12.9.611    REQUIREMENTS OF PROJECTS INVOLVING WILD TURKEY RELEASES

(1) The department may authorize participation in the upland game bird release program projects for turkeys if the proposed project meets the following requirements:

(a) all releases made will be of wild/free ranging stock that have been trapped in Montana or have been moved into Montana under the direction of the department;

(b) all releases outside of Flathead County will be Merriam's turkey only;

(c) eastern turkeys may be moved only within Flathead County;

(d) no new releases will take place until:

(i) an environmental assessment evaluating the release and the release site has been completed and approved by the commission; and

(ii) the department has secured agreements from adjacent landowners that would be affected by expanded populations indicating consent for the transplant and free public hunting for the species; and

(e) supplemental releases will require an evaluation by the department that will include but not be limited to:

(i) a history of previous releases;

(ii) justification for supplementing the existing population;

(iii) a legal description of the release site;

(iv) a legal description of the area that will be closed to public hunting until the population has become established (two-year minimum) ; and

(v) agreements from adjacent landowners that would be affected by expanded populations indicating consent for the transplant and free public hunting for the species.

History: 87-1-249, MCA; IMP, 87-1-248, MCA; NEW, 2001 MAR p. 1725, Eff. 9/7/01.