hunting guide '10

1 • REAL ESTATE GUIDE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2010

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Offers good on new and unregistered units purchased between 7/27/10 and 9/30/10. Offers only available at participating Polaris® dealers. *Rates as low as 3.99% for 36 months. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. Other fi nancing offers are available. Applies to the purchase of all new ATV and RANGER ® models made on the Polaris Installment Program from 7/27/10 to 9/30/10. Fixed APR of 3.99%, 7.99%, or 10.99% will be assigned based on credit approval criteria. Examples of monthly payments over a 36 month term at 3.99% APR: $29.52 per $1,000 fi nanced and at 10.99% APR: $32.73 per $1,000 fi nanced. **Rebates apply to select models. See your dealer for details. Warning: ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For your safety: Avoid operating Polaris ATVs or RANGERs on paved surfaces or public roads. Riders and passengers should always wear a helmet, eye protection, protective clothing, and a seat belt (on RANGER vehicles). Never engage in stunt driving, and avoid excessive speeds and sharp turns. Polaris adult ATV models are for riders age 16 and older. Drivers of RANGER vehicles must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license. All ATV riders should take a safety training course. For ATV safety and training information call the SVIA at (800) 887-2887, see your dealer, or call Polaris at (800) 342-3764. ©2010 Polaris Industries Inc.

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HUNTING GUIDE 2010

4 � THE MONTANA STANDARD HUNTING GUIDE 2010 WWW.MTSTANDARD.COM

The RockyMountain ElkFoundation based

in Missoula has kindlydecided to share itsinside information withelk hunters this year.

It’s a generous gesturewith information thattypically only goes toRMEF members.

Each year, the RMEFprepares an elk huntingforecast with a rundownon populations, prospectsfor all the elk states.

“It seems every yearmore states andprovinces are adding elkhunts,” said PJDelHomme of the foun-dation. “Last fall saw anunlikely new pair withTennessee and theYukon. And while wolveshave hit elk populationshard in parts of Idaho,Montana and Wyoming,many states such asColorado and NewMexico have ample elksurplus tags.

“In short, it’s still a

greattime to bean elk hunter,”DelHomme said.

MONTANA

Elk Population:150,000

Bull/Cow Ratio:5-25/100

Nonresidents: $593Hunter Success: 22

percentThere are plenty of

elk in many pockets ofBig Sky country. In fact,Montana continues toboast the second highestelk population of anystate by a margin of30,000 animals. Butsome populations haveplummeted in the pastfive years. The northernYellowstone herd is downto 6,000 animals from

19,000 in 1996. Areasnorth of YellowstoneNational Park have seenpermits cut and over-the-counter tags changeto a draw.

Populations in theWest Fork of theBitterroot River and thelower Clark Fork Riverare 60 percent belowobjective, with just 7calves per 100 cows. Allantlerless tags have beencut, and bulls will behard to come by.

Elk populations arewell below objectivesthroughout much ofRegion 1 in the north-west. Hunters will findelk widely dispersed andwary throughout theirtraditional ranges in thewestern third of thestate where wolves howl.

But the farther onegoes east of theContinental Divide, themore elk appear. Most ofthe eastern portion of

See ELK, Page 7

Regional elk predictions . . . .4

New hunt format . . . . . . . . .12

Pheasant details . . . . . . . . .13

Upland game outlook . . . . .14

Bird habitat upgrade . . . . . .18

Bowhunters gear up . . . . . .22

Know your bulls . . . . . . . . . .24

Bow equipment regs . . . . . .26

Black bear reg changes . . .28

Don’t be the hunted . . . . . . .30

Migratory bird seasons . . . .32

Antelope 900 season . . . . . .33

Landowners online . . . . . . .34

Complete season list . . . . . .35

ATV responsibility . . . . . . . .36

After the hunt . . . . . . . . . . . .37

About this guide: This publication could not have hap-

pened without the help of the MontanaDepartment of Fish, Wildlife and Parksand the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.We thank them for their help. It is a copy-righted 2010 publication of LeeEnterprises and is dedicated to the memo-ry of Mark Henckel, outdoors writer forThe Billings Gazette who died this pastyear. He was a regular contributor to thispublication and The Montana StandardOutside section as well.

MONTANA STANDARD FILE PHOTO

’TIS THE SEASON, for bow, bird and big-game hunting. These bucks werecaught resting in an irrigation field near Dillon.

Plenty of game to be hadElk numbers look good in region

Table of contents

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HUNTING GUIDE 2010

Come backto Montanafor hunting

Anew law encourages nonresi-dents who once lived inMontana to "come home to

hunt" with parents, siblings and otherclose family members.

Former Montanans who purchased aresident hunting license in the past, orwho were awarded a Montana hunterseducation certificate before 2010, cannow be "sponsored" by a family mem-ber to obtain a nonresident combina-tion deer or elk license.

The program aims to supportMontana's family traditions by makingit easier for sons and daughters to joinfamily remaining in Montana for thehunting season. The adult family mem-ber sponsor must claim Montana as hisor her legal residence and must have avalid Montana hunting license.

For more on the nonresident comehome to hunt combination license, con-tact the nearest Montana Fish, Wildlife& Parks office, or go tofwp.mt.gov and click "ComeHome to Hunt".

Elk...Continued from Page 4

the state is 20 percent above popula-tion objectives. And the ElkFoundation is doing its part to ensurethose herds continue to flourish. TheRMEF helped fund prescribed burnsin the rangeland and timbered couleesof the Musselshell Breaks in 2009 toimprove forage on BLM land for elkand other wildlife.

In ranges like the Tobacco Rootsand Gravellys, elk populations arehealthy. Hunters venturing into ante-lope country might do well to explorethe Little Belt Mountains for elk. Alsobe on the lookout for new Elk B tagssold over the counter in some unitswith too many elk.

The big bulls are most definitely outthere.

A mild winter and moist springshould make for optimum antlergrowth. But it’s doubtful they’re goingto run in front of your truck. Lace upthose boots, hump a few miles in, andyou’ll encounter elk on their terms.Visit www.fwp.mt.gov.

