2012 Hunting Guide

HUNTING Guide Fall/Winter 2012

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HUNTING GUIDE 2012

Mixed bag for hunters ■ Elk numbers vary following years of aggressive harvest

H

BY NICK GEVOCK of The Montana Standard

unters will see a mixed bag this fall while taking to the field, with elk numbers remaining high in some areas while others are lower and have fewer opportunities to kill cow elk.

Biologists with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks have moved toward more standard regulations in several areas of southwest Montana to slow down the kill on cow elk. That’s following several years of liberal regulations that aimed to reduce elk numbers in some areas where ranchers expressed concerns that there were too many elk.

Here’s a look at some of the trends See MIXED on Page 4

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HUNTING GUIDE 2012 Mixed...

Continued from Page 3 for elk and mule deer and the hunting opportunities throughout southwestern Montana this year.

ELK Elk numbers remain strong following a couple years in which cow elk hunting has been tapered back in some areas.

One area that is still over the objective population sought by biologists is the Upper Clark Fork River drainage, which includes hunting districts 210216 and district 291.

Ray Vinkey, Phillipsburg FWP biologist, said he counted 8,385 elk in the region, down from last year’s count of 9,245. But that was by design, with plentiful cow tags issued in an effort to reduce the herd.

Vinkey said FWP has reduced the number of cow elk tags but there are still plentiful opportunities.

“Our elk population numbers on the whole are still above our objectives, but access remains a challenge,” he said.

Vinkey noted that last year FWP issued more than 3,000 cow elk tags for the Upper Clark Fork, while this year it’s been scaled back to 1,850. But that is more than the total of cow elk tags issued for the rest of FWP Regions 1 and 2 combined.

In the areas closer to Butte, elk herds are continuing to come up after two years of a more restrictive kill on cows, said Vanna Boccadori, FWP Butte biologist. She said calf production was good throughout her districts, which include the lower Big Hole Valley, Fleecer Mountain, Bull Mountains and Highland Mountains.

“All my numbers are either stable or increased,” she said. “There are a lot of calves running around out there; it should be a good year going into the fall.”

Regulations remain fairly conservative in the Fleecer Mountain area and hunters will not be able to kill cow elk on a general license with either a rifle or bow.

Farther south, elk numbers remain over their target population in the Lima Peaks country, said Craig Fager, FWP Dillon biologist. Hunters who drew a B tag will have a good chance

NICK GEVOCK / THE MONTANA STANDARD

ELK FIND GOOD feed in southwest Montana valleys, such as this herd in the Madison Valley. The long winter did not signficantly affect their numbers, officials said. to kill a cow there.

Elk are doing fine in other areas Fager covers, including the East Pioneers and Medicine Lodge areas.

He said one area were the herd is below the objective is the West Pioneers.

The herd throughout the Gravelly Mountain complex is still strong, said Howard Burt, FWP Region 3 wildlife manager. The districts that include the Gravellys – 323-327 and 330 – will again offer cow elk hunting with a general license for the first two weeks of the rifle season.

“We didn’t have a lot of winter mortality,” Burt said. “Production was up some in most of those areas – that bodes well for this coming year and the next numbers wise.”

The Tobacco Root Mountains are over objective in elk population and the districts that encompass it – 330 and 333 – offer five weeks of cow harvest with a general license. But in the Madison Range – districts 360 and 362 – biologists this year are working to slow the kill of cow elk after years of offering a liberal harvest.

Julie Cunningham, FWP GallatinMadison biologist, said years of liberal regulations have brought elk numbers down. A limited number of cow elk B tags were issued and otherwise hunters can only kill brow-tined bulls

4 ■ THE MONTANA STANDARD HUNTING GUIDE 2012

with a general license.

“Everybody sees a difference from when there were 6,000 to 7,000 elk in that valley,” she said. “A lot of sportsmen are saying it’s about time we do this – if we continue liberal hunting too long, it can be difficult to grow them back.”

DEER Mule deer are more susceptible to large swings in their population and southwestern Montana is coming out of a low point in their numbers throughout many areas. In many parts of southwestern Montana numbers remain lower than long-term averages and biologists have adjusted seasons accordingly. That means fewer B tags to kill mule deer does.

