Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet at in the Old Supreme Court Chambers at the Montana State Capitol in Helena on Dec. 10.

Hunting seasons for the next two years top the agenda and some proposals reflect FWP’s effort to ask hunters, landowners, outfitters and others to become involved earlier than ever before to help set upcoming hunting season regulations.

In years past, FWP would propose “tentative” seasons and season structures, from general regulations to types of special permits offered in specific areas and then ask for comment on the proposals.

This summer, FWP invited the public to list or suggest things to change or consider for any upcoming big game or upland game bird hunting season before FWP developed tentative regulation proposals.

“We think this new way of doing business worked well,” said FWP Director Joe Maurier. “We held seven meetings across the state, received more than 370 comments, and came away with several pretty good proposals.”

Some proposed changes for the 2010 -11 hunting seasons include:

• moving the general deer and elk season opener to Saturday, instead of Sunday;
• issuing antlerless elk licenses instead of antlerless elk permits,
• adopting a new four-year waiting period for those who obtain some either-sex elk permits;
• regrouping the 23 elk-archery districts outside the Missouri River Breaks into one “bundle” of limited either-sex archery permits;
• creating a more conservative elk season in southwestern Montana’s hunting district 310 in response to population declines;
• allowing archers to pursue bears, mountain lions and wolves during the archery season, which typically opens in early September;
• creating a two-day deer season for youth to run in October on the Thursday and Friday before the general big game opener;
• requiring nontoxic shot for all bird hunting on wildlife management areas.

“It’s important to remember that these are only proposals at this point,” Maurier said. “On Dec. 10, commissioners will approve, reject or modify the proposals, and then those ultimately moved forward will undergo an intensive 43-day public comment period that will run through most of January.”

The Montana State Capitol is on the 1200 block of E. Sixth Ave. in Helena. The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m.   Live a udio of the meeting will be steamed via FWP’s Web site at fwp.mt.gov. Click the live audio button available Dec. 10. TVMT, a state run television service, will broadcast the meeting live to more than 20 communities via local cable providers. A full agenda and list of issues is available online at fwp.mt.gov. Click “FWP Commission.”

FWP ensures its meetings are fully accessible to those with disabilities. Individuals with special needs may request arrangements by contacting FWP at 406-444-3186.

The number of tags available may have increased due to return of unsold outfitter allocated tags.

You can get all the information here!

MISSOULA, Mont.—Flu is on everyone’s mind this autumn. So for hunters who start feeling lousy upon arrival in elk camp, the diagnosis may seem obvious. But, like skiers and mountain climbers, elk hunters at high elevations also are prone to altitude sickness with symptoms that look and feel like the flu—headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, coughing, shortness of breath and trouble sleeping.

Ways to prevent the flu are well publicized, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is offering the following tips for avoiding altitude sickness.

Altitude sickness is caused by thin air at high elevations. Your body must work harder to maintain normal oxygen levels in the blood. Breathing and pulse rates increase. Still, the lack of oxygen can knock a hunter down especially if they go too hard too soon.

“Most of us live at a much lower elevation than elk do. That alone puts many hunters at a disadvantage even before they begin their first stalk,” said Cameron Hanes, a fitness and bowhunting authority as well as TV show host and columnist for RMEF.

Hanes says most sufferers adapt to high altitude by the fourth day. The following tips can help you make better use of your first three days in elk country.

• When you arrive in high country, avoid physical exertion for the first 24 hours. This can be tough when you’ve been looking forward to the hunt all year, so if you can’t or won’t take a full day to adjust, be smart. Don’t go full bore right out of the gate.

• Hunt high, sleep low. At elevations above 5,000 feet, try to gain no more than 2,000 feet per day. You can hunt higher as long as you go back down 2,000 feet to sleep.

• Ascend very slowly past 8,000 feet. Acclimatize yourself. Acclimatization helps cells get along on a smaller oxygen budget. By gaining altitude slowly, your body will adjust gradually with few if any symptoms of altitude sickness.

• If traveling by air to a hunt above 8,000 feet, try to incorporate a layover of one to two days at an intermediate altitude.

• Drink water copiously and constantly.

• Avoid alcohol for the first few days. Alcohol dehydrates you and drinking at high altitudes amplifies its affect.

• Consume a high-carbohydrate diet. Lots of granola bars, trail mix, etc.

• The prescription drug acetazolamide (Diamox) can be helpful as a preventive treatment but always consult with your doctor first.

• Fitness at sea level doesn’t guarantee an easier time when you’re at 10,000 feet, but being in good shape makes it more likely that your lungs can cope with the challenges of the high life.