COLORADO

Elk Population: 286,000Bull/Cow Ratio: 30/100Nonresidents: cow—$354/ any

elk—$544Hunter Success: 23 percent

Let’s be honest, the land of the four-teeners is the land of plenty for elkand elk hunters, but it isn’t currentlyknown for producing behemoth bulls.But that could be a different story thishunting season. The past two fallshave been cursed with warm weather,leaving elk up high and the groundfirecracker dry. In the northwestwhere many of the really big bullsroam, elk migration didn’t even beginuntil after regular rifle seasons wereover. Couple that with abundantspring and summer moisture produc-ing high-quality forage, and you havethe perfect setup for high-qualitybulls.

Of course, you’re not going to bealone, as the state sees more than200,000 hunters afield.

Those more than happy simply to goelk hunting and take home a couplehundred pounds of the world’s finestmeat will notice the $100 fee increasefor cow tags.

Why? Elk populations have beencarefully trimmed to at or near objec-tives in many places in the state.Colorado DOW has also recommendedcutting 1,500 cow/eithersex rifle tagsacross the state. Places where herdsremain above objective, such as theGunnison Basin, will see more rifletags available. For archery hunters

See ELK Page 8


Elk herds are predicted to be plentiful this year.


there, over-the-counter licenses for units 54, 55 and 551have been nixed. It’s all limited-entry now, as masses ofbowhunters were pushing the elk onto private rancheswhere they remained the rest of the season.

In the west on the Uncomphagre Plateau, (GMU 61 tothe west and 62 to the east) the best of both worlds awaitshunters. GMU 61 is a limited-draw area, while 62 seesquite a lot of hunters in this over-the-counter area. To helpensure the area stays full of elk and hunter opportunity, theElk Foundation helped fund a habitat enhancement project,removing dense stands of pin~ons and junipers. The scrub-by pines proliferate due to fire suppression and choke outnative grasses.

To get you started on the hunt or to jumpstart your to-dolist for this season, check out DOW’s elk hunting videos onthe web: http://wildife.state.co.us/NewsMedia/Videos.

IDAHO

Elk Population: 101,000Bull/Cow Ratio: 25/100Nonresidents: license $155, tag $417Hunter Success: 20 percentSince 2007, Idaho’s elk population has fallen by 24,000.

And for the second year in a row, out-of-state tag revenuesin the state have mirrored that trend.

Hunters list wolves, the economy and nonresident tagprices as factors. This isn’t ideal for state wildlife coffers,but it could be ideal if you’re looking for elk hunting all toyourself.

Wolves have hit elk populations in the classic elk countryof the Lolo, Sawtooth and Selway areas hard, and the statehas capped tags. Bull:cow and cow:calf ratios are in toughshape, and the statewide population could fall below100,000 for the first time in decades.

But the declines are by no means across the board. Elkpopulations are at or above objectives in 22 of 29 elk huntzones. And a mild winter boosted cow and calf elk survivalrates across most of the state.

It’s no secret that wolves can hammer elk populations,but the most lasting damage is done by the jaws of subdivi-sions and mini-malls devouring habitat. When conserva-tion-minded landowners want to see their land protected,the Elk Foundation is there to help. Donna Standley’s 350-acre ranch in the northern panhandle provides year-roundelk habitat and she wanted to see it stay that way forever.

So in 2009, she placed her property in a conservationeasement with the RMEF.

Those elk populations around Donna’s ranch, and alongthe western and southern borders of the state, continue tobe strong. The Beaverhead, Lemhi, Island Park, Teton,Snake River, Palisades and Tex Creek zones all havehealthy herds and offer the kind of elk hunting Idaho isfamous for. Visit fishandgame.idaho.gov.

NEVADA

Elk Population: 12,300Bull/Cow Ratio: 32/100Nonresidents: $142 hunting license plus $1,200 tagHunter Success: 44 percentThis year’s “baby boomer” award goes to the land of craps

tables and bordellos. In the past two years, the elk popula-tion there has grown nearly 30 percent. The opportunitiesfor hunters to chase them have followed suit. A few hun-dred tags more than last year will be issued this season, fora total of 3,350. Ten percent of those tags go to nonresidentswho are looking at pretty decent 1:44 odds to draw a bulltag.

Elk herds here grow as sagebrush and bitterbrush suc-cumb to drought and wildfire. Then grass takes their place.The mule deer aren’t happy about it, but the elk love it. Thequality of bulls in the harvest remains high with more than67 percent of bulls reported being six points or better.Landowners seem content as well.

The state’s Elk Management on Private Lands Program

See ELK, Page 9

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distributed 66 tags to property owners to do with as theywish. Estimated revenue generated from those tags toppednearly $500,000 for the landowners. So if you don’t draw inthe lottery, you can always track down a landowner—thoughthey may not take plastic.

Visit www.ndow.org/hunt.

NORTH DAKOTA

Elk Population: 2,000Bull/Cow Ratio: Not availableNonresidents: One auction tag availableHunter Success: 42 percentBig news this year is the potential for culling elk inside

Theodore Roosevelt National Park using park volunteers.With 950 elk, the park is looking to control elk populations,possibly killing 275 elk for the next five years to get popula-tions between 100-400.

For the rest of the state’s elk, things are pretty much sta-tus-quo. Managers issued 561 tags—with 245 any-sex and315 antlerless tags, the same as last year. Almost all hunt-ing is now in the western Badlands, but elk may be movingsouth from Canada into the Turtle Mountains in the state’snorth-central portion. No hunting is currently permittedthere, but in the future anything can happen with the righthabitat. Visit www.gf.nd.gov/hunting.

OREGON

Elk Population: 120,000Bull/Cow Ratio: 15/100Nonresidents: license $140, tag: $500Hunter Success: 13 percentDue to budget constraints, biologists aren’t exactly sure

how many elk they have as aerial surveys have been limit-ed. But they think herd populations are stable.

And this year, managers plan to issue nearly 1,000 morepermits than last season.

