bears paw outfitter request modified

Bears Paw Outfitter Request Modified

An outfitter’s request to expand guided hunting for deer and elk in the
Bears Paw Mountains has been approved with modifications by the
Montana Board of Outfitters (MBO).

Outfitters who provide services to hunters on private land must have
authorization from the MBO through a Net Client Hunter Use (NCHU) plan
that specifies how many clients can be served. While authority to serve
clients is granted through MBO, outfitted hunters are still required to
obtain the necessary licenses or permits from Fish, Wildlife & Parks. All
elk hunting in the Bears Paw Mountains is by special permit only.

The board took action March 22 and 23 on a request by outfitter
applicant Chris Faber to expand his NCHU to add 5 more hunters using
out-fitter-sponsored elk licenses, 50 more hunters using outfitter-
sponsored deer licenses and 15 hunters using non-outfitter-sponsored
licenses, while op-erating on private land in the Bears Paw Mountains.
The board modified the request, granting Faber authority to serve all 5
clients using outfit-ter-sponsored elk licenses, but only 18 of the
requested 50 clients using outfitter-sponsored deer licenses and 5 of the
15 hunters using non-outfitter-sponsored licenses.

The board’s decision was based on public comment and FWP analysis of
the proposal. Nearly 75 comments were re-ceived on the proposal in De-
cember, and FWP’s analysis indicated that “The average Montana
sportsman stands to lose a substantial amount of access to private lands
that have traditionally been acces-sible for some high quality mule deer
and elk hunting.”

Board of Outfitter members noted that they have no authority to tell
private land-owners how to manage hunting on their private land.