“My counts this winter were stable, but still at the low end of where we’ve seen them in the past,” Boccadori said.

“They’re just on the low end of average – there’s definitely reduced opportunity.”

The good news is that mule deer, like elk, are showing signs of coming back, although slowly. A relatively mild winter and good forage conditions are helping, biologists say.

Fager said mule deer numbers remain lower than average around See MIXED on Page 5 WWW.MTSTANDARD.COM

HUNTING GUIDE 2012

Hunting wolves key to survival ■ Love ‘em or hate ‘em, hunting is crucial to keep wolves thriving

M

ontana hunters have a chance this year to add to their fall experiences.

For the second year in a row and the third time in state history, Montana will hold a wolf hunt. And this year it’s more important than ever that hunters do their part to manage wildlife by buying wolf tags.

The wolf debate that has raged for nearly two decades is largely settled.

Wolf management is now where it belongs – in the hands of professional biologists – and out of the hands of politicians.

What does that look like?

Biologists with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks have proposed an aggressive season that aims to reduce the number of wolves in the state while ensuring that they maintain a healthy population. They estimate at the end of last

Mixed...

Continued from Page 4 Dillon, but they did record decent fawn production this year. He said mule deer continue a slow recovery from the drop several years ago.

“Deer did pretty well through the winter, which was not severe last year, but the total numbers will take some

In the Hunt BY

year there were a minimum of 650 wolves and with new packs forming likely many more throughout the state.

The goal for the hunt is to have 425 wolves at the end of the hunting season. To do that, FWP has set no quotas in any districts, although the season can be shut down in some areas if biologists deem it necessary. Trapping will be allowed. And the season lasts a total of six months, including the early archery hunt and the rifle season that runs through February.

Still, some people aren’t happy. Like so many issues, the extremists are defining the issue.

The wolf haters are decrying what they continue to call FWP’s “go slow” approach. They say it’s time for FWP to get serious about killing wolves and propose more liberal regulations for wolf hunting.

On the other end are people who time to build back up,” he said.

Vinkey said in his areas mule deer are faring better, with stable to slightly increasing numbers. The Anaconda and Deer Lodge area offers some mule deer B tags.

White-tailed deer in southwestern Montana continue to thrive in agricultural valley bottoms and hunters have the opportunity to kill does with a region-wide B tag, as well as more tags

Hunter’s bible is available online

Montana’s deer, elk and antelope regulation book—the hunter’s bible — is available online and at all FWP license providers. All of the general regulations are located at the front of the book, including the list of closed areas or those where limited big game hunting methods are allowed.

Other useful background information—how to obtain licenses, prerequisites, establishing residency, hunter education requirements, application and drawing deadlines, bonus point system details and more can be found at the back. Montana’s annual big game hunting regulations and drawing applications are available on the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov and from most FWP offices and license providers.

WWW.MTSTANDARD.COM

NICK GEVOCK

think we should never hunt wolves.

They say wolves are part of the natural order to keep wildlife in check and we shouldn’t mess with that.

Both sides are wrong and continue to poison the debate. But it’s pretty clear that both sides are still trying to milk wolves for economic gain.

This year during the spring primary election season I received campaign literature from several candidates for statewide office that blasted state biologists for wolf management. They decried the “devastation” of our game herds and proposed to fix it. One flyer in particular made it sound as though there are 10 elk left in Montana.

At the same time several groups have sounded off about wolves, blaming them for everything and anything pertaining to wildlife and calling for FWP to work to get to 150 wolves in the state.

The facts don’t match their rhetoric.

In truth, 70 percent of Montana’s elk management units have populations above their objective laid out in See WOLVES, Page 6 in some areas. Whitetails live largely on private land and require permission from landowners for hunting, but many landowners do allow access.

Boccadori said they don’t conduct surveys of whitetail but monitor their harvest and there are plenty of them.

“There will always be whitetails,” she said.