Rocky Mountain elk dominate the east side of theCascades while Roosevelt’s reign to the west. Most huntingin the steep and dark west is open to all comers with over-the-counter tags, while eastern Oregon is draw-only for rifle

hunters. Bowhunters can still hunt most of the east sidewith a general tag. Those eastern elk have some new neigh-bors, as a couple wolf packs have established themselves in

See ELK Page 10


HUNTING GUIDE 2010

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the northeast corner. Individual wolves are also dispersinginto the state from Idaho.UTAH

Elk Population: 68,000Bull/Cow Ratio: 15-80/100Nonresidents: $65 hunting license, plus $388 general

tag, $795 limited-entry tag, or $1,500 premium limited-entry tag

Hunter Success: 17 percentStatewide, hunters kill bulls that average around 6½

years. At that age, you’re looking at a jaw-dropping wall-hanger or a nice-sized bull; it all depends on what the elkhave been eating. Luckily, Utah has seen good moisture thispast winter and spring, keeping the hills green and lush.Translation: healthy brutes with big headgear.

Before you start packing the truck, odds of drawing alimited-entry tag are going to be tough.

Odds for residents to pull a limited-entry tag are 1:16.Nonresidents, 1:44. But as the state’s herd slowly grows, sogrows tag availability. Consider that in 2003, there werearound 60,000 elk and 86 nonresident, limited-entry tags.Now, with 68,000 elk there are three times as many tagsavailable.

It’s going to be a tough draw for the most popular units,such as San Juan and Fillmore Pahvant, but there are over-the-counter options out there, especially for archery hunterswho are willing to hike into wilderness. With an any-bulltag in their pocket, hardcore backcountry archers justmight find the big boys without the big crowds.

Visit wildlife.utah.gov/hunting/biggame

WASHINGTON

Elk Population: 55,000-60,000Bull/Cow Ratio: 12 to 20/100 in most unitsNonresidents: $432Hunter Success: 8 percentWith more hunters per elk than any other state, you’d

think the state’s woods would be overrun. Well, if you’rehunting near a road, they probably are. Venture five milesbehind a gate or into wilderness, and chances are you’llhave the place all to yourself—except for all the elk of

course. Managers help control densities by making hunterschoose either westside Roosevelt’s or eastside RockyMountain elk. Both hunters and elk are split about 50/50.

Generally, herd numbers are stable this season, as theyare coming off a very mild winter. Traditionally an elkstronghold, the Yakima herd has seen a drop in recruit-ment, thus special permits for both branchantlered bullsand cows have been cut 30-40 percent.

Good news, though, for that herd and others in the areabetween Yakima and Wenatchee. Thanks in part to facilita-tion from the Elk Foundation, the state swapped 21,000acres of checkboarded land for 82,000 acres of private tim-berland.

Both properties were valued at $56.5 million. The finalproduct: 61,000 acres open to all as a new state forest.

While it may take some time for the Yakima herd torebound, the state has plenty of other hot spots like theclassic elk country of the Blue Mountains.

This area in the southeast corner has seen an increase inbull permits the last few years. The southwest is anotherwinner for OTC permits, especially on the Gifford PinchotNational Forest around Mt. St. Helens where managers aretrying to knock down herd numbers.

And finally, wolves have established at least twocon-firmed packs on the eastside. After three years of crafting,with much citizen input, the Division of Fish and Wildlife

See Elk, Page 11


HUNTING GUIDE 2010

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plans to submit a final wolf management plan to the StateFish and Wildlife Commission this fall.

Visit wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/.

WYOMING

Elk Population: 120,000Bull/Cow Ratio: 23/100Nonresidents: $577 for permit/$288 for cow-calfpermit/$1,057 for special permitHunter Success: 43 percentIt’s true. Some places in Wyoming have seen significant

impacts from wolves and other carnivores.The eastern half of the Cody herd next to Yellowstone

has seen poor calf-recruitment, made worse by predation.Once a general hunting area, it is now a limited-entry draw.That area is home to the Shoshone National Forest whereaspens are losing ground to encroaching conifers because offire suppression. To give elk a boost, the RMEF helped payfor conifer removal across aspen stands in the greatest dan-ger of disappearing. The landscape around Jackson Holeand the Gros Ventre and Teton Wilderness Areas will seetightened seasons and antler-point restrictions to try andboost bull-cow and cow-calf ratios.

But outside the northwest corner, the state’s cup runnethover with elk, with the population up 15,000 from last year

and many units far above their population objectives. Thestatewide objective is 80,000 elk. That’s 40,000 less thanwhere the herd now stands.

You’ll be hard pressed to find better odds of filling thefreezer with a choice cow, and the state expects to have lotsof leftover antlerless licenses. Aggressive seasons have beenset in many places, including the Snowy Range, LaramiePeak and Sierra Madre.

Last year, the state shifted to a first-come/firstservedonline licensing system. Out-of-staters can now search forleftover licenses without having to wait in line for reducedand full-price tags.

Visit gf.state.wy.us/wildlife/hunting.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION


HUNTING GUIDE 2010

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New format, opportunities abound

Montana’s deer, elk and anteloperegulations — the hunter’sbible — is newly formatted

this year and includes some new hunt-ing opportunities for deer, elk andantelope for the upcoming season.

“We made the changes in responseto requests for simpler, easier to readhunting regulations,” said MontanaFish, Wildlife & Parks spokesman RonAasheim.

The opening pages of the 2010 biggame regulations outline the hunter’slegal responsibilities afield, followed byhunting district maps, regulations andlegal descriptions of each hunting dis-trict. The final pages of the regulationscontain information on licenses anditems of general interest to hunters.

In addition, there are several newopportunities for hunters in 2010,including:

Elk B Licenses— Elk B licenses(formerly called “A9” or “B12” licenses),

which allow taking a second elk, havereplaced antlerless elk permits in sev-eral hunting districts. Some elk Blicenses may be legal for archery hunt-ing. Check the specific hunting districtregulations for elk B license details.

New Opening Day — Antelope,deer and elk seasons will open on aSaturday for the first time in recentmemory. The general season for ante-lope will open Oct. 9. The general deerand elk season opener is set for Oct.23. In past years, most general biggame hunting seasons opened on aSunday.

Deer Youth Hunt at Fall Break—A youth hunt for deer limited toyoungsters between the ages of 12-15was approved for Oct. 21-22, theThursday and Friday preceding theSaturday opener. These dates coincidewith Montana’s annual two-day teach-ers’ convention, which are no-schooldays for most public school students.

