> FWP will focus immediate action in areas already occupied by grizzly bears, i.e., 

 Absaroka/Beartooth, Gallatin, Madison, and Gravelly Mountain ranges. 



> FWP will attempt to minimize the number of bears removed from the population. 

 This will also be the case even if this population is delisted. 



> Develop a cost-sharing program to do preventative work, thus encouraging a variety 

 of interest groups to work together with FWP to minimize problems and increase 

 tolerance for bears. 



> FWP will review and adjust the guidelines for dealing with damage to beehives. 



> FWP will consider the actions and potential impacts of programs in Wyoming and 

 Idaho when determining our response. 



An alternative we considered was to provide unfettered flexibility to livestock operators 

 and property owners to deal with conflict situations. However, in FWP's judgment, this 

 approach will fail to provide the necessary assurances for long-term conservation. No 

 other FWP programs for a managed species allows for flexibility without constraints. 



Hunting 



Regulated hunting as a management tool for grizzly bears has a long successful history in 

 Montana. Regulated hunting allows FWP to select against unwary bears or bears that 

 associate and habituate to people. 



Regulated harvest of wildlife is one of the major tools that allows the recovery and 

 maintenance of predators and prey populations in Montana and elsewhere. Persons who 

 participate in that harvest are pivotal to recovery of prey and the predators that depend on 

 it. In addition, regulated harvest of predators builds tolerance by those most negatively 

 impacted by their presence. It is therefore intended that regulated harvest of grizzly bears 

 will be a part of Montana's program and commitment to grizzlies, when and where 

 appropriate. By managing grizzly bears as a game species they are provided recognition 

 as a valuable wildlife species, protected from illegal harvest, afforded population 

 monitoring and research, and all of the other benefits managed species receive. 



To implement this, our preferred approach includes: 



>• Regulated harvest will be a part of Montana's long-term conservation program. 



> Any hunting program will be justified and open to public review, similar to the 

 processes used for all other managed species in Montana, and coordinated with 

 surrounding states to avoid excessive mortality. 



> The female segment of the population will be given additional protections in any 

 proposed hunting program. For example, the killing of females accompanied by 

 young will be prohibited. 



> The purpose for a hunt will be to manage "for the species," and garnering additional 

 public support and ownership to ensure its long-term survival and reoccupancy of 

 habitats. 



> FWP will encourage hunters and other recreationists to carry pepper spray in bear 

 habitat. 