Reporter Nick Gevock may be reached at nick.gevock@mtstandard.com

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THE MONTANA STANDARD HUNTING GUIDE AUGUST 2012 ■ 5

HUNTING GUIDE 2012 Wolves...

‘On the flip side are the wolf lovers who oppose any hunt. While they may believe it’s in wolves’ best interest, they’re wrong.’

Continued from Page 5 the state elk plan. And hunting opportunities continue to be plentiful. In fact, we’ve been pounding elk for eight years now with some of the most liberal regulations ever, including three years of extended seasons and second elk “B” cow tags.

There are a few areas where elk numbers are down and wolves have likely played a role in that. But there are a host of other factors, including habitat, weather conditions and predation from other species including bears and mountain lions. In several areas, those aggressive hunting seasons have brought elk down to numbers more acceptable to ranchers who don’t like elk grazing crops or damaging fences.

Given the aggressive wolf season that FWP has proposed, it begs the question of what these people really want? The answer is clear: wolves wiped out.

But the vast majority of Montanans have accepted that wolves are here to stay. And they realize that a hunt aimed to take wolves back to 150 would land them right back in federal hands, something almost everyone agrees isn’t the best outcome.

On the flip side are the wolf lovers who oppose any hunt. While they may believe it’s in wolves’ best interest, they’re wrong.

What they don’t see is that wolf hunting was always part of the plan once they reached a population and distribution threshold. The spread and growth of the gray wolf following its reintroduction into Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho in the

mid 1990s has been incredible.

It hasn’t been without problems.

Wolves have gotten into a lot of trouble attacking livestock in many areas over the years. Nobody has been more patient throughout the wolf reintroduction than Montana’s ranchers who have had to deal with problem wolves.

Over the years federal and state officials have killed hundreds of wolves to deal with the problems.

But that’s not a long-term solution.

Hunting is.

It’s the best tool to keep wolf populations at numbers that are acceptable to ranchers and sportsmen and women. But it’s also important for wolves to receive some hunting pressure when they venture into valley bottoms, closer to livestock, homes and communities. Some will die; other pack members will learn that livestock, houses and ultimately people are to be avoided.

The track record of hunters as the key to a species long-term survival is impressive.

Hunters Welcome!

It was hunters who brought back deer, elk, antelope and a host of other species from near extinction around the turn of the 20th century. And that abundance of game is the reason why we’re able to support predators including grizzly bears, mountain lions and wolves.

Hunters have always reached into their pockets to fund the management of game. Wolves are no different.

And hunters should view wolves like any other game animal – worthy of respect and a fair chase hunt. Buy a wolf tag, do some home work and get out and actively hunt for the large predators.

You might find that wolf hunting is different, challenging and ultimately adds to the experience. Within a few years it might be hunters who are the most vocal in advocating for wolves and their continued survival in Montana.

— Reporter Nick Gevock may be reached at nick.gevock@mtstandard.com

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THE MONTANA STANDARD HUNTING GUIDE AUGUST 2012 ■ 7

HUNTING GUIDE 2012

Upland game bird season opens Sept. 1

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Bag limits listed for birds, pheasants

M

ost of Montana’s upland game bird seasons run Sept. 1Jan.1, 2013—with the exception of sage grouse season, which closes Nov. 1.

The general pheasant season runs Oct. 6-Jan. 1, 2013. The youth only special pheasant weekend is Sept.

22-23.

Daily Bag Limits ■ Two sage grouse, four sharp-tailed grouse, three mountain grouse and eight partridge in aggregate.

■ Three cock pheasants daily.

Possession Limits ■ Two times the daily bag limit for sage grouse and four times the daily bag limit for sharp-tailed, mountain grouse and partridge.

■ Three times the daily bag limit for pheasants.

The annual bag limit for turkey is two wild turkeys.

The total combined limit of the spring and fall seasons cannot exceed two turkeys per hunter. In the fall, two either-sex turkeys may be harvested, but no more than one may be harvested in eastern Montana’s FWP Region 7 and no more than

PHOTOS BY NICK GEOCK / THE MONTANA STANDARD

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FOR THE YOUTH-only special pheasant weekend, the bag limit, shooting hours, hunter safety and all other regulations that apply to the regular pheasant season apply to the special youth season.

game bird regulations.