New Youth Rule —Resident andnonresident youngsters 11 years of agewho will reach 12 years of age byJanuary 16, 2011, may after Aug. 15hunt any game species with a validlicense during an open season. Theymay also purchase a hunting license,except spring turkey and spring blackbear, after showing at the time of thesale proof they have completed anapproved hunter education course.

Black Bear and Mountain LionArchery — For the first time,Montana will offer black bear and lionarchery-only seasons, which will openalong with the general big gamearchery season on Sept. 4. To partici-pate one must have a valid archerylicense. Montana’s annual big gamehunting regulations and drawingapplications are available on the FWPwebsite at fwp.mt.gov andfrom most FWP offices andlicense providers.

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Bird andpheasantdetails

Upland bird seasons runSept. 1- Jan.1, 2011—withthe exception of sage grouseseason, which closes Nov. 1,and mountain grouse sea-son, which closes Dec. 15.

Daily Bag LimitsTwo sage grouse, four

sharp-tailed grouse, andthree mountain grouse inaggregate and eight par-tridge in aggregate. Threecock pheasants daily.

Possession LimitsTwo times the daily bag

limit for sage grouse andfour times the daily baglimit for sharp-tailed, moun-

tain grouse and partridge.Three times the daily bag

limit for pheasants.The annual bag limit for

turkey is two wild turkeys,either sex. The total com-bined limit of the spring andfall seasons cannot exceedtwo turkeys per hunter. Inthe fall, two either-sexturkeys may be harvested,

but no more than one maybe harvested in FWP Region7 and no more than one maybe harvested outside of FWPRegion 7.

Fall turkey hunting isopen to all hunters with avalid fall turkey license inthe general hunting areasdescribed in the uplandgame bird regulations.

Special turkey hunting per-mits, with applicationsmade in July, are valid onlyin areas specified in the reg-ulations and must be usedwith a valid fall turkeylicense. For other details onupland bird hunt-ing , see the FWPweb site atfwp.mt.gov.

2010 UPLAND GAME BIRD HUNTING SEASONS TO OPEN SEPT. 1

Opening day for most upland game bird hunting seasons occur on the same day every year—Sept. 1.

The 2010 general pheasant season opens Oct. 9. Here are the statewide hunting season dates.

Upland Game Birds

Mountain Grouse September 1 December 15

Partridge September 1 January 1, 2011

Pheasant General October 9 January 1, 2011

Pheasant Youth Sept. 25-26

Sage Grouse September 1 November 1

Sharp-tailed Grouse September 1 January 1, 2011

Turkey - Fall September 1 January 1, 2011

HUNTING GUIDE 2010

THE MONTANA STANDARD HUNTING GUIDE AUGUST 2010 � 13


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Montana’s cool, wet weather inMay and June didn’t put adamper on this fall’s upland

game bird hunting. Montana Fish,Wildlife & Parks officials say mostupland game bird populations will bemore than sufficient to maintainhunters’ interest.

Most game bird hunting begins Sept.1. Pheasant season opens Oct. 9.

“There is no doubt that this spring’scool, wet weather kept things interest-ing. Fortunately, in many parts of thestate, the temperatures were not sosevere as to wipe out this year’s produc-tion,” said Rick Northrup, MontanaFish, Wildlife & Parks game bird coordinator.

Northrup said the bad weather came primarily in lateMay and early to mid June, affecting grouse and pheasantsin FWP Region 1 in northwest Montana, FWP Region 4 innorthcentral Montana and the western portion of FWPRegion 6.

“In these areas, upland game bird hunters in general

can expect to see game bird numberssimilar to or lower than last year’s,”Northrup said. “Moisture and cooltemperatures generally tended to beless of a concern in other portions ofthe state, although there are going tobe local exceptions.”

Another spring storm dumped deepsnow during late April and early Mayin Judith Basin and Eastern Cascadecounties, extending into Choteau andFergus counties, which may have beenparticularly harsh on adult pheasantsand gray partridge.

Weather is critical to the abun-dance and survival of all game birds.

In general, spring and summer moisture enhances gamebird productivity unless it is accompanied with 52 F degreeor colder temperatures during the spring hatch and earlybrood periods. The same moisture that may be harmful tosome birds also provides the lush green cover and abun-dant insect populations that are important for chick sur-vival.

HUNTING GUIDE 2010

Upland game bird outlook


HUNTING GUIDE 2010

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In FWP Region 1, in northwesternMontana, peak hatch and early brood-ing periods were interrupted with cold,wet weather June 17-18 and 21-22,probably resulting in diminished gamebird production, both in the mountainsand for pheasants and gray partridge inthe valleys.

In FWP Region 2 in the west, theforecast is more encouraging with aver-age dusky grouse numbers, and near orabove average numbers of ruffedgrouse. Spruce grouse numbers areexpected to be average, and pheasantnumbers are expected to be above aver-age due to favorable spring weather forthat species. Access to the limitedpheasant habitats in the region, howev-er, can be challenging due to land own-ership patterns.

Southwestern and South Central Montana

(FWP Region 3 and Region 5)

Dusky grouse numbers in FWPRegion 3 are expected to be better thanlast year. Ruffed, sharp-tailed andspruce grouse numbers should be simi-lar to last year’s. Gray partridge pro-duction is up and sage-grouse numbersshould be similar to those in recentyears. Pheasant numbers will be aboutaverage.

In FWP Region 5, while dusky grousenumbers are expected to be about aver-age, local observers expect fewer sagegrouse this year. Other upland gamebird numbers, including pheasants,ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse andgray partridge, are expected to be aver-age to better than average .Montana Hi-Line (FWP Region 4 north,

Region 4 south, Region 6 west,

Region 6 east)

Dusky grouse numbers in FWPRegion 4 north are on track for an aver-age year, despite three cold, wet days

See REGIONS, Page 16

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Regions...Continued from Page 15

early in the hatching period. Morefavorable conditions followed, whichwould have benefited later broods.Ruffed grouse broods experienced twobouts of cold, wet weather, which like-ly reduced their productivity this year.The gray partridge population in FWPRegion 4 is expected to be below aver-age, but with some slight improve-ment over last year. Sharp-tailedgrouse numbers should be average tobelow average. Pheasant numbersshould show some improvement overlast year, but will remain below aver-age again due to cold, wet conditionsat the peak of the hatch and earlybrood period.

