Smith River Drawing Results

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The wait is over. The annual Smith River permit drawing has taken place and the results are in the mail and on the Internet.

"We received 3,752 permit applications this year," says Joe O’Neill, Fish, Wildlife and Parks Smith River manager. "We gave out 706 permits."

The 59-mile scenic float south of Great Falls has become increasingly popular. Last year, FWP received about 4,252 applications. Two years ago, 4,294 people sent in applications. Back in 1993, the first year of the permit process, FWP received 216 applications.

This year’s permits were mailed out the week of March 4, O’Neill says. Refund checks to unsuccessful applicants will be mailed the week of March 11.

For those who cannot wait for the mail carrier, there is always the Internet. Go to FWP’s home page at fwp.state.mt.us and follow the directions.

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 hotline will be in operation, 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, beginning March 18.