Special turkey hunting permits, with applications made in July, are valid only in areas specified and must be used with a valid turkey license.

pening day for most of Montana’s upland game bird hunting seasons occur on the same day every year — Sept. 1. The notable exception is for pheasants. The 2012 general pheasant season opens Oct. 6. Here are the statewide hunting-season dates for upland game birds: Sept. 1-Jan. 1, 2013 ■ Mountain grouse ■ Partridge ■ Sharp-tailed grouse ■ Turkey (fall season) Sept. 1-Nov. 1 ■ Sage grouse Sept. 22-23 ■ Youth Only Special Pheasant Weekend Oct. 6-Jan. 1, 2013 ■ Pheasant -----------------------------Hunters planning to hunt upland game birds on Indian Reservations should check Indian Reservation regulations for season dates, bag limits, licensing requirements, shooting hours, legal species and shot gun shell requirements, which may differ from state regulations.

For other details, see the upland game bird hunting regulations which are available on the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov, at FWP regional offices and from FWP license providers.

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HUNTING

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For kids: Pheasant, waterfowl season

M

ontana’s young hunters are the focus of a special weekend youth waterfowl and pheasant hunting season Sept. 22-23. Legally licensed hunters age 12 through 15 will be able to hunt ducks, mergansers, geese, coots and ringnecked pheasants statewide on these two days.

In addition, youngsters 11 years of age who will reach age 12 by Jan. 16, 2013, may participate in this hunt with the proper licenses.

A non-hunting adult at least 18 years of age must accompany the young hunters in the field.

The bag limit, shooting hours, A young waterfowl hunter’s hunter safety requirements and all other regulations of the regular pheasant and waterfowl seasons apply.

There is an exception to the youth waterfowl season at the Canyon Ferry WMA near Helena—shooting hours will extend from one-half hour before sunrise to noon Sept. 22.

Follow regs when tranporting birds Your game birds in the bag and you are fixing to clean and dress them but wait, there’s more.

To get your birds in the bag back home there are detailed regulations you need to follow when transporting them.

Hunters must leave one, fully-feathered wing naturally attached to any sage grouse, sharptailed grouse, mountain grouse or partridge when it is transported from where it was taken to the hunter’s permanent residence. Why? Wildlife biologists and game wardens will inspect the wings at game check stations to identify the harvested bird.

In another example, pheasant hunters must leave a leg and foot naturally attached to any pheasant they transport within the state. Why? To identify the sex of the bird. take.

A bird hunter who leaves game birds somewhere for a period of time, or who turns them over to someone else to transport, must also tag the birds with the following information: Hunter’s ALS number; hunter’s signature; hunter’s address; total number of birds by species; dates birds were harvested.

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THE MONTANA STANDARD HUNTING GUIDE AUGUST 2012

â– 9

HUNTING GUIDE 2012 2012 BIG GAME HUNTING SEASONS

A BUCK rests in a wheat field near Dillon.

Common hunting violations Every hunting season some individuals unwittingly or knowingly violate the state’s game laws.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials urge hunters to review Montana’s hunting rules and regulations to ensure they act within the law and that they recognize when others violate the hunting regulations and related laws.

Any violation afield can be reported to TIP-MONT on (800) TIP-MONT, that is (800) 847-6668.

Here are some of the most common game violations: ■ Failure to obtain permission from landowners before hunting on private property, ■ Wasting part of a game animal suitable for food, ■ Failure to properly validate a license/tag or to securely fasten the tag in a visible manner to a game animal immediately after it is taken and before it is moved or transported from the kill site, ■ Taking game from the wrong hunting district, ■ Using someone else’s tag on a game animal you killed,or tagging a game animal that someone else killed, ■ Shooting game animals on or from any public highway or public right-of-way, ■ Taking game without a license or the proper permit, ■ Failure to validate a big game tag, ■ Not leaving evidence of the sex or species of the game animal attached.

