Brett French reports: Hunting boundary moved near Gardiner

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission agreed at its meeting in December to realign the boundary of two hunting districts near Gardiner. Hunting District 313 was expanded decades ago to allow Fish, Wildlife & Parks to manage the Northern Range elk herd that migrates out of Yellowstone National Park. The herd spreads out across the Gardiner Basin that was once divided between HD 313 and HD 314. Last year, landowners petitioned the commission to change the boundary back, citing a desire for a longer elk season. In HD 313 the rifle season had been shortened to three weeks, instead of five weeks, due to low bull to cow ratios and declining recruitment. The area has long been at the center of debates over elk hunting, dating back to the days when a late season elk hunt was allowed to thin the migrating herd. To learn more about the controversy and the reasons behind the petition, check out my story at https://billingsgazette.com/outdoors/yellowstone-national-park-fish-wildlife-and-parks-fish-and-wildlife-commission-elk-hunting-park-county-rod-and-gun-club-montana-outfitters-and-guides-association-gardiner-basin/article_03208074-b010-11ee-a4cf-a750b85a0c30.html

Written by Brett French | Outdoors Editor | Billings Gazette