July 25, 2025

MISSOULA – The University of Montana and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation are excited to announce the recently formed Center for Hunting and Conservation to advance science, research, education and outreach to shape the future of land and wildlife management in the United States.

The center builds on existing partnership between UM’s No. 1-ranked wildlife biology program and RMEF, one of the most effective conservation and hunting advocacy organizations in North America.

“UM and RMEF have a shared goal to ensure the long-term sustainability of America’s hunting-conservation culture and the economic opportunities it creates – not only across our state, but across our great nation,” said UM President Seth Bodnar. “The pressure on our wildlife and natural resources has never been greater, and now is the time to rapidly advance the sound science, education and stakeholder engagement that is needed to protect our hunting culture and outdoor way of life.”

The center will be the first of its kind in the region, focused primarily on advancing wildlife research and the vital role hunting plays in wildlife management. The Montana Board of Regents established the center as a result of a significant long-term financial commitment from RMEF to UM’s W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation.

“RMEF coined the phrase hunting is conservation, and we are proud to now join UM in the establishment of the Center for Hunting and Conservation,” said RMEF President and CEO Kyle Weaver. “This center will be the leading authority on hunting, conservation and wildlife management, driven by, and rooted in, sound research and science.” 

The center will have three primary goals.

First, advance science and research at the intersection of hunting and conservation. By bringing together world-class researchers, the center will expand opportunities to advance effective wildlife management techniques supported by extensive research and data.

Second, provide an expanded platform for UM’s Wild Sustenance Program, a course available to UM students who are novice hunters. Launched in conjunction with RMEF, the class is open to students of all UM majors who wish to pursue knowledge and experience related to the full cycle of hunting and its role in conservation.

Third, engage in broad outreach promoting the best-available science and data on wildlife management and conservation, including the vital role of hunting. The center will additionally provide decision-makers access to the most recent, accurate and relevant data, resulting in more-informed wildlife management decisions, effective conservation and sustainable hunting opportunities.

Led by a director, the center also aims to expand UM’s research portfolio, with plans to attract additional research support in the years ahead.

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WUSF | By Jim Turner – News Service of Florida

Published July 24, 2025 at 3:37 PM EDT

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• https://www.wusf.org/politics-issues/2025-07-24/florida-gearing-up-3-week-bear-hunt-2025

The proposed rules include a lottery-style permitting process, up to 187 bears being killed in four areas of the state and guidelines to encourage hunters to kill male bears.

State wildlife officials next month could approve rules for a three-week bear hunt in December that would have “a more structured format” than a hunt halted a decade ago after a limit was quickly reached on bears that could be killed.

The proposed rules, which will be considered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission during a meeting Aug. 13 and Aug. 14 in Havana, would include a lottery-style permitting process and up to 187 bears being killed in four areas of the state. The rules also would include guidelines to encourage hunters to kill male bears.

George Warthen, the commission’s chief conservation officer, said the proposed hunt — the state’s first since 2015 — is an additional method to manage bears as they coexist with humans.

ALSO READ: Florida gives preliminary approval to controversial black bear hunt amid strong opposition

“When we look at game species across North America, there’s not a single game species that has gone extinct or come close through regulated hunting,” Warthen said. “Instead, we see more money, more attention and a lot more benefits for that animal. And this can be a tough conversation to have. And so the why, for Florida, becomes we’re one of the only states that is not participating in regulated bear hunting in states that have abundant bear populations.”

Bear hunting has long been a controversial issue in Florida, with opponents saying that killing bears for sport won’t reduce human-bear interactions. They also say the commission should expand the use of non-lethal options, such as bear-proof trash containers, to help keep bears from being drawn to residences and businesses and should increase land-conservation efforts.

But calls to hold a hunt have been growing. The 2015 hunt ended after two days, when 305 bears were killed in what was expected to be a weeklong endeavor.

The state had an estimated 4,050 bears in 2015, considered the most recent figures by the commission.

Bears were on a state list of threatened species from 1974 to 2012, until a state biological status review determined they were no longer at high risk of extinction.

During the past 50 years, the state has recorded 42 incidents in which wild bears have made physical contact with people, with the first recorded fatal bear attack occurring in May, when an 89-year-old Collier County man and his dog were killed.

The commission on May 21 voted 4-1 to support a draft proposal for the December hunt. Commission Vice Chairman Steven Hudson voted against the proposal, suggesting that non-Floridians should be prohibited from getting permits and raising concerns about allowing people to hunt bears at feeding stations.

A notable change in this year’s proposals involves permits. In 2015, permits were open to anyone willing to pay and participate until a quota for bills killed was reached.

“This new proposal only gives out a specific number of tags that meet that (187-bear) quota, to a finite number of hunters, who can then take one bear,” Warthen said. “That’s a big change, so that people feel that we see … a more structured format that allocates a permit per hunter, so people can see that and it gives hunters more time.”

