Smith River Permit Drawing Results

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The annual Smith River permit drawing has taken place and the results are in the mail and on the Internet. "We received 4,300 permit applications this year," says Joe O’Neill, Fish, Wildlife & Parks Smith River manager. "We gave out 780 permits." The 59-mile scenic float south of Great Falls has become increasingly popular. Last year, 3,700 people sent in applications for the same number of permits. In 1993, the first year of the permit process, FWP received 216 applications. This year’s permits were mailed out March 2, O’Neill says. Refund checks to unsuccessful applicants went in the mail the week of March 13. If neither a permit nor a refund arrives by March 31, it is the responsibility of each applicant to contact the Smith River hotline at FWP’s Great Falls office, (406) 454-5861. The Smith River hotline will be in operation starting March 20, 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. It’s the place to call to ask about any cancellations or open dates. Because of the large number of applications this year, currently there are no open dates from May 1 through July 20.