2006 Final Quotas And Seasons Set

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The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission has set final 2006 deer and elk permit quotas and upland game bird seasons.  The FWP Commission generally adopted the recommended quotas without change.

Most mule deer and white-tailed deer antlerless B license quotas increased statewide, with some decreases in isolated areas, mainly in FWP Region 2 near Missoula.

Antlerless elk permits increased in areas where elk populations exceed set objectives, including FWP Region 3 in southwestern Montana, FWP Region 4 in the Great Falls area, and FWP Region 6 and 7 in eastern Montana. New youth elk hunting opportunities in FWP Region 6 will include a limited number of youth permits in the Bear’s Paw Mountains.

Final antelope quotas are expected to be similar to last year’s, but the final quotas will be set after the results of population trend surveys conducted in July are in.

Upland game bird seasons will largely remain the same as last year, except that the sage grouse bag limit will go to four birds from two in response to increased sage grouse numbers. This change follows the harvest management guidelines in Montana’s sage grouse management plan. The sage grouse possession limit continues to be two times the daily bag limit, and the season dates are Sept. 1—Nov. 1.

The ring-necked pheasant season will begin Saturday, Oct. 7, linking it with the antelope season opener on Sunday, Oct. 8. Pheasant season ends Jan. 1 and the daily bag limit is three roosters.