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HUNTING GUIDE 2012

Bowhunters enjoy ‘early’ season M

ontana’s archery-only hunting season for deer, elk, antelope, wolf, mountain lion and black bear begins Sept. 1. The bighorn sheep archery season begins Sept. 5. A $10 bow and arrow license, plus the proper hunting license, is required during the deer, elk, antelope, black bear, wolf, mountain lion and bighorn sheep archery only season or to hunt in areas limited to only archery equipment. Depending on the species and hunting district, some licenses were available only by special drawing.

For details on legal archery equipment and the documentation necessary to purchase a Montana bow and arrow license, check the 2012 big game hunting regulations available at FWP offices, license providers and on the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov, click “Hunting”.

The general rifle season for antelope is set for Oct. 6-Nov. 11.

Most antelope hunting licenses, including those for the general rifle season, are available only through special drawings which had a June 1 application deadline.

Antelope 900 series archery season already underway

CAN GET a jump on the Archery hunting ARCHERS big game season. for wolves on tap

Many archery antelope hunters will be afield soon with a 900 series license to archery hunt antelope of either sex in any hunting district starting with a 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Hunting in the 900 series archery hunt is restricted to archery equipment only and runs Aug. 15 to Nov. 11.

Applications for the 900 series archery hunt for antelope were due in June. Archery antelope season will open Sept. 1 and close Oct. 5

Archery hunters in Montana once again have the opportunity to pursue wolves this fall. For the upcoming season, archery hunters can pursue wolves throughout Montana beginning Sept. 1, Sept. 15 for backcountry rifle hunting and Oct. 15 for the

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HUNTING GUIDE 2012 Make sure your bow is legal

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' hunting regulations specify under the heading "Archery & Crossbow Equipment," the equipment that is legal for archery hunting in Montana.

For example, for FWP enforcement purposes, a bow is considered legal if it is at least 28 inches in total length. Bows shorter than 28 inches are prohibited for use in Montana. In another example, an arrow is defined as a projectile at least 20 inches in overall length.

An arrow must weigh no less than 300 grains with the broadhead attached. Crossbows are not a legal weapon during the archery equipment only season.

To review these and associated details on archery equipment regulations in Montana, go online to the 2012 big game regulations, or visit the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov and click on the Hunting page and then Regulations.

Archery...

Continued from page 11 general rifle season. The archery season will close Oct. 14 and the general season will end Feb. 28, 2013.

Montana’s first wolf trapping season will run Dec. 15 through Feb. 28, 2013, but to participate all prospective trappers are required to attend a certification class to learn more about what it will take to properly harvest a wolf and the need to be prepared for the challenge.

This year, while there isn’t a statewide wolf harvest quota, there is a combined hunting and trapping bag limit of three wolves, with hunters allowed to harvest only one wolf.

In addition, hunters must be aware that there are specific harvest quotas of two wolves in Wolf Management Unit 110 and two wolves in WMU 316. Those WMUs are located near Glacier and Yellowstone national parks respectively.

A wolf harvest must be reported to FWP within 24 hours by calling 1-877-3979453 or 1-877-FWP-WILD. Successful hunters in back-

country areas will be allowed to report wolf harvests within 24 hours of reaching a trailhead with one exception.

Successful hunters in WMU 316, a backcountry area with a quota, are required to report their harvests within 24 hours of taking a wolf. To learn more about Montana’s wolf population, visit FWP online at fwp.mt.gov and click ‘For Fish & Wildlife Information’ then “Montana Wolves”.

Archery hunters, know your bulls

With elk archery season opening Sept. 3, and the backcountry general elk season set to open Sept. 15, elk hunters need to know their bull elk. Here is a quick cheat sheet. An antlered bull elk is any elk with an antler or antlers at least four inches in length measured from the top of the skull. A brow-tined bull is any elk with an antler or antlers with a visible point on the lower half of either main beam that is greater than or equal to four inches long. A spike bull is an elk with antlers that do not branch, or if branched, the branch is less than four inches long measured from the main antler. An antlerless elk is a female, or a juvenile male with antlers less than four inches in length measured from the top of the skull.