In the southern portion of FWPRegion 4, a deep snow April 30-May 1may have reduced adult pheasant andgray partridge numbers—especially inJudith Basin, eastern Cascade, andwestern Fergus counties. Dusky andruffed grouse numbers are expected to

be somewhat improved while graypartridge and sharp-tailed grousenumbers are expected to be average orabove. Sage grouse numbers areexpected to be below average. Wherepheasants weren’t caught in springsnows, expect to see near averagenumbers.

In FWP Region 6 west, gray par-tridge numbers should be somewhatimproved over last year, but youngearly-hatched chicks would have beenimpacted in mid-June by three ormore inches of rain that fell over threedays time. Despite the wet weather,sharp-tailed grouse numbers in thewestern portion of FWP Region 6 areexpected to be better than last yearand sage grouse numbers will be at orabove average this fall. Pheasantnumbers may also be above average,depending on how badly mid-Junerains affected their broods.

In FWP Region 6 east, hunters canexpect near average numbers of graypartridge, and slightly improved num-bers of sharp-tailed grouse, thoughthat population will remain below

average. With a somewhat milder win-ter compared to two years ago, thepopular pheasant hunting in thestate’s northeast corner is expected tobe improved with a closer to averagepheasant population.Southeastern Montana (FWP Region 7

north and Region 7 south)

In FWP Region 7 north gray par-tridge numbers are forecast to be com-parable or better than last year put-ting them near or above average.Sharp-tailed grouse numbers will beaverage or better, while sage grousepopulations will remain below aver-age. Pheasant numbers should besomewhat improved in this portion ofMontana, but probably still belowaverage.

In FWP Region 7 south gray par-tridge, sharp-tailed grouse and pheas-ant numbers are expected to be betterthan average. Sage grouse numbersare expected to be somewhat improvedfrom last year, but still belowaverage.

For detailed information,go to fpw.mt.gov

WWW.MTSTANDARD.COM THE MONTANA STANDARD HUNTING GUIDE, AUGUST 2010 � 17

Gallatin County Solid Waste Management District

Recycling Bin Locations

Bozeman

Bozeman

Belgrade

Manhattan

Three Forks

Big Sky

Bozeman Detail

Locations by Number

WalMart - 1500 N 7th Ave

Kmart - 1126 N 7th Ave

Ballfields - Highland Blvd (Across from Hospital)

MSU - S 13th & College (Parking lot)

MSU - Harrison St (Near Langford Hall)

Home Depot - 1771 N 19th Ave

MT Import Group - 31910 E Frontage Rd

19th and Main - Old Ressler Site

Bozeman Sites

Belgrade - W Madison Ave & Eileen Pl

Amsterdam - Across from Amsterdam Market

Gallatin Gateway - Gateway Community Center

Three Forks - 150 E Railroad Ave

River Rock - Village Center

Big Sky - Big Sky Town Center

Manhattan - Valley Improvement Center

West Yellowstone - Transfer Station

County Sites

Hebgen/West YellowstoneRefuge District

5 0 52.5

Miles

1

2

34

5

6

7

8

15

1013 9

12

11

14

16

Recycling Bin Locations

Gallatin County Solid Waste Management District

5 0 52.5

Miles

http://www.gallatin.mt.gov/Public_Documents/gallatincomt_Landfi ll/landfi ll


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HUNTING GUIDE 2010

Bird enhancement program gets upgrade

Montana’s UplandGame BirdEnhancement

Program, a good tool forbird hunters in the state,has undergone someenhancements of its own,including the addition ofthree upland game birdbiologists and a 12-memberadvisory council.

“The program is thrivingwith 402 contracts forpheasant releases and habi-tat enhancement work.Landowners are makinggame bird-related improve-ments on about 260,000acres of land and providinghunter access on about830,000 acres,” said DebbieHohler, FWP’s UplandGame Bird EnhancementProgram biologist.

Hohler said that the 2010

hunter’s access guide toUpland Game Bird Programprojects is available fromFWP regional offices andthe FWP headquarters inHelena. An electronic copyof the hunter’s guide is onthe FWP website atfwp.mt.gov. On the Habitatpage, select Wildlife Habitat

and then Upland GameBird EnhancementProgram.

“New local habitat proj-ects coordinated by theupland game bird biologistsare also underway toenhance bird habitat andincrease bird numbers,including pheasant num-

bers, in the state,” Hohlersaid.

FWP hired three uplandgame bird biologists thisyear, one each in FWPRegions 4, 6 and 7. The biol-ogists work with landown-ers, federal and state agen-cies and organizations—including the NaturalResources ConservationService, U.S. Fish & WildlifeService, Bureau of LandManagement, PheasantsForever and local groups toidentify, design, monitorand evaluate habitat proj-ects on private and publiclands. FWP also appointeda 12-member advisory coun-cil to work with the depart-ment on a 10-year UplandGame BirdEnhancementstrategic plan.

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HUNTING GUIDE 2010

Montana’s archery-only hunt-ing season for deer, elk,antelope and black bear

begins Sept. 4. The bighorn sheeparchery season begins Sept. 5.

A bow and arrow license, plus theproper hunting license is requiredduring the deer, elk, antelope, blackbear and bighorn sheep archery onlyseason or to hunt in areas limited toonly archery equipment. Dependingon the species and hunting district,some licenses were available only byspecial drawing.

Some elk B licenses may be legalfor archery hunting. Check the spe-cific hunting district regulations forelk B license details.

For details on legal archery equip-ment and documentation needed topurchase a Montana bow and arrowlicense, check the 2010 big gamehunting regulations avail-able at FWP offices, licenseproviders and on the FWPwebsite at fwp.mt.govunder Hunting.

Bowhunters gear up for season

JASON DAWES, 34, who works forSummit Beverage in wine sales, isalso a successful bow hunter, takingthis 6-point bull elk in the Highlands afew years back. He also rifle hunts,taking this mule deer buck, at right.

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HUNTING GUIDE 2010

MATT SLYDER of Roundup took thiselk with a bow under a special permittag in area 380.

