Bird & Bow-2008
[pic] FWP Headquarters ( 1420 E. 6th Ave. ( Helena MT 59620-0701
Phone 406-444-2535 ( Fax 406-444-4952 ( Website fwp.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 10, 2012
Contact: Tom Palmer, 406-444-3051, tpalmer@
FISH, WILDLIFE & PARKS – BIRD & BOW EARLY FALL HUNTING INFORMATION AND SPECIAL FEATURE
• Early Hunting Season Fire Safety
• FWP Urges Hunters To Check Fire Status Before Heading Out
• Stop Poachers—Enough Is Enough! Call 1-800-TIP-MONT
• FWP Urges Caution to Prevent West Nile Virus
Bear Spray—Carry It & Know How To Use It
UPLAND GAME BIRD HUNTING
• Most Upland Game Bird Hunting Seasons To Open September 1
• Upland Game Bird And Pheasant Bag Limits for 2012
• Upland Game Bird Harvest Stumpers
• Keep A Wing To Transport Upland Game Birds
• For Kids Only—Pheasant And Waterfowl Weekend
• Four Steps To A Safe Hunt
BOWHUNTING
• Bow Hunters Gearing Up For Archery Season
• Antelope 900 Series Archery Season Underway August 15
• Archery Hunting For Wolves Opens September 1
• Do You Know A Bull When You See One?
• A Bow Is A Bow Is A Bow? No Way! Make Sure Yours Is Legal
• No Surprises—Expect To See Bears
BLACK BEAR HUNTING
• Black Bear Season License Purchase Deadline
• Black Bear Hunters Must Keep Meat
EARLY MIGRATORY BIRD HUNTING
• Early Migratory Bird Season Set
• Migratory Bird Hunters Got To Get HIP
GENERAL - 2012 MONTANA BIG GAME SEASONS
• 2012 Big Game Hunting Seasons
• 2012 Hunting Regulations—The Hunter's Bible
• It Ain't Rocket Science—Hunting's a Bargain For Nonresident College Students
• Program Focuses on Common Ground Shared by Hunters & Landowners
• What To Do With Your Big Game Carcass
• Keep It Clean—Game Handling Tips
• Ask First For All Hunting On Private Land
• Stop At Game Check Stations
• Hunters Asked To Report Signs Of Wolves
• Hunters Need To Be Weed-Aware
• Still No Chronic Wasting Disease In Montana
• Hunters' Common Violations
PUBLIC HUNTING ACCESS TO PRIVATE LANDS
• FWP Block Management Regional Contacts
• FWP Block Management Program Receives Good Reviews
• Access: Ask Early, Don't Wait
SPECIAL FEATURE: MONTANA TALES & TRAILS
SURVIVING THE HEAT
By Bruce Auchly, FWP Region 4 Information Officer
EARLY HUNTING SEASON FIRE SAFETY
It's hot, it's dry and wildfire prevention must be the top priority for all early season hunters in Montana.
"As early season hunters take to the field we are especially concerned about accidental fire starts caused when dry vegetation accumulates in a vehicle's skid plate or catalytic converter," said Ron Aasheim, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks spokesman in Helena. "Hot temperatures have cured summer's lush vegetation, increasing the likelihood of grass fires."
While about 5,000 Montana archery hunters can head afield Aug. 15 with their 900 series hunting licenses, Montana’s archery-only hunting season for deer, elk, antelope, black bear, wolf and mountain lion begins Sept. 1. Most upland game birds seasons also open Sept. 1. The bighorn sheep archery season begins Sept. 5.
Hunters driving on roads with drying vegetation along the edges or growing down the middle of a two-track road can cause autumn fire starts and that keeps landowners and managers on edge this time of year.
"Hunters have an especially big responsibility to be fire conscious," Aasheim said. "It is a matter of human safety and protecting private property and the resources of Montana."
Hunters should:
• Drive only on established roads.
• Avoid roads with tall vegetation in the middle track.
• Never park over dry grass and other vegetation.
• Carry a fire extinguisher—or water-filled weed sprayer—shovel, axe, and, a cell phone for communications in addition to other outdoor safety gear.
• Restrict camping activities to designated camping areas.
• Not build campfires.
• Smoke only inside buildings or vehicles.
Being able to respond is essential in the first few seconds of a fire start when it is small and easily extinguished.
