CSKT announces proposed Non-Tribal Member hunting and recreation regulations
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News from the CSKT Natural Resources Department
FLATHEAD RESERVATION — The Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes announce the availability of the March 1, 2023 to Feb. 28, 2024 Flathead Indian Reservation Joint Tribal/State Fishing and Bird Hunting and Recreation Regulations and proposed changes. The Tribal Council welcomes comments from the public on these draft regulations.
Public comment will be accepted via letter, mail to the Permit office located at 406 6th Ave. E, Polson, MT 59860, via email to (Amanda.Bourdon@cskt.org) or (stephanie.gillin@cskt.org). All oral comments will be taken on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2023 from 8 a.m. -5 p.m. at the Permit Office.
All comments are due no later than Feb. 3, 2023.
Proposed Changes:
PART I 2023-24 RESERVATION LICENSING
Section 2. Licenses Required
F. (2) Certain Tribal campgrounds may charge a separate fee without the requirements to possess a valid Conservation license and/or Flathead Reservation Camping license. (Notices posted on site) (i.e. Blue Bay Campground)
Section 3. No License Is Required of a Non-Member When:
A. Engaged in recreation activities (not including hunting or fishing) on fee status lands within the exterior boundaries of the reservation. (i.e. The Bison Range, Blue Bay Campground)
PART III BIRD HUNTING
Section 1. Standard Reservation-Wide Pheasant, Gray Partridge, Eurasian Collared dove and Migratory Waterfowl Hunting Regulations
D. Shooting Hours: Shooting Hours on the Reservation are listed in the approved annual FLATHEAD INDIAN RESERVATION PHEASANTS, GRAY PARTRIDGE AND MIGRATORY WATERFOWL HUNTING SEASONS, SHOOTING HOURS AND LIMITS regulations booklet, published annually and available online and anywhere you can purchase your CSKT Bird Hunting License. Killing or taking of all migratory birds is regulated by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Pheasants, gray partridge, Eurasian Collared Doves, certain migratory waterfowl (ducks, mergansers, and geese) and coots are the only species which can be legally taken. However, hunting for these species is regulated by an annual regulations-setting process, so regulations may change between years.
PART IV RECREATION REGULATIONS
Section 1. Regulations of General Applications
E. A metal fire ring must be used if present at campsites. No leaving campfires unattended.
V. The use of fireworks at the Blue Bay Grounds is prohibited.
Section 2. Restricted Areas
D. The Ferry Basin Wildlife Management Unit’s Tribally owned lands are closed to all recreational access and use by non-members of the Tribes from Jan. 1 - May 15 of each year to minimize disturbance to big game on critical and calving ranges (with the exception of allowing fishing access to the shoreline of Flathead River). The Ferry Basin Wildlife Management Unit is described as lands within: Starting at a point beginning at Sloan’s Bridge, then west on the Ronan-Hot Springs Road, until the Schmidt Lookout Road, then west on the Schmidt Lookout Road to Highway 382, then south on Highway 382 to the Flathead River, then east and north along the east or south bank of the Flathead River to Sloan’s Bridge, the point of origin. The Islands along the Flathead River, along the southern border are within the Ferry Basin Management Unit, therefore, a Ferry basin bull permit is required. Private landowners within the Unit may allow elk hunting on their property.
Section 4. Mission Mountains Tribal Wilderness Regulations
D. (2) The use of any motorized or mechanical vehicles or devices such as chainsaws, motorcycles, electric bicycles or mountain bicycles.
(12) The removal of any natural material from the wilderness which includes no berry or mushroom picking.
Section 7. Boating and Water Sports
B. (5) Water skiing or the use of jet propelled personal watercraft (including jet skis and wave runners) on all bodies of water except Flathead Lake. No Jet-propelled personal watercraft allowed on Blue Bay property or within the buoys.
Section 9. Blue Bay Campground Special Regulations
A. All vehicles must fill out a vehicle use permit registration envelope, including members of the CSKT and the general public.