The proposed permit-drawing process would be open to anyone who pays a $5 entry fee. It would not limit the number of times a person could enter, but people whose names are drawn would only be able to purchase a single permit.

ALSO READ: A Florida bear hunt lottery and limited permits are part of a proposed plan

Also, non-Floridians would be limited to 10 percent of the permits, which would cost them $300. Permits would be priced at $100 for Floridians.

Chuck O’Neal of the environmental group Speak Up Wekiva has suggested opponents of the hunt enter the drawing to reduce the number of bears killed.

“If every Floridian entered the lottery, only 1.87 bears — rounded to 2 — would be killed because only 1 percent of Florida citizens actually hunt,” O’Neal posted on Facebook.

Warthen said not reaching the December quota could lead to a boost in permits for future hunts. The 187-bear quota is based on a formula that takes into account female bears being killed.

“It’s highly unlikely and probable that the harvest will be all female or that all hunters will harvest a bear,” Warthen said. “What we’ll see is a very conservative approach that allows for continued growth within bear populations in Florida, but at a more managed rate.”

The hunt is projected to be limited to 68 bears in the Apalachicola region west of Tallahassee; 46 in areas west of Jacksonville; 18 in an area north of Orlando; and 55 in the Big Cypress region southwest of Lake Okeechobee.

Warthen said hunting around feeding stations is expected to allow hunters to be more selective.

“We’re skewing this harvest, or having the rules set so it encourages more male bears harvested,” Warthen said. “This would allow that hunter there time, to make sure that it’s not a female with cubs, which would also be prohibited.”

Hunters would not be allowed to use dogs to pursue bears in December, but that would change in subsequent seasons.

“It’s very important that those dogs are properly trained and there’s time to do that,” Warthen said.

July 24, 2025 Country Life, Top Headlines

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• https://ocj.com/2025/07/enrollment-now-open-for-ohio-landowner-hunter-access-partnership/

Landowners may now enroll their property in the Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Enrollment in the program is open until Thursday, July 31 and incentivizes property owners to provide land access to hunters. Since the program’s launch in 2021, nearly 31,000 acres have been enrolled.

Those interested in enrolling their property can visit the Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership page at wildohio.gov to receive more information. Landowners can receive annual payments ranging from $2 per acre for crop land to $30 per acre for perennial wildlife habitats such as grasslands, wetlands, and forests. Additionally, landowners may receive a bonus payment if they allow white-tailed deer gun hunting. Enrollment contracts are two years, with the possibility of re-enrollment.

Enrolled lands can be accessed between September and June by hunters with a free daily access permit. Permits are distributed on a first come, first served basis, and reduce overcrowding on huntable lands. Participating hunters receive a list of rules for the property prior to accessing the land, and landowners receive a notification when hunters will access their property. All hunting activities except white-tailed deer gun hunting and trapping are permitted by Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership users. Permits can be obtained at wildohio.gov or on the free HuntFish OH mobile app.

The Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership program is funded, in part, by the federal Farm Bill under the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program. This bill provides funding to state and tribal agencies through a competitive grant process to implement programs encouraging hunting access on private properties.

A recent survey showed that landowners enrolled in Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership are overwhelmingly satisfied with the program. Overall, 90% of survey respondents indicated they were satisfied or somewhat satisfied with the program.

by NBC Montana StaffThu, July 24th 2025 at 3:16 PM

Updated Thu, July 24th 2025 at 4:51 PM

Montana FWP charges 7 people for hunting, trapping violations. Photo: NBC Montana

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• https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/montana-fwp-charges-7-people-for-hunting-trapping-violations

BILLINGS, Mont. — Six people from Montana and Washington state are being charged by the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks game wardens for unlawfully killing multiple bull elk and mule deer bucks.

This happened in the Bull Mountains around Roundup between 2020 and 2024.

FWP wardens got a tip about this and launched an extensive investigation.

Wardens found the group of locals and nonresidents killed multiple bull elk without the proper permits and killed multiple large mule deer without a hunting license in Hunting District 590.

Officials went to Washington state to get search warrants and seized 11 mounts of unlawfully killed elk and deer in the Montana investigation alone.

The hunters involved in this have 34 charges and 13 warnings issued from FWP wardens.

Officials say the Musselshell County Justice Court is processing these charges

There is no more information released about this case.

The Montana FWP released the following:

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens recently charged seven individuals from Montana and Washington state for unlawfully killing several bull elk and mule deer bucks in the Bull Mountains near Roundup between 2020 and 2024.

The investigation began with information provided to FWP wardens by a confidential informant. After an extensive investigation, wardens found that the group of both residents and nonresidents killed several large bull elk in Hunting District 590 without the required 590-20 elk permit and also killed several large mule deer without hunting licenses.

During the investigation, Montana wardens traveled to Washington state to execute search warrants and seized several mounts of unlawfully killed elk and deer. Wardens also seized multiple elk and deer mounts in Montana. In total, 11 mounts were seized as evidence in the investigation.