"It is also important for hunters to know when to back off and who to call for help if you come upon a fire or accidentally cause one that is too big to easily put out," Aasheim said. "Have a personal action plan when outdoors, for fire starts as well as for other types of accidents, severe injuries and other emergencies."
For up-to-date details on fire and drought-related restrictions and closures, visit FWP's website at fwp.. Click Drought & Fire.
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FWP URGES HUNTERS TO 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.. Click Drought & Fire.
Be aware that conditions remain volatile in many areas. Your assistance during this time will be appreciated.
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Stop Poachers - Enough Is Enough! Call 1-800-Tip-Mont
The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks toll-free hotline for reporting wildlife poaching, property damage, and violations of fish and game laws is in operation 24 hours a day.
TIP-MONT is the acronym for Turn In Poachers—Montana.
Poaching includes:
• hunting out of season or at night using spotlights
• taking more than one's legal limit
• nonresidents who purchase resident licenses
• professional and commercial poachers who illegally offer outfitter and guide services.
When it comes to poaching, Montanans are saying, 'enough is enough!'
If you witnesses a fish and game violation, or property vandalism, you can report the crime by calling 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668) or Report a Violation online on the Enforcement web page.
Callers will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.
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FWP URGES CAUTION TO PREVENT WEST NILE VIRUS
Until the first hard frost kills Montana’s mosquitoes, hunters should take precautions against insect bites and remember that West Nile virus can infect humans as well as a variety of animals, especially birds and horses.
WNV can cause fever and fatigue and in its most severe form can be fatal to humans and animals. About 80 percent of infected humans, however, never develop symptoms. WNV most commonly affects older individuals, young children or those with weakened immune systems.
Montana’s archery and upland bird hunting seasons opens Sept. 1. The best way to avoid contracting WNV is to avoid being bitten by a mosquito. Because mosquitoes carrying WNV are likely still active, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks urges hunters to take a few precautions when in the field.
• Apply insect repellent with DEET, especially when hunting in moist areas or where one is likely to encounter mosquitoes.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and full-length pants, especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
• Hunters using horses should consider getting them vaccinated.
• Although it is unlikely that people or dogs can become infected with WNV by handling infected birds, don't not shoot or eat sick birds and use good hygiene when cleaning birds.
• Inspect birds for good physical condition, clean all blood and entrails and thoroughly cook game birds. Epidemiologists don’t think there is a risk of contracting WNV by eating an infected game bird, but as a routine precaution hunters are advised to clean and cook game meat thoroughly.
Hunters should also routinely follow these additional common sense precautions when handling and cleaning game: wear rubber gloves when field dressing game animals; avoid sawing through bone and cutting through the brain or spinal cord (backbone); minimize contact with animal hair, brain, intestines, fluids, spinal tissue and feces; prevent dogs from eating the internal organs of game animals; wash hands and forearms after field dressing game animals.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports there is no evidence that WNV can be contracted by handling a diseased bird. Likewise, hunters shouldn’t worry about their dogs getting infected by retrieving a bird with WNV.
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BEAR SPRAY—CARRY IT & KNOW HOW TO USE IT
The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee recommends the use of bear spray to hunters of all species who plan to hunt in bear country. The committee reminds hunters that bear spray is not a substitute for being bear aware and taking proper safety measures.
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.
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.
Here are some guidelines for using bear spray:
When to use bear spray
• Bear spray should be used as a deterrent only in an aggressive or attacking confrontation with a bear.
How to use bear spray
• Each person should carry a can of bear spray.
• If a bear is moving toward you from a distance of 30-60’ direct the spray downward toward the front of the bear with a slight side to side motion so that the bear spray billows up and creates a wide cloud that acts as a barrier between you and the bear.
• If the bear is within 30 feet spray continuously at the front of the bear until it breaks off its charge.
• Spray additional bursts if the bear continues toward you. Sometimes just the noise of the spray and the appearance of the spray cloud is enough to deter a bear from continuing its charge.
• Spray additional bursts if the bear makes additional charges.
• A full canister of bear spray is essential for bear encounters.
• The expiration date on the spray should be checked annually.
Selecting a bear spray
Purchase products that are clearly labeled "for deterring attacks by bears," and that are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency.
No deterrent is 100 percent effective, but compared to all others, including firearms, bear spray has demonstrated success in a variety of situations in fending off threatening and attacking bears and preventing injury to the person and animal involved.
