Antler hunting opening day congestion leads to safety concerns, Vehicle staging no longer allowed

Roadside safety issues are at the core of upcoming changes to opening day for antler hunting. Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP) will be hosting meetings to discuss possible solutions to the annual opening day congestion at the Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area game range.

New this year, antler hunters planning to enter the WMA in a vehicle will not be allowed to stage along Highway 83 and will instead register for a spot in line ahead of opening day.

According to Montana law, a vehicle may not be parked or left standing upon the right-of-way of a public highway for a period longer than 48 hours or upon a city street or state, county, or city property for a period longer than five days.

Every year in recent history an ever-increasing lineup of cars parked alongside Highway 83 leading up to the locked gate at the game range alerts passersby to the upcoming opening day, May 15. A few days in advance campers park across Highway 83. Early on opening day campfires are seen, conversations are buzzing and the excitement builds.

By mid-morning, pickup trucks loaded with eager antler hunters take the place of cars people have parked there days and weeks in advance to hold their place in line. Traffic on Highway 83 slows to a crawl as horn hunters scurry from campers to trucks and crowds congregate. Opening day 2023 featured over 275 vehicles entering the game range from Highway 83, according to FWP records.

"We know we need to make a change in how we manage traffic for the opener at the Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA, but we want public input to help us work through the specifics of what those changes are going to be," said Randy Arnold, FWP regional supervisor in Missoula.

FWP encourages the public to join one of two local meetings: Thursday Feb. 15 or online through Zoom.

Join in-person at the Missoula FWP office (3201 Spurgin Road) or in Seeley Lake at the U.S. Forest Service Seeley Lake Ranger Station (3360 Hwy 83 North). Zoom directions can be found online at https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management-areas/blackfoot-clearwater-antler-hunting Written comments are also being accepted. See contact information in the above article.

Public comments gathered by the Pathfinder range from suggestions to open the game range at midnight, as happened years ago, to staging cars in the closed Klymit Gravel Pit area on the other side of Highway 83.

The Blackfoot-Clearwater Wildlife Management Area is centrally located between Missoula, Kalispell, Butte and Great Falls and attracts a lot of people for antler hunting on opening day, said FWP.

"We're not trying to impact the experience or keep people from coming," Loren Flynn, FWP District 2 regional recreation manager, said. "There are legitimate concerns for public safety and we're trying to de-incentivize the need to line up."

According to FWP, the Blackfoot-Clearwater Game Range is unique statewide in its location alongside Highway 83, requiring special considerations. Sun River Wildlife Management Area - southwest of Choteau - has similar traffic on opening day, but does not border a state highway.