MISSOULA–– Several Montana-based organizations and citizens have sent a petition to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks requesting the initiation of rulemaking that would require Montana hunters to carry bear spray on their person while hunting in grizzly bear habitat. The rule would apply in Montana generally west of Billings and Fort Belknap.

The petitioners are Mike Bader; Western Watersheds Project; WildWest Institute; Friends of the Wild Swan; Montana Chapter of the Sierra Club; Great Bear Foundation; Friends of the Rattlesnake; Friends of the Bitterroot; Claudia Narc...