For more on living with bears and being bear aware, see the FWP home page at fwp. and click on 'For Fish & Wildlife Information' then Be Bear Aware. For more on bear resistant products, go to the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee website.
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UPLAND GAME BIRD HUNTING
MOST UPLAND GAME BIRD HUNTING SEASONS TO OPEN SEPTEMBER 1
Opening 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
o Mountain grouse
o Partridge
o Sharp-tailed grouse
o Turkey (fall season)
• Sept. 1-Nov. 1
o Sage grouse
• Sept. 22-23
o Youth Only Special Pheasant Weekend
• Oct. 6-Jan. 1, 2013
o Pheasant
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UPLAND GAME BIRD AND PHEASANT BAG LIMITS FOR 2012
Most of Montana's upland game bird seasons run Sept. 1-Jan.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 one may be harvested outside of FWP Region 7.
Fall turkey hunting is open to all hunters with a valid turkey license in the general hunting areas described in the upland game bird regulations. Special turkey hunting permits, with applications made in July, are valid only in areas specified in the regulations and must be used with a valid turkey license.
All areas open to hunting upland game birds by firearms are open to either-sex hunting of that species by falconry.
For the youth only special pheasant weekend, the bag limit, shooting hours, hunter safety requirements and all other regulations that apply to the regular pheasant season apply to the special youth season.
For other details, see the upland game bird hunting regulations which are available on the FWP website at fwp., at FWP regional offices and from FWP license providers.
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.
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UPLAND GAME BIRD HARVEST STUMPERS
Here's some info for the upland game bird history buff and some trivia you can use in hunting camp to stump and amaze your hunting buddies.
|Upland Game Bird |Long-term Average Harvest |2010 Estimated Harvest |2011 Estimated Harvest |
|Pheasant |130,800 |104,200 |94,800 |
|Sharp-tailed Grouse |53,500 |52,400 |44,700 |
|Sage-grouse |7,700 |3,200 |3,200 |
|Gray Partridge |46,100 |39,100 |27,200 |
|Dusky Grouse |18,600 |14,000 |15,600 |
|Ruffed Grouse |25,500 |20,600 |22,000 |
|Spruce Grouse |4,700 |4,000 |5,200 |
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KEEP A WING TO TRANSPORT UPLAND GAME 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, sharp-tailed 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.
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
For details, see the 2012 upland game bird regulations available at FWP offices and license providers and on the FWP website at fwp. .
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FOR KIDS ONLY—PHEASANT AND WATERFOWL WEEKEND
Montana'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 ring-necked 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, 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 and 23.
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FOUR STEPS TO A SAFE HUNT
The 1,200 volunteers who teach Hunter Education remind all hunters there are four basic rules of gun safety.
1. Always point the muzzle of your gun in a safe direction.
2. Always treat every gun as if it were loaded.
3. Always be sure of your target and beyond.
4. Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire.
Hunting is a safe activity. It is up to each hunter to make responsible decisions to keep it that way.
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BOWHUNTING
BOW HUNTERS GEAR UP FOR ARCHERY SEASON
Montana’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., click "Hunting".
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ANTELOPE 900 SERIES ARCHERY SEASON UNDERWAY AUGUST 15
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 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.
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ARCHERY HUNTING FOR WOLVES OPENS SEPTEMBER 1
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 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 1-877-397-9453 or 1-877-FWP-WILD. Successful hunters in backcountry 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. click 'For Fish & Wildlife Information' then "Montana Wolves".
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DO YOU KNOW A BULL WHEN YOU SEE ONE?
With elk archery season opening Sept. 1, and the backcountry general elk season set to open Sept. 15, elk hunters need to know their bull elk. Here is a quick primer:
• Antlered bull elk – an elk with an antler or antlers at least four inches in length measured from the top of the skull.
• Brow-tined bull – an 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.
• Spike bull – an elk with antlers that do not branch, or if branched, the branch is less than four inches long measured from the main antler.
• Antlerless elk – a female elk; or a juvenile male elk with antlers less than four inches in length measured from the top of the skull.
To learn more, check the 2012 big game deer, elk and antelope regulations.
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A BOW IS A BOW IS A BOW? NO WAY! MAKE SURE YOURS 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. and click on the Hunting page and then Regulations.
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NO SURPRISES--EXPECT TO SEE BEARS
With 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 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. 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 . A "How To Hunt Safely in Grizzly Country" brochure is also available at FWP regional offices.