Hunters: Know your bulls

With elk archery season openingSept. 4, and the backcountry generalelk season set to open Sept. 15, elkhunters need to know their bull elk.Here is a quick cheat sheet.

An antlered bull elk is any elk withan antler or antlers at least four inch-es in length measured from the top ofthe skull.

A brow-tined bull is any elk with anantler or antlers with a visible pointon the lower half of either main beamthat is greater than or equal to fourinches long.

A spike bull is an elk with antlersthat do not branch, or if branched, thebranch is less than four inches longmeasured from the main antler.

An antlerless elk is a female, or ajuvenile male with antlers less thanfour inches in length measured fromthe top of the skull.

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HUNTING GUIDE 2010

FWP clarifies bow hunting

equipment regulation

A change in Montana’s 2010 biggame hunting regulations has caughtthe eye of some bow hunters and con-fused others.

In the 2010 regulations, under“Archery & Crossbow Equipment,” the28-inch bow length regulationincludes the phrase, “axle to axle.”

To clarify, for FWP enforcementpurposes, a bow is considered legal ifit is at least 28 inches in total length.Bows shorter than 28 inches are pro-hibited for use in Montana.

To review the online 2010 big gameregulations, go to the FWP website atfwp.mt.gov and click on the Huntingpage and then Regulations.

WITH DEDUCTIONS, this mule deer buck scores less than the new Montanastate record. It was shot in Area 270, in the East Fork of Bitterroot area.

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Changes in black bear

season licenses onlineHunters may purchase a license at

all FWP offices, FWP license providers,or online at fwp.mt.gov , under OnlineServices until Aug. 31. After that datethere is a five-day wait on the use ofbear hunting licenses and may only bepurchased at an FWP office or online.

Black bear hunters must have suc-cessfully completed the Black BearIdentification Test and must present acertificate of completion when pur-chasing a black bear license. The train-ing and test are available on FWP’swebsite at fwp.mt.gov under OnlineServices. A paper version of the testmay be obtained at FWP offices orlicense providers.

2010 Black Bear hunting regula-tions are available on the FWP websiteat fwp.mt.gov , from FWP licenseproviders and at FWP offices.

Black bear hunters must

keep the meatThe general fall black bear hunting

season opens Sept. 15 in most areas ofMontana. Hunters should check theregulations for exceptions.

Under Montana law, bear meat, orthe meat from any other big game ani-

mal, cannot be wasted, or allowed inany way to become unfit for humanconsumption, unless it is infected withtrichinella. Bear meat can be tested fortrichinella, a parasitic disease found inless than 15 percent of Montana’sblack bears. Information and instruc-tions on how to submit samples fortesting are available at FWP offices.

JASON DAWES with a 6 1/2-foot,350-pound blackbear killed in theupper Big HoleValley.

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HUNTING GUIDE 2010

SagebrushSam’s

Don’t becomeone of the hunted

With Montana’s upland game bird season opening Sept.1 and bow hunting season underway Sept. 4, hunters willsoon be sharing the landscape with the state’s bears.

Grizzly bears are found throughout western Montana,not just the Rocky Mountain Front, Bob MarshallWilderness complex and the Yellowstone ecosystem, andblack bears range widely across the state.

Upland game bird hunters and archers hunting in bearcountry should:

� Carry bear spray and know how to use it,� Hunt with a partner, or let someone know your plans,

and periodically check in,� Get harvested game out of the woods quickly,� Carry a lightweight tarp or space blanket to put the

entrails on and pull them well away from the carcass andthen cover the carcass with the tarp to reduce the scent, ifthe carcass is left unattended,

� When returning to a site where harvested game is leftunattended, study the site at a distance for any movementor changes and signal your approach by making noise.

� Do not attempt to frighten or haze a bear from a car-cass. If a bear finds a carcass left unattended and is eatingit or has covered it with debris and it is not salvageable,contact FWP.

For more on black bears, go to the FWP website atfwp.mt.gov on the Wild Things page and click on LivingWith Wildlife. Bear resistant products are described on theInteragency Grizzly Bear Committee’s websiteat www.igbconline.org , or click IGBC . A“How To Hunt Safely in Grizzly Country”brochure is available at FWP regional offices.


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HUNTING GUIDE 2010

Early migratory bird seasonsThe Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

Commission has adopted 2010 hunting regula-tions and season dates for “webless” migratorygame birds.

The hunting-season framework forMontana’s webless migratory game birds—mourning doves, common snipe and sandhillcranes—will follow federal recommendationsand remain similar to last year except for theseseason date changes.

� Hunting season dates for the RockyMountain population of sandhill cranes withpermits obtained in a special drawing are Sept.11-Sept 26.

� Season dates for mid-continent sandhillcranes are: Sept. 25-Nov. 21.

� Other 2010 early season migratory birdseason regulations remain unchanged except forthe annual progression of calendar dates.

The later opening for the Rocky Mountainpopulation of sandhill cranes is to accommodatemore cranes arriving later on traditional stag-ing areas where most hunting occurs.

Each permitted hunter would have a two-crane bag limit.

For details, visit FWP’s website atfwp.mt.gov on the Hunting page.

STEVE BIERE of Buttedisplays a quintet of cranestaken during the bird season.

Late season bird

hunting datesThe Montana Fish, Wildlife

& Parks Commission is seek-ing public comment on the ten-tative late season migratorybird hunting regulations forducks, geese, swans, and coots.

Survey results show thathabitat conditions and popula-tion numbers are generallygood for migratory birds—ducknumbers are 21 percent abovethe long-term average, mallardnumbers are 12 percent abovethe long-term average, andpintail numbers are up ninepercent from last year.

Other than minor datechanges, the only proposed reg-ulation change from last yearis an increase in the Central

See BIRDS, Page 33


BIRDS...Continued from page 32

Flyway daily bag limit from one to two pintail ducks.Here are the proposed season details for late season

migratory birds:Central Flyway

� Youth Waterfowl Season: Sept. 25-26� Duck, Coot and Tundra Swan (500 permits only)

Season: Oct. 2–Jan. 6� Ducks: Daily bag limit of six ducks or mergansers, pos-

session limit twice the daily limit. Daily bag limited to nomore than five mallards, no more than two of which may behens; two redheads, two scaup, two hooded mergansers,three wood ducks, two pintails, and one canvasback.

