Mountain Lion Winter Season Begins December 1

Friday, December 01, 2000
Headlines

This article was Archived on Monday, July 01, 2002

Montana’s mountain lion winter hunting season begins Dec. 1 and hunters can expect a change when they report their harvest. To streamline the process of aging the lion, FWP personnel may pull a tooth after visually examining the lion when the hunter registers it. "The lion’s age is an important piece of data in managing this species," says Rich DeSimone, Fish, Wildlife & Parks mountain lion research biologist in Helena. "A visual inspection of the teeth is the first step, but a tooth may be pulled to get a more precise age." In the past, FWP personnel kept the lion skull, which was then sent to the department’s Bozeman lab for aging. Eventually, the skull was sent back to the hunter. Starting this year, the skull will be tagged and examined, then returned. The 2000 mountain lion hunting regulations include:

• A hunter harvesting a mountain lion must personally report the kill within 12 hours by calling the regional FWP office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., or calling (406) 449-1065 after hours.
• Hunters have 10 days to personally present the hide and skull to a game warden, wildlife biologist or an administrative officer in the region where the lion was taken.
• Females with kittens may not be taken and no lions with body spots may be killed.
• When the total quota or subquota is reached in a hunting district, the lion season or subquota for that area will be closed on 24-hour notice, but no later than April 14, 2001.
• Current harvest information is available during normal business hours at the FWP regional headquarters where the district is located. Statewide information is available 24 hours a day by calling (800)-385-7826. Harvest quota information is updated by 1 p.m. each day.
• Evidence of the animal’s sex must remain naturally intact on the hide.

Mountain lion hunters may pick up a copy of the 2000 Mountain Lion Regulations at any FWP office and most license agent locations.