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❖ BLACK BEAR HUNTING
BLACK BEAR SEASON LICENSE PURCHASE DEADLINE
Hunters may purchase a license at all FWP offices, FWP license providers, or online at fwp., 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. under 'For Educators & Students'. A paper version of the test may be obtained at FWP offices.
2012 Black Bear hunting regulations are available on the FWP website at fwp. , from FWP license providers and at FWP offices.
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BLACK BEAR HUNTERS MUST KEEP 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.
It is illegal to harvest black bear cubs. Cubs are defined as bears less than one year old. It is also illegal to harvest female black bears with young.
A hunter is prohibited from abandoning in the field the head or hide of a harvested black bear.
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EARLY MIGRATORY BIRD HUNTING
EARLY MIGRATORY BIRD SEASONS SET
The 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 mid-continent 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. on the Hunting page. Printed regulations should be available at FWP offices and license providers by late August.
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MIGRATORY 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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GENERAL HUNTING TIPS FROM FWP
2012 BIG GAME HUNTING SEASONS
Antelope
• 900 Aug. 15-Nov. 11
• Archery Sept. 1-Oct. 5
• General Oct. 6-Nov. 11
Bighorn Sheep
• Archery Sept. 5-Sept. 14
• General Sept. 15-Nov. 25
Bison
• General Nov. 15-Feb. 15, 2013
Black Bear
• Archery Sept. 1-Sept. 14
• Fall Sept. 15-Nov. 25
Deer & Elk
• Archery Sept. 1-Oct. 14
• Youth-Deer Only Oct. 18 -19
• General Oct. 20-Nov. 25
Backcountry (HDs 150, 151, 280, 316)
• Archery Sept. 1-Sept. 14
• General Sept. 15-Nov. 25
Moose
• General Sept. 15-Nov. 25
Mountain goat
• General Sept. 15-Nov. 25
Mountain Lion
• Archery Sept. 1-Oct. 14
• Fall Oct. 20 -Nov. 25
• Winter Dec. 1-April 14, 2013
Wolf
• Archery Sept. 1-Oct. 14
• General Oct. 15-Feb. 28, 2013
• Trapping Dec. 15-Feb. 28, 2013
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2012 HUNTING REGULATIONS—THE HUNTER'S BIBLE
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. and from most FWP offices and license providers.
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IT AIN'T ROCKET SCIENCE—HUNTING'S A BARGAIN FOR NONRESIDENT COLLEGE STUDENTS
A discount on Montana’s big game combination license will be available beginning Sept. 10 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, and 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 out-of-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.
For more information on this license, call: 406-444-2950. For information on hunting in Montana, go to the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks website at fwp. and click on Hunting.
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PROGRAM FOCUSES ON COMMON GROUND SHARED BY HUNTERS AND LANDOWNERS
More than 2,400 hunters and landowners have taken a look at an information program aimed at helping promote responsible hunter behavior and good hunter-landowner relations. Nearly half of those who checked in completed the course and earned a lifetime certification from the Hunter-Landowner Stewardship Project.
"The Hunter-Landowner Stewardship Project is designed to help hunters and landowners build effective relationships based upon mutual respect and understanding of each other's perspectives," said Alan Charles, Coordinator of Landowner/Sportsman Relations for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
The voluntary and free course is available via FWP's website at fwp.. Click "For Hunters."
The course is delivered through an interactive website with videos, questions and instant feedback, as well as opportunities for people to test their knowledge on a variety of topics related to hunter-landowner relations and responsible hunter behavior.
Completion of the entire course, taken at the user's leisure, will usually require less than three hours. The program—like many online courses—allows one to complete segments over several days or weeks without losing material or results.
Designed to be thought-provoking and entertaining, the program is highly interactive to keep the attention of even those who wouldn't typically spend a lot of time on the computer. "We want to develop ways for hunters and landowners to explore each other’s experiences and connect with each other," said Thomas Baumeister, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks education program manager.
Those who successfully complete the course can print a certificate of completion for future reference, and may request a free cap and bumper sticker bearing the program’s logo.
Charles said the program emerged from recommendations from the Private Land/Public Wildlife Council, and from recommendations made by the Montana Hunter Behavior Advisory Council.
"FWP's goal is to emphasize the common ground shared by hunters and landowners while focusing attention on key issues that typically arise when hunters and landowners interact," Charles explained.
