Field Notes
Sydney Young, FWP Game Warden
This time of year may not seem busy to most, but for many Fish, Wildlife, & Parks staff, January and February are the calm months before the storm. That storm, of course, being the new license year that begins on March 1st and brings with it permit application deadlines for antlered bucks and bull elk. But that's just the beginning.
Once a hunter has applied for their permits, either in person or online, the long wait and hopeful planning begins. While some hunters will not travel far, instead choosing to hunt near home, others will venture across the state to areas like the Missouri Breaks or the plains of southeastern Montana. Hunters also come from out of state, infusing the economy with over $324 billion dollars and supporting 3,300 jobs in 2016 alone.
If you're one of Montana's estimated 250,000 residents buying hunting and fishing licenses, you should find the following information helpful. As mentioned earlier, the 2023 license year begins on March 1st- this is the first day that license providers can sell licenses and hunters can apply for permits. The deadlines (apply-by dates) for applications are as follows:
April 1st- Deer and Elk Permits, Non-Resident Big Game, Deer and Elk Combination Licenses
May 1st- Moose, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, Bison
June 1st- 900 Archery Antelope, Antelope and Antelope B, Deer and Elk B Licenses
June 30th- Super Tag Chances (Antelope, Bighorn Sheep, Bison, Deer, Elk, Moose, Mountain Goat and Mountain Lion)
Other pertinent information to know for the coming 2023 license year:
-The Smith River Permit lottery deadline is February 15th. The application fee is $15 and interested parties can apply online or in person at a Regional Office.
-The Fish & Wildlife Commission will meet on February 22nd. Agenda topics include the proposed Public Use Rules for Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and the 2023-24 Flathead Indian Reservation Non-Member Fishing and Hunting Regulations. Interested parties can view the meeting online via Zoom or in person at the FWP office in Missoula.
Finally, I would like to extend my gratitude to the Seeley community for supporting and welcoming me and providing such warm feedback about my Field Notes column. I have moved on from my position as a Game Warden in Seeley Lake, but you will still see me around occasionally at the Missoula FWP office. I have also planted a seed in the hopes that other FWP biologists and staff will continue to contribute to the Pathfinder, so if there's any topics that are of interest be sure to reach out!
Reader Comments(0)