FWP reviews elk proposals

Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP) is currently in the process of revising the statewide Elk Management Plan, which was last adopted in 2005. FWP hosted a public meeting in the Thompson Falls Elementary School gym last Thursday to gather input about local elk management issues and elk population objectives.

Regional Wildlife Manager Neil Anderson spoke to around 25 community members who attended the meeting. Anderson said public comment is important as it can help guide season regulations. “There are a lot of changes we are seeing on the landscape including elk numbers and distributions,” he said. Anderson also attributes the changing number of people in the area as a potential impact to the local elk population.

Anderson focused on hunting districts in the general vicinity of Thompson Falls including hunting districts 121, 122, 123 and 124. While public comments were not recorded at the meeting, attendees voiced their concerns over bow and rifle season regulations, fire management and predator control.

Anderson went over specific population objectives that are stated in the current Elk Management Plan for each district, encouraging those who did not agree with the numbers to voice their opinions in order to develop a draft for the new plan.

FWP will accept comments through October 15, 2022. Information relative to population objectives can be found at fwp.mt.gov. The public can leave comments through the website, by email or mail.