The Commission is considering changes to lion season regulations in administrative Region 1 due to new legislation, House Bill 142. That legislation allows the FWP Commission to limit the number of nonresident mountain lion hunters in Region 1.The Commission asked FWP to establish an external group to discuss ways to implement HB 142. The group's recommendations will go to the Commission in June when the Commission will decide if it will make any changes to the regulations that were adopted in February. If there are changes, time would be allowed for additional public comment and finals would be set at a July Commission meeting.

The Commission also adopted a tentative rule to guide the auction of the moose and sheep permits that are offered annually in Montana.

Also adopted was a tentative change to the state's deer regulations for 2001.The Commission proposes the elimination of over-the-counter whitetail "B" licenses in all of Hunting District 641 and that portion of 640 east of Highway 16. The adjustment was requested by FWP as a result of the severe winter in that portion of the state, which resulted in significant loss of whitetails, the result of game damage complaints and low fawn survival. Glenn Erickson, chief of the Wildlife Division's Management Bureau, said in response to the game damage complaints over 2,000 whitetail deer were taken in the area following the general hunting season.

Public comments may be sent by June 1 to: Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Wildlife Division, PO Box 200701, Helena MT 59620-0701, by June 1.