Some landowners are already using the program as a tool to promote responsible hunter behavior, either by posting signs provided by FWP to indicate the ranch supports the project or requesting hunters to produce a certificate of completion as a condition of access. Many hunters who have completed the course have indicated that information provided through the program has helped them be more aware of the many issues associated with private land and public access.
FWP is asking hunters and landowners to take time to review and complete the course and to provide feedback by completing the survey at the end of the program. FWP will use that feedback to refine, update and expand the program.
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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 was 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 uneatable 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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KEEP IT CLEAN--GAME HANDLING TIPS
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds hunters that simple, common sense precautions are part of the safe and proper field dressing of big game.
The Antelope 900 series archery season opens Aug. 15, followed by the general archery season for antelope, bear, wolf, deer, elk and mountain lion on Sept. 1.
"While the chance of contracting a disease from wild game is remote, it makes good sense to take a few simple precautions," said Ron Aasheim, chief of FWP's Communications and Education Bureau in Helena.
Here are some of the precautions that FWP recommends to hunters handling harvested game including waterfowl, game birds, deer and elk.
• Do not shoot, handle or consume any animal that is acting abnormally or that appears sick. Contact FWP if you see an animal that appears sick.
• Wear rubber gloves when field dressing any game animal.
• Bone out the meat from your deer or elk. Avoid sawing through bone when you can and avoid cutting through the brain or spinal cord (backbone).
• Minimize contact with animal brain, intestines, fluids, spinal tissue and feces.
• Be mindful of humans and domestic dogs touching or coming in contact with animal parts or feces as it can be contaminated and transmit parasites.
• Prevent dogs from eating the internal organs of game animals.
• If you have your wild meat commercially processed, request that your animal is handled individually, without meat from other animals being added to meat from your animal.
• Wash hands and forearms after field dressing game animals.
• Cook all game meat until well done.
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.
Landowners may grant permission in person, over the phone, in writing or by posting signs that explain what type of hunting is allowed and under what conditions hunting may occur on land owned or controlled by the landowner.
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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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HUNTERS ASKED TO REPORT SIGNS OF WOLVES
State wildlife officials remind landowners, hikers, anglers, OHV riders and others in the outdoors this fall to report wolf sightings to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
The public's sightings help verify the activity, distribution and individual pack sizes of Montana's wolf population.
To report a wolf sighting, use the form found on the FWP website at fwp.. Information about where, when and how many wolves are seen, and if possible the GPS coordinates of a sighting is especially helpful.
To learn more about Montana’s wolf population, visit FWP online at fwp.. Click 'For Fish & Wildlife Information' then Montana Wolves.
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HUNTERS NEED TO BE WEED-AWARE
Noxious weeds pose a serious economic and environmental threat to Montana. A "noxious weed" is any plant that state and federal authorities designate as a serious threat to agriculture, wildlife and native plant communities.
Noxious weeds and their seeds hitch rides with birds, big game animals, wool pants, horses, trains, the tires and undersides of automobiles and all-terrain vehicles, flowing water and the wind.
Reducing the spread of noxious weed infestations also protects the quality of Montana's wildlife habitat and the health of the state's fish and wildlife.
FWP encourages hunters and others to:
• learn to identify noxious weeds;
• check clothes, waders, pets and gear at the end of each trip to be sure they aren’t harboring stowaway weed seeds;
• avoid driving through or parking vehicles and trailers in areas infested with weeds;
• wash vehicles and trailers (especially the undercarriages) between outings;
• pull small infestations of noxious weeds that have not gone to seed and leave them in an undisturbed area with their roots exposed. If flowers or seeds are present, pull the plants, place them in a plastic bag, and pack them out for proper disposal;
• report large infestations to the landowners or to the county weed district.
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STILL NO CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE IN MONTANA
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks did not detect chronic wasting disease in any of the 849 deer, elk and moose mostly collected during the 2011-2012 hunting season.
Montana’s detection program tests sick and road-killed deer, elk and moose, and has relied heavily on testing samples from hunter-harvested animals collected in "high risk" areas. CWD is a brain disease in deer, elk and moose that is always fatal.
Over the past 14 years FWP has tested more than 17,300 wild elk, moose and deer in Montana for CWD and has not yet found any evidence of it.
CWD was diagnosed in 1999 in nine captive elk on an alternative livestock facility, or game farm, near Philipsburg. All the animals there were destroyed and the facility was quarantined.
