As hunters venture into the woods and prairies during the big game rifle seasons, the Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) has unveiled its proposals for potential adjustments to hunting regulations.
These suggestions, which cover a range of species from bighorn sheep to black bears, are available online for each region. The public is invited to provide feedback until November 23, with the Fish and Wildlife Commission expected to make decisions during its meeting on December 4.
Here are some key highlights from the elk proposals:
Hunting District 313
This district stretches from the northern boundary of Yellowstone National Park along the east side of the Yellowstone River. It has been a topic of intense discussion in the past, as it serves as a primary corridor for elk migrating from the park into Montana for the winter.
FWP is proposing to expand the quota range for cow elk licenses, increasing it from the current range of 10 to 100 cow elk to a new range of 10 to 200 elk. The elk herd in this area is approximately 350 animals above the population objectives, which aim for a wintering population between 3,000 and 5,000 elk.
A challenge in this district is that Native American tribes with treaty rights to hunt bison also hunt elk, though FWP is unsure of the number of elk taken.
Hunting Districts 525, 535, 540, and 580
These districts cover a vast area, from the Beartooth Mountains in the south to the southern edge of the Big Snowy Mountains, and from the Crazy Mountains in the west to Roundup.
FWP is suggesting the prohibition of cow elk B tag hunting on forest lands in these districts due to public complaints about overcrowding. B tags, which allow hunters to harvest additional female elk alongside a general elk license, have led to issues of overcrowding, which FWP states is causing hunter dissatisfaction, a potential decrease in elk harvest on National Forest lands, and a shift of elk from these public lands onto private properties.
Hunting District 380
Situated in the Elkhorn Mountains south of Helena, this district has experienced a decline in cow elk, particularly on forest lands. Consequently, the proposal includes reducing elk B licenses and discontinuing a three-week cow elk hunt.
Hunting District 391
Located just across Canyon Ferry Reservoir from HD 380 and encompassing parts of the Belt Mountains, FWP is proposing to allow general elk license holders the chance to harvest a cow elk during the late shoulder season near Duck Creek.
This past winter, one group of 600 elk was observed in the southern area, while “hardly any” elk were seen on forest lands. FWP noted that most elk in the southern part of the district are often inaccessible to hunters during the general season due to limited public hunting access to many private properties.
After the general season concludes, FWP hopes that some elk will migrate into areas where they can be harvested during the late shoulder season. FWP highlighted a recurring issue where landowners who permit hunting access typically have few elk on their property during the general hunting season but face challenges with elk remaining on their land throughout the year, particularly in winter, due to hunting access decisions made by neighboring properties.
Let the news come to you
Stay updated with our free email newsletters for the latest headlines and e-edition notifications.
Source: https://www.livingstonenterprise.com/news/montana-fwp-proposes-elk-hunting-changes-for-2026-2027-seasons/article_17c91268-d12f-5d16-abe3-0e30f18a56ca.html
