Fall is in the air, and that means Montana’s big game hunting seasons are just around the corner. The general season to hunt black bear, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and moose begins Sept. 15. The general hunting season for antelope begins Oct. 8, followed by the general season for deer and elk on Oct. 22.
Most archery hunting seasons begin the first week of September. For other season dates and details, go to the Hunting page on the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks website at fwp.mt.gov or visit a nearby FWP office.
FWP Commission adopts standard bison quota
The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission adopted a standard bison hunt quota of 44 either sex licenses for Montana’s 2011 bison hunt, consistent with quotas set in the past four years. Bison hunting begins Nov. 15.
New in 2011 is the archery season for bison. Montana’s 2011 Legislature established archery as a legal means of hunting bison. FWP will present a mandatory archery orientation program for this hunt in collaboration with the Montana Bowhunters Association.
FWP was also authorized to tap cow and calf hunters to participate in the hunt to achieve an equitable harvest among state-licensed and tribal hunters. The list of hunters who might receive one of these cow or calf licenses will be identified through a second-choice drawing in mid-September. The deadline to apply for the bison drawing was last spring.