If these tips don’t work, and if your symptoms persist even at lower altitudes, you may indeed have the flu.

Hanes serves RMEF as host of “Elk Chronicles” on Outdoor Channel and as a columnist for “Bugle” magazine. His second book, “Backcountry Bowhunting, A Guide to the Wild Side,” is currently in its fifth printing and is available at www.cameronhanes.com.

Economic opportunities come to communities in different ways and during different times of the year. Most towns in southeastern Montana (Region 7) have annual events that occur year after year and bring an infusion of dollars into the community. In Miles City the Bull Sale in February, Bucking Horse Sale in the spring and the county fair in August are income-generating activities that happen each and every year. Hunting season in the spring and the fall brings a consistent economic gain to most towns in southeastern Montana. Many small businesses across eastern Montana understand the importance of the hunter’s dollar each fall and they depend on that consistent income. Those of us who hunt, fish, camp, watch wildlife, hike and generally enjoy spending our time outdoors realize that it’s costly to do these things. The dollars recreationists spend are an important source of annual income to our communities in southeastern Montana and add to the strength of the local economy.

According Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ Responsive Management Unit, hunters spend millions of dollars each year in support of their outdoor passions. Each year the responsive management unit computes the average amount of money per day that residents and non-residents spend hunting in Montana. FWP Research and Technical Services Section produces a Harvest Survey that shows the hunter days that residents and non-residents devoted to hunting different species in each of the seven FWP regions.

The data recovered from the 2008 deer, elk, antelope and upland game bird hunting season indicated that hunters spent over $23 million dollars in southeastern Montana during the fall of 2008. That’s a lot of money in a short period of time.

In southeastern Montana, deer hunters expended the largest amount at $11.3M. Next came the antelope hunters at $4.7M. Upland game bird hunters spent $4.6M and elk hunters $2.4M. The costs for licenses are not included in these expenditures.

The Block Management Program provided $1,113,168 paid to 343 cooperators enrolled in the program for the 2008 hunting season. This included $53,008 in direct payments for weed control. Hunters used the program to find places to hunt, amounting to 85,723 hunter days. The compensation landowners receive for hunter impacts assists with operational expenses on the ranch/farm and frequently those dollars are spent in local communities.

Local business experience a healthy increase in patronage associated with the fall hunting season. Most of those businesses are heavily dependant on the customer base associated with outdoor recreation throughout the year.

Hunters arrive in the fall, after the summer tourist season is winding down. The expenditure hunter’s make are important for the local economy and provide a steady and consistent income source each fall.

Jerry Churchill & his '08 Elkhorn bull elk

This is a great article to provide us with yet another way to prove that the outdoors is truly good for you!

The article is written by Diane Tipton who is an Information Officer for the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Diane states that hunting can be a healthy workout for the physically fit, but couch potatoes who set out Oct. 25 for the general hunting season with a rifle and an elk license may risk cardiovascular and other health-related issues.

And they are doing something about the situation.

Read the full article here!

Here is the updated information on the Nonresident Deer & Elk Tag Availability for Idaho Fish and Game.

Note: The number of tags available may have increased due to return of unsold outfitter allocated tags.

Cameron Hanes is a Hoyt Pro-Staffer, Celebrated backcountry bowhunter, fitness guru and insane marathon runner!

Cameron Hanes one of the most hard-core bowhunters you’ll find anywhere and he’ll be sharing his expertise, adventures, and his proven exercise regimen for elk hunting on Hoyt.com

Read the full article here.

Mark is in Santa Fe, New Mexico right now. Next stop is the eastern edge of the Gila National Forest to hopefully find another great bull! Andrew Crow harvested his first ever elk in the Monroe Unit, this is the same unit that the Spider Bull was taken last season and Mark had to enjoy his “Tag Soup” in the North Cache!

Mark has been regularly submitting photos, blog entries, and videos to O.L. for the past several weeks, part of the “Live Hunt with Mark Seacat“. The Live Hunt is definitely the best place to keep up with his fall schedule and whereabouts!

Mark and Outdoor Life would love it if you would comment as often as possible.

There are some great hunts scheduled throughout the entire hunting season and Mark is looking forward to sharing them with everyone!!!

But, the only way you will stay updated is if you check it out here!

Photo by Chis Awe

Well said!  How many of hunters feel like Chris?!

Read his article here!

Photo by VDIGIF

Dayne Shuda has provided access to information on all of the Federal Recreation Areas in the United States that are open for hunting!

If you’re looking for some public hunting ground information, start your research here!

Thank you Dayne!