Permission Before Permits

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In the spring, many Montana hunters begin to pore over the hunting regulations for the fall, trying to figure out the best places to hunt or where to put in for a special permit. This is the time of year for hunters to consider the landowner, especially when applying for special elk and deer tags. Landowner permission should come before applying for a special license or permit. Otherwise an unhappy fall hunting season could result. "Most folks put in by the statistics," says Don Childress, FWP wildlife division administrator referring to the statistics published in the Deer and Elk Regulations indicating the "odds" of drawing a Deer B License or Elk Permit by hunting district. "We’re suggesting that they should identify a place to hunt first." Often, the hunting districts with the best chance of drawing a special tag have the most private and posted land. That’s why those districts have the fewest applicants. To help hunters build positive relationships with landowners, FWP produced pocket-sized "Hunter/Landowner Access Courtesy Cards" encouraging hunters and landowners to talk and trade information so they can easily contact each other. Also a "Directory of Montana Maps" is available which lists the county, state and federal offices where maps identifying ownership of land in Montana are available. Finding a place to hunt for a person with a moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat tag is often not as critical as it is for deer, elk, and antelope permits. That’s helpful because the moose, sheep and goat applications must be postmarked by May 1, which is only a couple of weeks away. The deadline for special deer and elk tags is June 1, which gives hunters time to contact landowners.