The individuals involved in this case have been issued 34 total charges and 13 warnings by FWP wardens. These charges total close to $23,000 in bond and restitution.

These charges will be processed by the Musselshell County Justice Court. Every person accused of a crime is presumed to be innocent until his or her guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt. No further details about the investigation are available at this time.

FWP wardens would like to thank the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, the Billings Police Department, and the Musselshell County Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this investigation.

“This investigation could not be possible without the assistance of these agencies,” said J.D. Douglas, FWP Assistant Chief of Law Enforcement. “This is yet another example of the tenacity and dedication of Montana game wardens to produce quality investigations and hold violators accountable.”

Anyone with information about crimes against wildlife or state lands is encouraged to visit tipmont.mt.gov to provide details or contact their local warden. Those who report information may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

The average Montana driver faces a 1-53 chance of hitting an animal each year.

by Sophie Tsairis, Mountain Journal07.22.2025

• https://montanafreepress.org/2025/07/22/montanas-new-landmark-wildlife-crossing-laws/

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Montana has taken a major step toward protecting both wildlife and drivers with the passage of two groundbreaking pieces of legislation this spring: House Bill 855 and House Bill 932. Together, the new laws establish the state’s first dedicated funding streams for wildlife crossings, structures proven to reduce collisions and improve landscape connectivity.

Montana currently has the second-highest per capita rate of wildlife-vehicle collisions in the United States. The average driver faces a 1-53 chance of hitting an animal each year and 13% of reported collisions in the state are related to wildlife, according to the Montana Department of Transportation. These crashes pose serious risks to people and animals alike, and cost Montanans tens of millions of dollars annually.

Kylie Paul, road ecologist at the Center for Large Landscape Conservation, a nonprofit creating strategies to solve large-scale challenges like climate change and habitat fragmentation, told Mountain Journal the nonprofit supported the legislation.

“In Montana, we have a lot of roads cutting through intact wildlife habitats and migration routes,” Paul said. “Many are high-speed, low-light and, to some level, still low-traffic highways which help animals still feel safe to move across them.” 

Sponsored by Rep. Katie Zolnikov (R-Billings), HB 855 establishes the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Wildlife Highway Crossings and Accommodations Account. Montana FWP will administer the fund, which will support the planning, design and construction of wildlife crossings across the state.

To generate revenue, the account will be funded by sales of a new specialty license plate, expected to raise an estimated $100,000 annually. According to Paul, the plate is not only a financial tool, but a “good education piece” that will help raise awareness about wildlife connectivity and road safety.

This fall, the design for the specialty license plate that will fund the account will be finalized through a public art contest running from mid-July to October. 

House Bill 932, sponsored by Rep. Ken Walsh, R-Twin Bridges, builds on that foundation by allocating 20% of Montana’s marijuana tax revenue to a Habitat Legacy Account. Of that, 5% — approximately $500,000 annually — is earmarked specifically for wildlife crossings.

“It’s the first continuous funding source for wildlife crossings in the nation,” Paul said. “ It’s honestly shocking.” 

Together, HB 855 and HB 932 provide Montana with both a mechanism to raise new funds and a long-term investment strategy for infrastructure that could last up to 70 years, according to Paul. “Wildlife structures are a high upfront investment,” she explained. “But they pay off in the long run by preventing costly collisions and maintaining healthy ecosystems.”

A 2022 cost-benefit study of mitigation measures along highways for large animal species estimated the average cost of a single deer collision is $19,000, while an elk collision can exceed $73,000 when factoring in insurance claims, emergency response and road damage. Crossings that allow animals to safely pass over or under highways dramatically reduce these accidents.

Wildlife crossing infrastructure isn’t new to Montana. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have been leaders in implementing successful crossings, recently securing additional funding from the Biden administration to construct a wildlife overpass on a stretch of U.S. 93 that runs through the Flathead Indian Reservation within the Ninepipe Wildlife Management Area. According to MDT, the U.S. 93 project has 81 crossing structures for fish and wildlife crossings and is the largest wildlife-crossing project in the country. Past projects have largely relied on federal grants and piecemeal funding, a barrier this new legislation helps to overcome.

Paul highlighted the importance of science-based planning and partnerships, noting that Montana has had a regional approach but not a statewide framework or strategy. 

Since 2018, the Montana Wildlife and Transportation Partnership, a collaboration between the Montana Department of Transportation, FWP, and Montanans for Safe Wildlife Passage, a group of conservation organizations including CLLC, has laid important groundwork. They’ve developed a statewide planning tool and heat map to help identify priority areas for wildlife crossings, and launched a project program to support public-private partnerships in building them.

With HB 855 and HB 932 signed into law, the state is poised to make meaningful progress in reconnecting landscapes and making roads safer for everyone who uses them, Paul said. However, she added, wildlife structures can cost millions of dollars, and while this legislation is a big step forward, additional funding will still be required to make significant headway.