There were suggestions specific to how to conduct a hunt (spring or fall), and how to 

 sell licenses. These will be more appropriately discussed if and when a specific hunt is 

 proposed. 



FWP recognizes a need for ongoing education to reduce the potential for mistaken 

 identification mortality and for enforcement to minimize any illegal mortalities. Any 

 mortality due to a hunt would be considered in total mortality management programs 

 and coordinated with Idaho and Wyoming. 



Finally, there was a recommendation that all black bear hunting be closed in grizzly 

 bear areas. FWP believes this approach would eliminate or alienate a group of people 

 who support bear programs and would limit opportunities for future expansion of the 

 grizzly bear population. 



Some opposed to any hunt stated that females with cubs would be killed, that there will 

 be bear baiting, and that there will be various other abuses. These types of situations 

 are illegal and will be enforced with existing and any future statutory authority. It also 

 should be noted that there are portions of southwestern Montana that will never be 

 hunted both within and outside the RCA. However, to promote a broader recovery and 

 expanded local support FWP will need to have this management tool option in some 

 situations and over time. This approach has proven its success with other wildlife 

 species including other large predatory species in Montana. 



Some of those opposed to hunting also indicated that they feel the FWP Commissioners 

 are biased, and are reluctant to work with them on their issues. The FWP Commission 

 has been granted authority to establish hunting seasons by the State Legislature. The 

 procedures utilized provide for public comment and scrutiny before decisions are made. 



Expansion of Food Storage Orders In Bear Habitat: Many people commented 

 favorably on this aspect of the plan. Most recommended that FWP actively pursue 

 expansion of food storage regulations to all bear habitats (both black and grizzly) in 

 Montana. In addition, there was widespread support for having FWP assist with 

 enforcing those regulations. These types of regulations can be controversial if 

 developed and implemented without active local involvement and responsiveness to 

 local concerns. This is an area where the local work groups identified in the plan could 

 actively participate and build support. We recognize that in order to implement these 

 food storage guidelines, we will have to work with other state and federal agencies and 

 through their processes as well. 



Implementation Schedule: Some comments recommend a clearly defined 

 implementation schedule. This is somewhat problematic because the plan is intended 

 to describe a management program for a post-delisted population of grizzly bears in 

 southwestern Montana. No one knows, however, if or when delisting will occur. In 

 addition, some parts of the plan are already implemented while others may or may not 

 be implemented regardless of the population's federal status. The chart below provides 

 a general outline of some of these. 



109 



