illegal to kill females accompanied by cubs or young and seasons can be timed to reduce female 

 mortality. 



5. After March 27, 1987, a state statute was implemented which only allows someone to kill one 

 grizzly bear in that person's lifetime (87-2-702). 



6. The FWP Commission has the authority to close seasons at any time if mortality was excessive, 

 i.e. occurring at levels which would have long-term negative impacts on the population due to 

 unforeseen circumstances. 



7. FWP management experience has shown that while a general managed hunt can reduce some 

 conflict situations; a "damage hunt" targeting individual problem bears has demonstrated this 

 approach is of limited value in the management program. Therefore, we do not intend to use this 

 approach for the following reasons: 



a. Damage hunts characterize the species as a "problem" instead of the valuable wildlife 

 resource thev represent. 



b. Response time is critical in damage situations and locating a hunter can delay response 

 time. 



c. There are ethical problems with using technology, for example radio collars, to locate and 

 kill problem animals. 



d. Many conflict animals are inaccessible to hunting during daylight hours. 



e. There are ethical problems associated with FWP "guiding" a hunter toward an individual 

 bear. 



8. No baiting or use of dogs to hunt grizzlies is permitted. 



9. Any bear taken must be used for food. It is illegal to waste bear meat or leave it in the field. 

 Also, bears will be hunted when their fur is in good condition to allow complete use of animals 

 harvested. 



10. Under MCA 87-3-110, it is illegal to buy or sell grizzly bear parts unless they have been registered 

 with FWP. 



Montana's hunting season setting process is an open and dynamic process, although it may be unfamiliar 

 to non-hunters. The following is a synopsis of the process: A proposal is generated by a staff biologist or 

 a group of biologists. The proposal is accompanied by a justification that relies heavily on biological data 

 and includes population objectives, trends, habitat types, weather trends, and social constraints. The 

 proposal is next reviewed internally and if found adequate is sent to the FWP Commission. After 

 reviewing the proposal and justification, the Commission at its December meeting adopts, modifies, or 

 rejects it as a tentative. If adopted as a tentative, it is then released for public review and comment. The 

 public review process occurs annually in January and February. During this period, biologists around 

 the state conduct public meetings and formal hearings in nearly all of the major cities and towns across 

 the state as well as with any groups or organizations that request them. 



Additionally, the tentatives are published and otherwise made available to any who wishes to review and 

 comment on them. At the end of the comment period, all of the comments received during the meetings 

 and any written or other verbal comments received during the comment period are summarized and sent 

 on to the Commission for its review. In early February, the Commission then formally either accepts, 

 modifies, or rejects the proposals based on the biological justification and the social concerns expressed 

 during the review period. Additionally, the public can also make proposals to the Commission in the 

 form of a tentative at the December meeting. This process is repeated on a biennial basis. 



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