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House committee advances resolution urging protection of November mule deer hunt
Summary
The House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee voted to advance House Resolution 6, urging Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Fish and Game Commission to preserve Montana's traditional November mule deer hunt and to use district-level management. The committee passed an amendment and advanced the resolution to the House floor on a 19-1 vote.
Representative Shannon Maness presented House Resolution 6 on behalf of sponsors, saying the measure urges the Fish and Game Commission and Fish, Wildlife and Parks to preserve Montana's traditional November mule deer hunt and to consider hunter survey results favoring rut-season opportunity.
The resolution, patterned after House Bill 139, cites Fish, Wildlife and Parks surveys from 2011 and 2022 showing that most Montana hunters support current November mule deer season dates and hunting during the rut. In his opening, Maness said the resolution would urge the commission to "preserve the long held traditions of November mule deer hunt and to resist any pressure to move mule deer hunting sooner into the month of October."
Proponents who testified included Matt Leo of the Montana chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, who said his group supports "the intent of preserving the opportunity to hunt mule deer during the rut," and Jeff Darragh, executive director of Montana Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, who described November mule deer hunting as "a long standing tradition in Montana" and praised Fish, Wildlife and Parks for taking steps such as reducing doe harvest where appropriate. Other supporters included Mark Lambrecht, Sarah Clerget of the Outdoor Heritage Coalition and Bitterroot hunter Keith Kubista. An informational witness, Quentin Kujala, represented the director of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and stood for questions from committee members.
Committee members questioned whether the studies and survey language cited in the resolution cover all districts or specific regions. Representative Deming reiterated skepticism about the scientific basis for limiting buck harvest in November, and Representative France recommended inviting Fish, Wildlife and Parks back to brief the committee on population and survey methods in a future session.
During executive action the committee considered amendment HR6.1.1, described by Representative Koenauer as bipartisan language that improves the resolution. The amendment passed on a voice vote with multiple ayes by proxy recorded. The committee then voted on the amended resolution and the chair announced the motion passed; the committee reported 19 ayes and 1 no. HR 6 will advance to the full House for consideration.
The committee recorded no formal opponents at the hearing. The resolution does not alter season-setting authority; it is a legislative expression urging the commission to prioritize opportunity-based management, consider district-level restrictions, rotate restrictions where needed, and restrict antlerless harvest in districts below population objectives. The next step is floor action; the committee named no specific floor date in the hearing record.
