Deadline approaches for deer, elk permits
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MONTANA — The March 15 deer and elk permit application deadline has gained more importance to hunters in west-central Montana as a result of the new regulations for the 2016 hunting season.
This year, the Fish and Wildlife Commission reinstated antlerless elk permits in 13 of the 30 hunting districts in Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 2, and the deadline to apply for these and other deer and elk permits is March 15. Find out more and apply online at fwp.mt.gov. Hunters can also apply at FWP offices and all licensed providers.
These antlerless permits replace antlerless B licenses in many hunting districts. Unlike a B license, the permit does not allow hunters to harvest a second elk. Instead, it provides the holder an opportunity to use a general elk license to harvest an antlerless elk in a particular district.
The change was made to address public concerns in some parts of Montana, according to Mike Thompson, FWP Region 2 Wildlife Manager.
“Many people didn’t feel it was right for one hunter to harvest two elk in the same area, particularly on public lands where elk are vulnerable to harvest,” said Thompson.
Also due by March 15 are applications for special permits to hunt bull elk and mule deer bucks in some hunting districts, as in previous years.
The permit application information is available online at fwp.mt.gov now, and the complete hunting regulations for 2016 are expected to be online at fwp.mt.gov in early to mid March.