B. Alcohol and illegal drugs are prohibited in all areas of the campgrounds.
C. No firearms or fireworks are allowed on Blue Bay grounds.
D. No Jet Skis/ATVs in the Bay or on the grounds.
E. No draining of grey water in the campground.
F. Checkout time for campers is 2 p.m. unless registered for the night.
G. Quite hours are from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Campground gate is closed during quiet hours. No vehicle entry, walk in only.
H. This campground is first come first serve, no reservations.
I. Camps must be occupied nightly or your belongings will be removed. Keep a clean camp during your stay. You are required to clean the site before leaving.
J. Be “Bear Aware” All food/ coolers and attractants must be in a vehicles or hard sided camper whenever someone is not present or while sleeping.
K. Camping is allowed for no more than 10 consecutive days at a time, and then you must wait seven days to return.
L. No campers under the age of 18 without adult supervision.
M. Camps in electric sites will be charged the full-service rate.
N. Do not cut any vegetation and or trees. Firewood for campfires is available for designated campground areas. Do not leave campfires unattended.
O. Pets may not be left unattended and must be on leash at all times, see our Pet Policy.
P. No lifeguard on duty, swim at own risk. No one allowed under the age of 14 can swim without adult supervision. Do not swim or play on or around boat ramp docks.
PART V HUNTING AND TRAPPING
A. The entire Reservation is closed to hunting or taking, or attempting to hunt or take furbearers and any other species of animal other than fish, Gray (Hungarian) Partridge, pheasants, ducks, geese, mergansers and coots. If a Northern gray wolf, mountain lion, or black bear are caught in the act of pursuing, injuring or harassing livestock, pets or humans, they may be shot in defense of property or self. In the case of such actions that a gray wolf, mountain lion or black bear is shot, resident or landowner is required to report the take to the Tribal Fish and Game Conservation Program within 12 hours of the incident. The Tribal Fish and Game Conservation Program and the Tribal Wildlife Management Program will investigate the incident to determine the status as legal taking. As part of this investigation, any wolf, mountain lion and black bear carcasses or any parts thereof remain the property of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
Q. Speed limit for everyone is 10 mph. Drive safe and slow or you will be removed from the grounds.
R. In order to qualify for the free rate for a CSKT member (basic camping) or a CSKT elder (full-service Camping). The Member or Elder must be staying at the site that they originally signed up for. If the CSKT member does not stay at the campsite for which the fee was waived, the current occupant of the campsite, if not a CSKT Member will be charged the non-member rates. As well as if a CSKT member is using a full-service site, they will be charged accordingly.
S. The Blue Bay staff and Law Enforcement officials are authorized to immediately remove a person or persons that violate the rules. Furthermore, if deemed necessary for the safety of the public and staff you can be permanently removed from Blue Bay. Any violence or threatening acts toward staff or the public will result in permanent removal from the grounds. If you cause property damage or are a nuisance to other users, future loss of privileges to enter and use Blue Bay grounds may result from those regulation violations.
General Information
Bear Safety and Awareness
Both black and grizzly bears are present on the Flathead Reservation. The majority of human-bear conflicts involve bears protecting their young or a food source. Many of these encounters can be avoided by following a few simple Bear Safe practices:
- Stay alert while recreating and look for bear activity, especially where visibility or hearing is limited (woods, brushy areas, streams)
- Travel in a group and keep members together (especially kids)
- Keep pets on a leash while on the trail
- Make noise whenever possible to avoid surprising a bear, especially where visibility or hearing is limited
- Carry bear spray close at hand, and know how to use it
- Avoid traveling at night, dawn or dusk
- Avoid carcass sites and scavenger concentrations
Never feed wildlife, especially bears. Bears that become food conditioned lose their natural foraging behavior and pose a threat to human safety. It is unlawful to feed bears in Montana and the Flathead Reservation. Loud noises, such as banging pots and pans, using an air horn or car alarm, or shouting is a simple, effective short-term way to deter a bear on private property. Securing common, household attractants will reduce household conflicts. Properly secure garbage, pet food, bird feeders, small livestock and pets.