"It's always welcome news to learn that CWD hasn't been found in Montana wildlife populations, but we still think it is just a matter of time," said Neil Anderson, FWP’s Wildlife Laboratory supervisor. "The disease occurs in wild elk, deer and moose in adjacent states and Canadian provinces, so we expect it to turn up here some day."
FWP adopted a CWD Management Plan to help protect Montana’s wild deer and elk from infection and to manage the disease should it occur here. That plan is up for renewal and is currently under review.
If you should see sick, emaciated animals, please report them to the nearest FWP regional office, or the FWP biologist in your area.
For more information, visit FWP’s CWD Frequently Asked Questions at fwp. and search "CWD".
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HUNTERS' MOST COMMON HUNTING VIOLATIONS
Every hunting season some individuals unwittingly or knowingly violate the state’s game laws.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials urges 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 at 1-800-TIP-MONT, that is 1-800-847-6668 or Report a Violation online on the Enforcement web page.
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.
FWP encourages hunters to protect the future of their sport by hunting responsibly and reporting hunting violations to the toll-free 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668) number or report a violation online on the Enforcement web page.
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PUBLIC HUNTING ACCESS TO PRIVATE LANDS
BLOCK MANAGEMENT INFO AVAILABLE AUGUST 15
For the 2012 hunting season, more than 1,260 landowners have enrolled about 8 million acres in Montana's Block Management Program.
The popular Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks program provides hunters with public hunting access to private land, and isolated public land, free of charge, while assisting landowners in managing hunting activities.
Information about specific Block Management Area opportunities will be available beginning Aug. 15 at all FWP offices and on the FWP website at fwp.. Hunting Guides and most BMA maps will be available on the FWP website. Click "For Hunters," then click "Block Management."
While many BMAs do not require reservations, some do. Hunters can use the Hunting Access Guides to determine how permission is obtained for individual BMAs. BMA reservations may be made for some upcoming hunting seasons beginning Aug. 22. Others won't open reservation lists until later in this fall.
Additional tools to help hunters plan for hunts on Montana’s 93 million acres of private and public land can be found on line at fwp.. Click "Hunting," then click "Hunter Access."
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FWP BLOCK MANAGEMENT REGIONAL CONTACTS
Hunters interested in obtaining access to the nearly eight million acres of private lands enrolled in FWP's Block Management Program may contact the regional FWP office in the area where they plan to hunt, or check the "Hunting" pages on the FWP website at fwp..
To contact FWP regional offices for more information on regional hunting opportunities on BMAs call:
• Northwest— FWP Region 1 in Kalispell: 406-752-5501
• West-central—FWP Region 2 in Missoula: 406-542-5530
• South-central—FWP Region 3 in Bozeman: 406-994-3288
• Central—FWP Region 4 in Great Falls: 406-454-5862
• East-central—FWP Region 5 in Billings: 406- 247-2940
• Northeast—FWP Region 6 in Glasgow: 406-228-3700
• Southeast—FWP Region 7 in Miles City: 406-234-0930
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FWP BLOCK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM RECEIVES GOOD REVIEWS
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’s Block Management hunting access program is an important element of Montana’s hunting scene. Since 1985 it has helped maintain public hunting access to private and isolated public lands.
In 2012, more than 1,260 landowners are expected to participate in the program, providing hunters with access to approximately 8 million acres of land.
FWP has periodically asked landowners and hunters to evaluate the program through surveys conducted by FWP’s Human Dimensions Unit—a team of human dimension research professionals—most recently in 2009. These surveys show that hunters have noticed and appreciated improvements made to the program.
The average hunter who responded to the 2009 survey hunted on four or five different BMAs and spent about 10 days hunting. Of the hunters surveyed, 75 percent hunted on BMAs exclusively, most of the time, or half of the time.
Of hunters who participated in the survey, 89 percent said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the Block Management Program. In other hunter survey results:
• Eighty-five percent of hunters reported they were satisfied or very satisfied with the hunting opportunities provided.
• Fifty percent of the hunters who responded to the survey said game animals on BMAs they hunted met or exceeded their expectations.
• Sixty percent were successful in harvesting game in 2009 on a BMA.
• Eighty-eight percent were satisfied or very satisfied with the BMA rules.
• Sixty-four percent of hunters said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the number of other hunters they met on Montana’s BMAs.
Most landowners who responded to the survey also said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the program overall. Here are some examples of what landowners had to say:
• Seventy-eight percent said it is an important or very important way for them to manage game numbers on their land.
