Montana's spring season for hunting wild turkeys opens on Saturday, April 12 and extends through May 11. Hunters wishing to hunt turkey gobblers in several areas of western and central Montana during the 1997 spring season have only until March 15 to apply for a special permit. Applicants may apply for a special permit in only one area of the state. Permit quotas are: In the northwestern portion of the state, 200 permits have been authorized for use in Flathead and Lake counties.
(Headlines - February 28, 1997)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds hunters and anglers that all 1996 hunting and fishing licenses expire on February 28. To fish or pursue any game animals during scheduled seasons from March 1 through February 28, 1998, new 1997 licenses will be required. FWP licensing officials emphasize that residents purchasing licenses must present a valid Montana driver's license or valid Montana identification card.
(Headlines - February 28, 1997)

Hunters headed to license agents to purchase new hunting and fishing licenses for 1997 should note that the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission has adopted the following special regulation regarding the hunting of deer in 1997: Beginning in 1997, hunters who desire to hunt buck mule deer in all of Region 2 and most of Region 3 in southwestern Montana MUST select one specific group of hunting districts (from a total of eight groups of hunting districts available) within those regions in which to hunt. If a hunter chooses this option (to select one specific group of districts in southwest Montana in which to hunt mule deer bucks), he or she may NOT hunt buck mule deer anywhere else in the state. These restrictions will not affect hunting during the archery-only season or the hunting of white-tailed deer during any season. Hunters who choose not to select this option MAY NOT hunt buck mule deer within these groups of districts in southwestern Montana. Two different Deer A licenses will be available for deer hunting in Montana in 1997: one is for hunting in those groups of hunting districts in southwestern Montana mentioned above; the other is for hunting elsewhere in the state. Hunters may purchase only one Deer A license. A Deer A license purchased for hunting in any of the eight groups of hunting districts in southwestern Montana MUST BE VALIDATED for an individual group of districts at the time the license is purchased. FWP will reissue another license to hunters who mistakenly purchase the wrong license if the hunter requests the change by October 15, 1997. Hunters wishing to obtain a different license must submit the Deer A license purchased in error to the Licensing Section, FWP, PO Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701. Hunters with questions about the new regulation should contact their local game wardens, area biologists or the nearest FWP office. …
(Headlines - February 14, 1997)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds hunters and anglers that all 1996 hunting and fishing licenses expire on February 28. To fish or pursue any game animals during scheduled seasons from March 1 through February 28, 1998, new 1997 licenses will be required. FWP licensing officials emphasize that residents purchasing licenses must present a valid Montana driver's license or valid Montana Identification card.
(Headlines - February 14, 1997)

At its meeting February 7 in Helena, the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission approved 26 more projects for funding through Montana's Future Fisheries Improvement Program.
(Headlines - February 14, 1997)

Steve Vinnedge, a Montana game warden stationed in Great Falls, has won a prestigious wildlife law enforcement award for his professional efforts, including promotion of a program to reduce fraudulent purchase of licenses. Vinnedge recently received the Pogue-Elms award from the Northwestern Wildlife Law Enforcement Association, comprising wildlife law enforcement entities throughout the western and northwestern United States as well as Canadian provinces.
(Headlines - February 14, 1997)