Check fire status before heading out

Because many Montana counties-especially in the eastern portion of the state-have adopted emergency fire restrictions, some private landowners and Block Management Area cooperators may be reluctant to make access commitments until weather conditions improve.

FWP urges hunters to check in with the regional FWP office before making final plans.

For up-to-date details on fire and drought-related restrictions and closures, visit FWP's website at fwp.mt.gov. Click Drought & Fire. Be aware that conditions remain volatile in many areas.

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HUNTING GUIDE 2012

No surprises — expect to see bears

W

ith Montana’s upland game bird and bow hunting season opening Sept. 1, slow moving, quiet and camouflaged hunters will soon be sharing the landscape with the state’s even stealthier bears that may be stalking similar prey.

It may not be an encounter one hopes for, but it is one all hunters must expect.

Grizzly bears are found throughout western Montana, not just the Rocky Mountain Front, Bob Marshall Wilderness complex and the Yellowstone ecosystem. Black bears also range widely across the state.

Upland game bird hunters and archers hunting in bear

Black bear season license

Hunters may purchase a license at all FWP offices, FWP license providers, or online at fwp.mt.gov, under Online Services until Aug. 31. After that date there is a five-day wait on the use of bear hunting licenses and the licenses can be purchased at an FWP office, FWP license provider or online.

Black bear hunters must have successfully completed the Black Bear Identification Test and must present a certificate of completion when purchasing a black bear license. The training and test are available on FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov under ‘For Educators & Students’. A paper version of the test may be obtained at FWP offices.

Hunters must keep bear meat

Bear meat, or the meat from any other big game animal, cannot be wasted, or allowed in any way to become unfit for human consumption, unless it is infected with trichinella.

Bear meat can be tested for trichinella, a parasitic disease found in less than 15 percent of Montana’s black bears. Information and instructions on how to submit samples for testing are available at all FWP offices.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds hunters that the black bear archery season is Sept. 1-14. The general fall black bear hunting season opens Sept. 15 and ends Nov. 25 in most areas of Montana. Hunters should check the regulations carefully for exceptions.

Hunters may purchase only one black bear license per year.

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country should: ■ Carry bear spray and know how to use it.

■ Hunt with a partner and let someone else know your plans.

■ Get harvested big game out of the woods quickly.

■ Upon returning to a site where harvested game is left unattended, study the site at a distance for any movement or changes and signal your approach by making plenty of noise.

■ Do not attempt to frighten or haze a bear from a carcass.

■ If a bear finds a carcass left unattended and is eating it or has covered it with debris rendering it unsalvageable, contact FWP. For more on bears, go to the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov choose ‘For Fish & Wildlife Information’ and click on Be Bear Aware. Bear resistant products are described on the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee’s website at www.igbconline.org. A “How To Hunt Safely in Grizzly Country” brochure is also available at FWP regional offices.

Bear spray — carry it, know how to use it

If you are hunting this fall, and prowling through bear country, you need to: ■ Carry bear spray and know how to use it.

■ Hunt with a partner, leave detailed plans with someone and check-in periodically.

■ Pay attention to fresh bear sign. Look for bear tracks, scat, and concentrations of natural foods.

■ Use caution when hunting areas that have evidence of bear activity or areas with scavenging birds such as magpies, ravens, or crows.

■ Bear spray should be used as a deterrent only in an aggressive or attacking confrontation with a bear.

Most grizzly bears will leave an area if they sense human presence.

Hunters who observe a grizzly bear or suspect a bear is nearby should leave the area. If you do encounter a grizzly, stay calm, don’t run, and assess the situation by trying to determine if the bear is actually aware of you. Is it, for instance, threatening or fleeing? Always keep the bear in sight as you back away, and leave the area.

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HUNTING GUIDE 2012

Early season on migratory birds Bird hunters got to get hip

Everyone who hunts doves, ducks, geese, sandhill cranes, snipe, or coots in Montana must be “HIP” certified.

HIP stands for Harvest Information Program.

To get HIP certified, Montana migratory bird hunters are simply asked, in general, how many ducks, geese, cranes, doves, coots and or snipe they bagged last season in Montana.

