Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has proposed reducing the Region 7 bobcat harvest quota from 600 to 300.

Fellow Region 7 trapper Lewis Tafelmeyer and I recently completed an independent technical review of the proposal. We examined the available harvest history, trapper participation, published research, and the supporting information presented by FWP.

Our concern is not with quota reductions in principle. Our concern is whether the available evidence clearly supports a 50% reduction. In particular, raw harvest totals can be difficult to interpret without also considering changes in trapper participation and effort.

We have prepared a three-page executive summary and a full technical review for anyone interested in looking at the information for themselves.

Documents can be viewed here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WBxibxjqOGuAlho7EYKQc-V9QkIx5-cS

I will also attach the informational poster below.

The Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission is scheduled to consider the proposal on August 19. Anyone submitting comments should keep them respectful and focused on the biological evidence, management objectives, and the information supporting the proposed change.

I welcome thoughtful questions or technical feedback on the review.

Although biologists will say they look at all the data you proposed in the study, the truth is only harvest data and a "gut feeling" is what they rely on. Having been involved in science and having reviewed studies such as this for many years, furbearer biology usually has the weakest data d/t the elusive nature of the subject being studied. Decreased trapper participation, experience of said trappers and releasing of females/juveniles will certainly result in bias that would invalidate purely havest # only data. Well done.

Great work gentleman! Every Montana trapper needs to write a public comment, and contact the Commisioners.

Did bc harvest in region 7 hit or exceed the quota? What data was used to set the 600 quota? What has been the annual harvest in region 7 over the last 10 years.
Looked at the data. I'd say harvest data does not indicate a need to lower the quota. College edicated bios with no real experience shouldn't be making decisions!

I've called and spoke with the FWP Commissioner and voiced my concerns about this as I've seen it over the years and how the bobcats quota was once 1.500 bobcats and would still close before the season ended and that a quota on bobcats is in some ways not giving a actual count on potential bobcats in the region .

Which gives me the feeling that the FWP is managing consumptive harvesters and not the resource

That last sentence of Allans tells the true tale!!!