� Coots: 15 daily, the proposed possession limit is twicethe daily limit.

� Goose Season: Oct. 2 – Jan. 14� Dark Geese: Daily limit of four daily, possession limit

twice the daily limit.� White Geese: Daily limit of six daily, possession limit

twice the daily limit.� Swan (500 permits only) season: Oct. 2 – Jan. 6� Falconry dates: Ducks and coots: Sept. 22 – Jan. 6;

Geese: Oct. 2 – Jan. 14Pacific Flyway

� Youth Waterfowl Season: Sept. 25-26� General Waterfowl Season: Oct. 2–Jan. 14� Scaup Season: Youth weekend and Oct. 2-Dec. 26� Ducks: Daily bag limit of seven ducks or mergansers,

possession limit twice daily limit. Daily bag limited to nomore than two hen mallards, two pintails, two redheads,one canvasback, and three scaup.

� Coots: The proposed limit is 25 daily and in possession� Goose Season: Oct. 2-Jan 14

� Dark Geese: Daily limit of four, the proposed limittwice the daily limit.

� White Geese: Daily limit of six, possession limit twicethe daily limit.

� Swan (500 permits only) Season: Oct. 9–Dec. 1� Falconry dates: Ducks, coots, and geese: Oct. 2 – Jan.

14Comments must be sent by Aug. 30. T o e-mail from the

FWP website at fwp.mt.gov . Click “For Hunters,Opportunity for Public Comment.”

Or mail to: FWP – Wildlife Bureau, Attn: PublicComment, PO Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701. Formore information, call: 406-444-2612.

MARK HENCKEL, the late outdoors editor for The BillingsGazette and an annual contributor to this publication, showsoff a bevy of sage grouse he shot.

Antelope 900 archery season underway Many archery ante-

lope hunters arealready afield with a900 series license toarchery hunt antelopeof either sex in anyhunting district start-ing with a 3, 4, 5, 6and 7.

Hunting in the 900series archery hunt isrestricted to archeryequipment only andruns Aug. 15 to Nov.14.

Applications for the900 series archery hunt for antelope were due June 1. Thedrawing for these licenses is set for early August, immedi-ately following the state’s antelope summer populationsurveys.

Sept. 4 to Oct. 8 is the general archery antelope season.The general rifle season for antelope is Oct. 9—Nov. 14.

Most antelope hunting licenses, including those for thegeneral rifle season, are available only through specialdrawings with a June 1 application deadline.

YOU MUST STOP AT GAME CHECK STATIONS. Statelaw requires hunters to stop at all game checking stationswhile traveling to and from hunting areas. Failure to stop at achecking station when personnel are on duty is a misde-meanor punishable by a fine. Biological and law enforcementgame check stations may be set up together in the sameplace or in separate locations. This fall, thousands of hunterswill provide useful information during the annual gamechecks, helping FWP manage game animal populations andfuture hunting opportunities.


HUNTING GUIDE 2010

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Landowners, sportsmen work together online

Many hunters whowould like goodrelationships with

Montana landowners justaren’t sure how to getstarted.

On the other hand, somelandowners wonder whetherit is a good idea to encour-age hunting on their landsthese days.

Though folks on bothsides of the fence might seethis as an area of potentialconflict, Montana Fish,Wildlife & Parks saw it asan educational opportunity.

“We wanted to develop ameans for hunters andlandowners to explore eachother’s experiences and bet-ter connect with each other,”said Thomas Baumeister,Montana Fish, Wildlife &Parks education program

manager.To do so, FWP, worked

with a group of hunters andlandowners to develop TheHunter LandownerStewardship Project, aninteractive, self-paced,online course that toucheson topics landowners andhunters said they wanted to

explore—such as asking forpermission to hunt, fairchase hunting, livestock,farm and ranch activities,and game retrieval.

“To help make this volun-tary learning experienceeven more accessible wedesigned it so the user canleave off and come back

later to continue withoutlosing his or her place,”Baumeister said. “TheInternet course can takeabout three hours to com-plete and there is a certifi-cate of completion that canbe printed out.”

Baumeister said that theprogram looks at 14 majortopics and engages the view-er by presenting questions,background, video clips andother relevant information.

To learn more, or to par-ticipate in the program, goto the FWP website atfwp.mt.gov and click TheHunter LandownerStewardship Project.


Big Game Seasons

Species Start Date End Date

Antelope

900 series August 15 November 14

Archery September 4 October 8

General October 9 November 14

Bighorn Sheep

Archery September 5 September 14

General September 15 November 28

Bison

Bison November 15 February 15, 2011

Black bear

Archery September 4 September 14

Fall September 15 November 28

Deer & Elk


Youth (Deer Only) October 21 October 22

General October 23 November 28

Archery Backcountry

(HD's 150, 151, 280, 316)-

September 4 September 14

General Backcountry

(HD's 150, 151, 280, 316)

September 15 November 28

Moose

Moose September 15 November 28

Mountain Goat

Mountain Goat September 15 November 28

Mountain Lion


Fall October 23 November 28

Winter December 1 April 14, 2011


HUNTING GUIDE 2010

FWP regional contactsHunters interested in obtaining access to more than nine

million acres of private lands enrolled in FWP’s BlockManagement Program may contact the regional FWP officein the area where they plan to hunt, or check the “Hunting”pages on the FWP web site at fwp.mt.gov .

To contact FWP regional offices for more information onregional 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: 406-247-2974� Northeast—FWP Region 6 in Glasgow: 406-228-3700� Southeast—FWP Region 7 in Miles City: 406-234-0930

Hunting with OHVs:

Responsibility or regulation?

In the past decade, off- highway vehicle numbers haveincreased three-fold in Montana. While more OHV usehas made access to hunting areas and big game

retrieval easier for some hunters, the increased use cancause problems that negatively affect the sport.

Vehicle noise can create conflicts between traditionalwalk-in hunters and hunters using four-wheelers and othermotorized vehicles. Off-trail use can damage foraginggrounds due to the spread of noxious weeds. In addition,operation of OHVs in riparian areas can cause unsightlydamage to those sites.