• Ninety-two percent said the Block Management program is an important or very important way for them to manage hunter activities.
• Sixty-three percent said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the results of the program in managing game numbers for them in 2009.
• Seventy-nine percent were satisfied with the number of hunters who hunted on their BMAs.
• Commenting on hunter behavior, 89 percent rated it good or very good. That compares to 90 percent in 2003 and 77 percent in 1996.
Landowners have generally been satisfied with the benefit they receive through the program and most have continued participating year after year.
For a summary of the most recent Block Management Landowner & Hunter survey, visit FWP's website at fwp.. Click "For Hunters", and then click "Block Management" then "Reports & Surveys".
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ACCESS: ASK EARLY, DON'T WAIT
Montana's millions of acres of private land offer some good hunting opportunities—the only catch is gaining the landowner's permission to hunt.
It is Montana law that hunters obtain landowner permission to hunt on all private land.
Here are a few things to keep in mind that will greatly improve results when attempting to secure hunting access to private land.
• Show courtesy to the landowner and make hunting arrangements by calling or visiting at times convenient to the landowner.
• Plan ahead and secure permission well in advance of the actual hunting date.
• Provide complete information about yourself and your hunting companions, including vehicle descriptions and license numbers.
• Explain what type of hunting you wish to do, and be sure to ask any questions which can help clarify the conditions of access.
• Follow the landowner’s instructions, and bring with you only the companions for whom you obtained landowner permission.
• Be sure to thank the landowner after your hunt.
For more on hunting access, visit FWP's website at fwp.. Click "For Hunters", and then click "Block Management" then "Hunter Access".
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Surviving the Heat
By Bruce Auchly
FWP Region 4 Information Officer
Hot enough for you?
Thank goodness we can beat the heat with central air or cold drinks or sitting in the basement.
Now, imagine wearing a fur coat or down jacket and trying to stay cool with nary an air conditioner in sight. That’s what mammals and birds have to deal with this time of year.
One method for some mammals is changing their winter coat for a summer one.
Take white-tailed deer, for example. In May and June, whitetails shed their thick winter hair, replaced by thinner reddish-brown hair.
Come September and October, their winter hair comes in growing through the summer coat to create a gray or grayish-brown coat.
Elk are similar. Now they are wearing their summer hair, a deep reddish-brown color with little or no under coat, giving them a sleek look. Yet by archery season in early September, elk are changing into their darker, thicker winter coat.
Changing a winter coat to a summer version is only one part of staying cool.
Moose will move to higher elevations, seeking the coolness that brings.
If they can find it, elk will rest in the shade of a densely timbered north-facing slope; though on some hot days they may be found on high open points taking advantage of any breeze, especially if biting flies are tormenting them.
And then there’s night time. Many animals (bears, raccoons, and deer) will lay low on hot summer days and become active at night.
Kind of like teenagers, come to think of it.
Birds, with the exception of owls, don’t have the luxury of waiting until dark when temperatures drop. And they need their feathers for flight. They do not have a thinner, cooler summer version.
In warm weather, a bird gets rid of extra body heat through its respiratory (breathing) system, which collects warm, moist air from its internal overheated tissues and expels it through its lungs, according to the Audubon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds.
We use all sorts of deodorants and lotions to either stop us from sweating or mask the odor, alleged to be a detriment to society by the advertising departments of corporate America. But perspiring, the wetting of our skin by our sweat glands, is how we evolved to cool off.
Birds don’t have sweat glands. So fresh air rushing through a bird’s respiratory system reduces its body heat by picking up and expelling heat radiated from cells and heated blood.
Basically, birds pant.
Birds will also seek shade, even sitting on a wire in the shadow of a fence post.
Some of our winged friends pulse their throat skin in and out to help cool their bodies, including Montana birds like great blue herons, cormorants, pigeons and pelicans. It’s called evaporative cooling.
Another method used by cormorants (a fish eating black-colored bird found along the Missouri River in central Montana) is to perch with wings spread for lowering their body temperature.
No matter how mammals and birds stay cool nature will eventually usher in fall and lower temperatures, letting them go about the business of preparing for winter.
For us, that will mean turning off the air conditioner and turning on the furnace.
What a life.
Photo cutline: Some birds, like great blue herons, cool off by pulsing their throat skin. It’s called evaporative cooling. Photo by FWP/Steve Carson. Photo available on our website or by request.
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