antelope would thus overlap with the opening date for the pheasant season.
MBA Position – Neutral
We lose one day of antelope archery season. It’s more of a rifle issue. This has no effect on the 900 antelope archery season.

FWP Proposal: Initiate archery only season for black bear to start with the general archery opener on the first Saturday in September. The black bear archery only season would be open in any open management unit and would end not later (if quotas apply) than the day before the Fall black bear firearm season starts (proposed to be September 15). Any bear legally taken will apply towards any established quotas and subquotas and any harvest will be curtailed by quota/subquota closures.
MBA Position – Support
FWP did not go with MBA’s proposed Aug. 15th date or the spring proposal because those dates do not fit within their current version of the Bear Plan and concern over additional potential sow with cub harvest and accidental grizzly harvest. We will take what we can get for now and work on providing input to the Bear Plan next time it is revised to allow for an earlier fall season and an extended spring season for archery.

FWP Proposal: Initiate archery only season for mountain lion to would start with the general archery opener on the first Saturday in September. The mountain lion archery only season would be open in any open management unit and would end not later than the closing of the general archery season on the Sunday one week before the start of the Fall deer and elk general rifle season. Any lion legally taken will apply towards currently established Fall subquotas. That is, not more than 20% of the total individual district(s) lion quota or special licenses may be taken during Fall general archery and general rifle seasons. If the total quota or special licenses are less than five, not more than one lion may be taken during these Fall seasons.
MBA Position – Support
This is more archery opportunity with expected low harvest rates. This season will still fit within the “boot hunters” (season without dogs) 20% quota and will not take any more lions from hound season than is already allowed with the 20%. There will be issues brought up that are boot season related but not specifically bow season related and we will need to separate the two with FWP and the Commissioners.

FWP Proposal: Create youth (12 – 16 years of age) deer hunting season on third Thursday and Friday of October. Accompanying adult required comparable to other youth days.
MBA Position – Oppose
It turns out the way this proposal is written it falls during archery season about 3 out of 7 years. The MBA is in favor of additional youth opportunities, but opposes this proposal as written because of hunter orange/safety concerns and concern for potential conflicts between archers and rifle hunters in the field during those 3 of 7 years. We will suggest the season be "The Thursday and Friday before the rifle opener each year" rather than “the 3rd Thursday and Friday of October”. This would mean youth could take advantage of their annual vacation this time of year around 4 of 7 years and would have to skip school to take advantage of the other 3 or go after school if possible.

Proposal Being Scoped During the Public Meetings: In HD 290 convert general license either sex deer archery season to antlered buck only. Also eliminate the up to three 290-10 OTC B licenses for antlerless white tail deer and convert the fifty 290-20 B either sex deer licenses to antlered buck only.
MBA Position – Support
All the data shows that deer populations in the Blackfoot Valley are on a downward spiral and are at lows not seen in recent history. FWP is proposing to almost completely eliminate all doe harvest opportunities in the entire Blackfoot until populations begin to recover at which time they have expressed the willingness to return those opportunities as soon as it is justifiable. If bowhunters want to turn these trends around as soon as possible, then a short-term loss of opportunity seems necessary. Most expressed interest in getting predator populations under control that for the most part in the valley are on the increase including having lion quotas increased.

FWP Proposal: HD 309 – increase OTC antlerless WT licenses from 1 to 5 per person
MBA Position – Support
There are game damage issues and deer numbers are robust.

FWP Proposal: HD 388 – clarify language of Exclusion Zone in Weapons Restriction Area “Outside Weapons Restriction Area”; clarify in Deer/Elk and Antelope HD 388
MBA Position – Support
Simply looks like it makes the confusing language a bit less confusing.

Report to the Members on the Proposed 2010 FWP Tentatives

December 30, 2009

The 2010 FWP Tentatives being considered by the FWP Commissioners are out for review and public comment. This public comment period ends January 22, 2010. Most of the decisions on these Tentatives will be made by the Commissioners at their February Commissioners meeting. To see a full list of the proposed Tentatives you can go to the FWP Web site or click on this link: http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/oppForPubCommentDefault.html.

I’ve included a list of the Tentatives the MBA is following more closely and our position on each based on input from our members and the MBA Board of Directors. If you would like more detailed information on the MBA’s positions than those that are given here, contact your local MBA Regional Representative or Director At Large, a member of the MBA Tentatives Committee, or myself.

There are several ways to comment to FWP on these proposals. One is to go to the public meetings FWP is holding around the state and provide your comments directly to FWP personnel at those meetings. You can view the public meetings schedule at http://fwp.mt.gov/content/getItem.aspx?id=41289. Another is to go to the FWP Web site and comment in writing on each proposal. With this approach, you know that your exact written comments are being seen by both the Department personnel as well as the Commissioners. You can do this at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/N2CCH9R. You can also write the Commissioners directly at the addresses found at http://fwp.mt.gov/doingBusiness/insideFwp/commission/members.html.

We would like all our members that can, to at least do the second option and provide your input on these proposed changes to our bowhunting seasons. In order to maximize the effectiveness of your comments, I would suggest you identify yourself as a bowhunter or sportsman rather than an MBA member. This might help avoid the possibility of your comments being lumped in with the MBA’s comments since the MBA will also be providing comments through these venues. It is very important that you comment, as the more comments that are heard, the more likely the Commissioners will be to decide in favor of our bowhunting seasons.

Steven B. Kamps
MBA Tentatives Committee Chair

MBA Positions on 2010 Tentatives

December 30, 2009

FWP Proposal: HDs 700/701 – reduce archery ES permits 798-15 from 820 to 600.
MBA Position – Neutral
35% of the tags went to NR last year and there were surplus tags left over. 600 tags might limit NR at 10% of the tags and allow most 1st and 2nd choice R to draw.

FWP Proposal: HD 298 – add HD to unlimited OTC archery only antlerless elk licenses 002-80
MBA Position – Support
Elk are well over objective in this district.

FWP Proposal: Adjust the antelope 900 archery only license structure and application process to include a separate application process from the existing antelope application and drawing process. Specifically, adjust the antelope 900 archery only license to first and only choice with an application deadline of May 1 (same as Moose, Sheep, Goat and Bison). Application for this license would then preclude the applicant from applying for other antelope licenses to be allocated in the existing Antelope drawing with an application deadline of June 1. If successful in securing an antelope 900 license, the applicant may still purchase up to two antelope doe/fawn 900-30 licenses and could still purchase any surplus antelope licenses within the existing limitation of only three antelope licenses per hunter only one of which may be either sex.
MBA Position – Oppose
This came from concerns about how late people, mainly NR, were finding out if they had this tag or not in relation to the Aug 15th opener. It would be nice to have the earlier draw date, however it isn’t worth giving up our option for 2nd and 3rd choice drawings. Should the 900 tag get harder and harder to draw, the 2nd and 3rd choices would be all the more important over time.

FWP Proposal: HD 309 – increase OTC antlerless WT licenses from 1 to 5 per person
MBA Position – Support
There are game damage issues and deer numbers are robust.

FWP Proposal: Move nonresident application deadline for either-sex elk permits and antlered buck mule deer permits to March 15. Drawing allotment would be 10% of previous year’s number of permits.
MBA Position – Neutral
This fixes the two tiered NR application process and allows NR and outfitters to know they drew the permit earlier, however it also gives NR a guaranteed 10% of the permits rather than up to 10%. Because NR sometimes draw more than 10% of the permits in districts that are undersubscribed by R, this could actually lead to less NR drawing tags during the drawing overall, but they would still have the option to pick up surplus tags in undersubscribed districts.