BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — State wildlife commissioners have agreed to consider ideas other than hunting restrictions to try to recover a dwindling elk herd near Gardiner.
The Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks had suggested capping elk permits in the area to 75 to help shore up mature elk numbers, but area residents and outfitters opposed it. As many as 1,500 permits have been issued in recent years.
The Fish and Wildlife Commission voted Thursday to take public comment on other possibilities including closing part of the district or shortening the season. Other ideas include not allowing hunters with permits near Gardiner to hunt elsewhere in the state and requiring hunters kill only bulls with six-point antlers or larger. Commission chairman Dan Vermillion said capping hunting permits is still a possibility.
Public comment will be taken through Jan. 22.
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