HELENA - After working for a year to provide recommendations and input on the future of grizzly bear management in Montana, the Montana Grizzly Bear Advisory Council released its final report Sept. 10.
“The Grizzly Bear Advisory Council members embraced a true commitment to collaboration in the interest of identifying common ground on a host of issues facing conservation and management of this iconic species,” Governor Steve Bullock said. “I’m grateful for their hard work and look forward to advancing the implementation of many of their recommendations in concert with partners across the state.”
In July 2019, Bullock appointed 18 Montana citizens to work together on the report. The document contains guidance and actionable recommendations for the Governor’s Office, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the Fish and Wildlife Commission and other entities responsible for grizzly bear management and conservation in Montana.
The advisory council was charged with developing recommendations for fundamental guidance and direction on key issues and challenges related to the conservation and management of grizzly bears in Montana. These issues included connectivity, distribution, conflict prevention and response, transplant protocols, the role of hunting, and long-term resource sustainability.
Over the course of 15 meetings, the council reviewed the history of grizzly bear recovery and conservation in Montana, interagency management efforts, legal considerations and grizzly bear distribution. They also used public input to inform their discussions. More than 16,000 public comments were received during the year-long process.
The University of Montana’s Center for Natural Resources & Environmental Policy facilitated the meetings, agendas, minutes, video recordings, public input and other resources.
The recommendations called for additional planning, funding, rulemaking or other policy implementation. Changes would undergo future public processes that include further opportunity for review and input.
The Committee made several recommendations in the 28-page final report. They asked that residents receive consistent messaging around the use and effectiveness of bear spray as well as with food storage requirements across state and federal lands.
Counties and local governments are encouraged to work with local sanitation companies to explore the use of bear-resistant sanitation storage options.
The Montana Grizzly Bear Advisory Council acknowledged that hunting is not likely to be an effective tool for conflict prevention or reduction. They could not reach a consensus that hunting has a role in grizzly bear management. However, they addressed the role of a grizzly bear hunt and offered several considerations, if the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission moves forward with hunting regulations.
The hunting of bears with the intention of lowering density will not mean the removal of all bears in a specific area but rather assisting areas where management challenges are significant. No baiting or any use of anthropogenic attractants can be used.
Female grizzly bears and their dependent young should be protected from a hunter harvest. Hunting seasons may be timed to reduce exposure of females to harvest. Early spring and late fall hunts tend to focus hunting pressure on males.
Grizzly bear license fees should be modeled on moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat fees. Out-of-state hunters must have a licensed guide.
People that draw a grizzly bear license should be required to participate in training on grizzly bear ecology, identification and safety. The report said that a governor’s tag should be sold and a supertag should be drawn giving everyday people for a chance at a tag. All tags should be once-in-a-lifetime.
More information and the full report can be found at fwp.mt.gov/gbac.
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