the State. It is believed that the saturation point has been reached 

 in issuing antelope permits to resident hunters. This figure is between 

 20,000 and 25,000 hunters who are interested in antelope hunting. 



Because the permit system will retain control of the antelope 

 population and prevent annihilation in the areas which are easily 

 accessible to large numbers of hunters, it is very desirable to retain 

 the permit system with some modifications. 



Non-resident hunters do not apply for antelope permits because 

 of the restrictive $100 non-resident big game license which is a 

 prerequisite for obtaining any special permit. It is believed that if a 

 special non-resident antelope permit were available for direct sale 

 to antelope hunters, without requirinig the purchase of the $100 non- 

 resident license, several thousand of these permits could be sold, 

 especially in areas of eastern Montana where a surplus antelope 

 problem exists. 



The money that would be spent in Montana by non-resident 

 hunters seeking antelope would be of great economic importance to 

 all of the people of the State. 



If the Montana Fish and Game Commission were also allowed to 

 grant two antelope per permit in certain areas, it would also help 

 solve the problem. 



It is also recommended that a special non-resident deer permit be 

 provided for certain areas without requiring non-resident hunters to 

 purchase the $100 big game license first. 



This permit would also be an inducement to non-residents to 

 come into the eastern part of the State to hunt antelope and at the 

 same time to hunt deer where a deer damage problem exists. In such 

 areas, resident hunters have not been numerous enough to adequately 

 harvest the deer. 



OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES IN LEGISLA- 

 TION have been submitted by the Governor's Committee on Recodifi- 

 cation of Fish and Game Laws. The committee was authorized by the 

 33rd Legislative Assembly which enacted Chapter 140, providing for 

 appointment, powers and duties of this Committee. 



Members are Sen. Don Valiton, Deer Lodge; Rep. R. H. Wiedman, 

 Poison; and John Willard, Helena. This Committee and the Montana 

 Fish and Game Commission worked closely on all sections of the law 

 which were in need of clarification or revision. The proposals were 

 mailed to all sportsmen's organizations in the State for consideration 

 and received wide-spread publicity through radio and newspaper 

 coverage. 



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