“There are an estimated 60,000 registered OHVs in thestate of Montanaand probably halfof them are usedduring the hunt-ing season,” saidJason White,Motorized TrailsGrantCoordinator forMontana Fish,Wildlife & Parks.“To reduceimpacts of OHVsduring huntingseason, it’s impor-

tant that motorized users are aware of use regulations forthe area in which they are hunting.”

Hunters can only use designated routes and should onlyretrieve harvested big game from the nearest designatedroad or trail, avoid wet areas, and call 1-800-TIP-MONTwhen a violation has occurred.

“Through peer pressure, we will be able to educate andinform users of the consequences associated with illegalOHV riding,” White said.

FWP has partnered with the Montana Trail VehicleRiders Association, U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau ofLand Management to step up education on the ethical,legal, and safe use of OHVs, including the most popularform –all terrain vehicles. For details about these topics, goto the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov under Recreation, clickon Activities, then Off-Highway Vehicles.

Anyone who observes hunting violations involving OHVsare encouraged to report them to 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668); gather license and registration numbers, andphotos of the vehicle with visible license plate, along withtracks and other evidence of damage when it is safe to doso. Callers may remain anonymous and could receive anreward for information that leads to a conviction.

New Web Site launched for hunting newsA new, improved web page for Montana’s 2010 hunting

news was launched Aug. 17 by Montana Fish, Wildlife &Parks.

The new page offers easy access to season outlooks, tipsand new opportunities for the upcoming season.

“It’s a whole new look and design for FWP news and onewe intend to expand in the future,” said FWP spokesmanRon Aasheim.

“We hope this information and new format helps huntersfind and use the information they need for a successfulhunting season.”

Aasheim said several hunting-related videos will beavailable on the site beginning Aug. 20.

To explore Montana’s 2010 hunting information online,visit FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov. Click “2010 HuntingNews.”

The “Hunting Companion” can be found athttp://msl.mt.gov/hunting.

The website was developed in part to assist Montana’slibrarians as they field requests from hunters in librariesacross the state. The “Hunting Companion” is a streamlinedaccess point for the basic information every hunter needsfor a successful hunt.

WWW.MTSTANDARD.COM THE MONTANA STANDARD HUNTING GUIDE, AUGUST 2010 � 37

HUNTING GUIDE 2010

After the hunt

Use common sense in handling game

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parksreminds hunters that simple,common sense precautions

will help to ensure that their game isproperly, and safely, field-dressed andbutchered this season. Most uplandgame bird seasons open Sept.1 andsoon to follow are archery seasons forantelope, elk and deer on Sept. 4.

“While the chance of contracting adisease from wild game is remote, itjust makes good sense to take simpleprecautions,” said Ron Aasheim, chiefof FWP’s Communications andEducation Division in Helena

Here are some examples of simpleprecautions that hunters of any gameanimal, including waterfowl, gamebirds, deer and elk should take.

Do not shoot, handle or consumeany animal that is acting abnormallyor that appears sick. Contact FWP ifyou see an animal that appears sick.

Wear rubber gloves when field

dressing any game animal.Bone out the meat from your deer

or elk. Don’t saw through bone, andavoid cutting through the brain orspinal cord (backbone).

Minimize contact with animal hair,brain, intestines, fluids, spinal tissueand feces.

Be mindful of humans and domesticdogs touching or coming in contactwith animal hair or feces as it can be

contaminated and transmit parasiteswithout the presence of visible feces.

Prevent dogs from eating the inter-nal organs of game animals.

Avoid consuming brain, spinal cord,eyes, spleen, tonsils and lymph nodesof deer or elk.

(Normal field dressing coupled withboning-out a carcass will remove most,if not all, of these body parts. Cuttingaway all fatty tissue will removeremaining lymph nodes.)

If you have your wild meat commer-cially processed, request that your ani-mal is handled individually, withoutmeat from other animals being addedto meat from your animal.

Wash hands and forearms after fielddressing game animals.

Soak any utensils used to field dressgame animals in a solution of one parthousehold bleach and 10 parts waterfor 20 minutes.

Cook all game meat until well done.

How to best dispose ofa big game carcassafter the meat is in

the freezer is a question allhunters face. The answer issimple enough but the regu-lations and reasons behindit are not understood bymany hunters and thatleads to violations, say someMontana Fish, Wildlife &Parks enforcement officials.

“All carcass parts remain-ing after processing a gameanimal should be doublebagged and disposed of in aregulated landfill or at atransfer station,” said TimFeldner, of Montana Fish,Wildlife & Parks’ enforce-ment bureau. In many com-munities fur buyers andhide tanners will purchasedeer and elk hides.

Here is just one real-life

example of why huntersmust know how to properlydispose of big game carcass-es after the meat isprocessed.

A family with childrencamped in early spring thisyear near Monture Creek on

Highway 200. Asthey settled in,they discoveredelk and deerparts from har-vested animalstossed in a num-ber of nearbylocations. Themeat on thebones had notfully decom-posed. That putthis family ofcampers in griz-zly country atrisk from multi-

ple grizzly bear attractantswith no easy means of rid-ding the area of this danger.

Montana State Law,applicable on all state-owned and managed sites,prohibits leaving dead ani-mals or refuse on public

property, including all state-owned and managed landswhich would include FWPmanaged fishing access sitesand wildlife managementareas.

These laws may surprisesome hunters, especiallysome old timers, for whomdumping big game carcassesin the woods was standardpractice.

“It is not only illegal todump big game carcasses, itis a bad idea,” said Feldner.“Even on private land thereare restrictions that applyon the handling of animalcarcasses.”

For example, humanhealth-related state lawsprohibit the placing of ani-mal carcasses in anyMontana lake, river, creek,pond or reservoir.

The last step in the hunt: Carcass disposal

Adam Karlin with a big bull elk


HUNTING GUIDE 2010

2650 N. Montana • Helena • Montana

406-442-4503

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HUNTING BONANZA:These three Butte huntersfeatured in this circa 1915photograph got three does orbucks apiece during onehunting expedition. The meatwould keep their families fedthrough the winter.


406.600.4CBU • P.O. BOX 606 • GALLATIN GATEWAY, MT 59730