The answers are entered into Montana’s Automated Licensing System to help with the management of migratory birds.

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he Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission has adopted final 2012 hunting regulations and season dates for “webless” migratory game birds.

The hunting seasons for Montana’s webless migratory game birds—mourning doves, common snipe and sandhill cranes—are set within federally provided frameworks for migratory birds and remain similar to last year.

The hunting season for the Rocky Mountain Population of sandhill cranes with permits already obtained in a special drawing will be Sept. 8-Sept. 30. The season for midcontinent sandhill cranes in eastern Montana outside the special permit area will be Sept.

29-Nov. 25. A free permit is needed for this hunting opportunity, with the permit available at FWP offices and national wildlife refuges in eastern Montana, as well as the FWP Helena office.

Mourning dove season will be Sept. 1-Oct. 30, while common snipe season will be Sept.

1-Dec. 16.

For more information on the early migratory bird seasons, visit FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov on the Hunting page. Printed regulations should be available at FWP offices and license providers by late August.

AT RIGHT: ‘Huckleberry’ retrieves a pheasant during a youth hunt last fall.

Tundra swam permits now available Applications are available for the tentatively approved tundra swan hunting permits for the 2012-13 season.

Hunters may apply for a swan permit in only one flyway. The seasons are expected to run Sept. 29 – Jan. 3, 2013 in the Central Flyway and Oct. 13 – Dec. 1 in the Pacific Flyway.

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are available at all Montana Fish, Wildlife & Park offices, or visit FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov . Click “Hunting.”

An application and the $5 drawing fee can be entered at any FWP office, online, or an application and the fee may be sent to: License Section, Swan Drawing, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.

THE MONTANA STANDARD HUNTING GUIDE AUGUST 2012 ■ 1 7

HUNTING GUIDE 2012

Mountain lion ID test available The Mountain Lion Identification Program is a voluntary training program available to anyone who is interested in mountain lion ecology and/or who wants to hunt mountain lions.

The course: ■ Presents information about mountain lion biology; ■ explains how to determine the gender of a mountain lion; ■ And presents some of Montana’s laws and regulations pertaining to mountain lion hunting.

FWP is asking hunters, guides, outfitters, and houndsmen to take the time to determine the gender of the mountain lion before harvesting it. Gender identification helps: ■ Reduce unwanted female lion mortality; ■ Reduce lion kitten mortality associated with orphaning; ■ Increase hunter satisfaction, and; ■ Meet management objectives.

The program consists of a training (tutorial) and a testing (exam) portion; both are available online. A paper test is not available at this point, though you may print the tutorial on your own at any time.

Before taking the exam, be sure you have reviewed the tutorial (by accessing .pdf file also at the bottom of the website page).

Go to: http://fwp.mt.gov/education/hunter/mountainLionID/default.html

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Nonresidents have opportunity for combination game tags

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onresident hunters can choose among Montana deer, elk and big game combination hunting licenses to purchase hassle free online or over-the-counter at any Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks office.

The licenses, good for antlered deer and elk in most hunting districts, can be used during the archery and general hunting seasons. The FWP Commission recently decided to offer 2,195 deer combination hunting licenses that were left over after the annual March 15 nonresident license application deadline. Those licenses went on sale Monday, Aug. 6. About 900 nonresident big game combos and 1,900 elk combos are also available and on sale now.

“This is really an unusual year for nonresidents hunters who want to come to Montana,” said Hank Worsech, the licensing section chief for FWP in Helena. “This year nonresidents can buy a deer or an elk license online, or overthe-counter from any FWP office. Nobody has to apply or wait weeks for drawing results.”

First-come, first-served nonresident hunting licenses now available include: Montana’s big game combination license for $939, the elk combination license for $789, and the deer combo for $566. Montana’s nonresident combination hunting licenses allow one to hunt for deer and/or elk and include season conservation, fishing, and upland game bird licenses; and the hunting-access enhancement fee.

Montana’s archery season runs Sept. 1 — Oct. 14.

