Tribes announce fishing, bird hunting changes for 2022-23 season

| December 17, 2021 1:30 PM

The Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes recently announced Flathead Indian Reservation joint Tribal/state fishing and bird hunting regulations and proposed changes for the period beginning March 1 and ending Feb. 28, 2023.

Due to the pandemic, an in-person hearing will not take place. Public comment on the regulations will be accepted via letter or email, and comments are due no later than Dec. 23.

Proposed changes:

Part I, Reservation licensing, Section 1.

Camping stamp 18 and older: For all categories of residences – increase camping stamp cost from $20 to $100.
Residents of the Reservation: Increase annual conservation license from $20 to $40; increase disabled license from $17 to $37.
Non-residents of the Reservation: Increase annual conservation license for both age categories from $23 to $100; increase three-day conservation license from $19 to $80; increase three-day combined conservation/fishing license to $105; increase the disabled license from $17 to $100.
Non-residents of the state of Montana: Increase annual conservation license for both age categories from $26 to $100; increase three-day conservation license from $19 to $80; increase one-day combined conservation/fishing license to $80; increase three-day conservation/fishing license to $146; increase disabled license from $17 to $100.

Part III, bird hunting, Section 1.

Add “Safe Harbor Marsh” to the list of prohibited hunting areas.

Part IV, Recreation regulations, Section 2.

New (6) Twin Lakes Recreation Area
New (7) Hog Heaven Range & Chief Cliff Area, described as: All tribally owned lands west of Highway 93 from the Reservation northern boundary to the intersection of Highway 28, and lands north of said intersection and following Highway 28 westerly to the intersection of the Brown’s Meadow Road, and lands east of the Brown’s Meadow Road (or all tribally owned lands served or accessed by the Hog Heaven forest tribal road system (H-1000 to H-4000 numbered tribal forest roads).
New (8) Portion of the North Salish Range known as Irvine Lookout Area, described as: All tribally owned forested and range lands served or accessed by the Irvine forest tribal road system (I-1000 to I-6000 numbered tribal forest roads)

Part IV, Recreation Regulations, Section 7

Add “Safe Harbor Marsh” to the list of prohibited boat or floatation devices water bodies.

Public comments can be submitted by letter to P.O. Box 278, Pablo, MT 59855 or via email to Amanda Bourdon, DFWRC permit agent at Amanda.bourdon@cskt.org or Stephanie Gillin, DFWRC information & education program manager at Stephanie.gillin@cskt.org. Written comments may also be sent to the Flathead Indian Reservation Fish and Wildlife Advisory Board Chairman, 406 Sixth Ave. E., Polson, MT 59860.