For the first time in about 10 years, buck-only seasons for whitetail deer are being recommended by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks for the next two years in Northwest Montana’s Region One.

For the last two years, the agency has documented a downward trend in whitetail reproduction through spring field surveys. Hunting-season check-station results also indicate there are fewer deer on the landscape.

Those observations were obvious to many hunters who turned out at a recent hearing in Kalispell on proposed season regulations for 2010 and 2011.

The department had been proposing a continued rule that allowed hunters to shoot either does or bucks during the first two weeks of the season, using their primary “A tag” licenses.

But nearly every hunter who testified at the Kalispell hearing said the either-sex opportunity should be abandoned and hunting should be restricted only to bucks because of the downturn in deer numbers.

“Based on the input we had, hunters wanted to restrict themselves more than we had proposed,” said Jim Williams, Region One wildlife manager. “So we are going to provide that recommendation ... antlered bucks only.”

It is among many recommendations that will be considered by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission when it meets in Helena Feb. 11 for final adoption of the 2010 and 2011 season regulations.

Williams said the new recommendation was based on comments gathered at meetings with hunting clubs across the region, and from written comments, many provided through the department’s Web site.

He noted that a “significant” number of hunters favored some form of either-sex hunting opportunity for whitetails, but they were less vocal than those who expressed deep concern that continued doe harvest would further depress the population.

The department will continue to offer a highly restricted number of antlerless “B tags” through drawing, about 25 for most hunting districts in the region. But that pales in comparison to more than 5,000 B tags that were sold over the counter two years ago.

If the commission adopts the regulations as recommended in Region One, it will be the first time since 2001 that the region has had buck-only whitetail hunting, Williams said.

The commission will considering a variety of other regulations, along with input provided by hunters from across the state.

Statewide, there is a proposal to establish a B tag system for elk, allowing hunters to harvest two rather than one animal per season. Williams said that and a proposal to move opening day for the general season from Sunday to Saturday have generated considerable statewide comment.

There also is a statewide proposal to establish an exclusive youth hunt for deer on the two days preceding the general season opening day.

“Locally, whitetail deer were the predominant issue at all of our meetings,” Williams said, adding that it also proved to be the main issue for written comments.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com