Archers must meet archery and hunter education requirements. The general big game season runs Oct. 20 — Nov. 25. Montana annually provides about 17,000 big game combo licenses and 6,600 deer combo licenses for nonresident hunters. For more information on these Montana nonresident hunting licenses, visit FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov. Click “2012 Nonresident Big Game & Elk Combo Licenses.” Deer and elk are found throughout most of Montana. Hunters enjoy nearly 35 million acres of National Forest and other public land, as well as 8 million acres through the Block Management Program.

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The hunt is done, now what?

What to do with your big game carcass How to best dispose of a big game carcass after the meat is in the freezer is a question all hunters face. The answer is simple enough but the regulations and reasons behind it are not understood by many hunters and that can lead to violations and fines.

“All carcass parts remaining after processing a game animal should be disposed of in a regulated landfill or at a transfer station,” said Ron Aasheim, chief of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Communication and Education Bureau.

In many communities fur buyers and hide tanners will purchase deer and elk hides.

Montana State Law, applicable on all state-owned and managed sites, prohibits leaving dead animals or refuse on public property, including all state-owned and managed lands which would include FWP managed fishing access sites and wildlife management areas.

These laws may surprise some hunters, especially those for whom dumping big game carcasses in the woods has been standard practice.

“It is not only illegal to dump big game carcasses, it is a bad idea for health and sanitation-related reasons,” Aasheim said. “Even on private land there are restrictions that apply to the handling of animal carcasses.”

For example, human health-related state laws prohibit the placing of animal carcasses in any Montana lake, river, creek, pond or reservoir.

Another serious issue is disposing of the inedible portions of a harvested carcass in a location away from where it was harvested.

“This practice could facilitate the transmission of as yet undetected or even unidentified wildlife diseases from one area of the state to another,” Aasheim said.

Laws that apply to the disposal of big game carcasses can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations. These laws include those that apply to the management of refuse and debris on U.S. Forest Service lands and other related issues.

U.S. Forest Service enforcement sources say forest rules on dumping and proper storage and disposal of potential bear attractants—which a big game carcass is—are also posted at most ranger offices.

Hunters who go out of state are reminded that it is illegal to bring heads and spinal cords from harvested game animals back into Montana from any state or Canadian province where Chronic Wasting Disease is present in either wild animals or game farm animals. Skull caps and antlers with no tissue remaining may be transported back to Montana.

For more information on sanitation laws and other rules in effect on state and federal lands, please check the websites of the land management agencies responsible for the lands you plan to hunt.

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Stop at game check stations State law requires hunters to stop at all game check stations while traveling to and from hunting areas. Failure to stop at a checking station when personnel are on duty is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine.

Biological and law enforcement game check stations may be set up together in the same place or in separate locations.

This fall, thousands of hunters will provide useful information during these annual game checks, contributing to the management of game animal populations and future hunting opportunities.

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HUNTING GUIDE 2012 College students have an opportunity A discount on Montana’s big game combination license will be available beginning Sept. 12 for nonresident college students to hunt in Montana.

Qualifying students may purchase the $70 big game combination license at any Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks regional office or the Helena headquarters office.

The big game combination license includes conservation, fishing, upland game bird, deer and elk licenses.

Students eligible for the discount include: ■ Nonresident full-time students taking 12 credits or more at postsecondary institutions in Montana, ■ Nonresident students who are former Montana high school graduates now enrolled full-time at out-of-state postsecondary institutions and who have a parent that is a Montana resident.

The nonresident student must present a valid student identification card and an enrollment verification form from their school showing they are full-time students.

Former residents who are now full-time students at outof-state colleges must present a valid student identification card, current enrollment verification form, a parent’s Montana FWP ALS number and a copy of their Montana high school diploma or General Education Development degree.

A $10 hunting access enhancement fee—and proof they have passed hunter education instruction in Montana or another state — are also required.

Ask first to hunt on private land

Don’t wait until it is too late. Hunters who haven’t already asked permission from private landowners to hunt need to do so as soon as possible.

Montana law requires hunters to obtain permission for all hunting on private land. Whether pursuing upland game birds, coyotes, gophers or any other wildlife, hunters must have permission from the landowner before hunting on private property.

Hunters & Guides Welcome!

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