Sandhill Crane Applications Due August 1

Hunters interested in obtaining a special permit to hunt sandhill cranes in the Sweet Grass and Wheatland counties portion of the Central Flyway, as well as in three areas of western Montana must apply by Aug. 1.

The four limited permit areas to hunt sandhill cranes in Montana are:

·   c entral Flyway-Sept. 8 - 16 o      Sweet Grass/Wheatland counties-586-01-50 permits proposed

·    Pacific Flyway-Sept. 8 - 16 o      Dillon-Twin Bridges-380-01-50 permits proposed o      Warm Springs-280-01-30 permits proposed o      Ovando-Helmville-284-01-40 permits proposed

The FWP Commission will consider tentative sandhill crane seasons and permit quotas at its July 19 meeting in Dillon.

Hunters must apply in writing, at a regional office, or online by Aug. 1. Online applications available at fwp.mt.gov under Online Services. Mail-in applications must be sent to: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks; License Section; Sandhill Crane Drawing; P.O. Box 200701; Helena MT   59620-0701. Applicants must have a 2007 Conservation License and include their printed name and their signature, address, date of birth, ALS number, area applied for, and a $5 check payable for the non-refundable drawing fee (payable to FWP). Successful applicants will receive a permit to take one crane during the season.  

The sandhill cranes that inhabit the four limited-permit hunting areas in Montana are part of the Rocky Mountain sandhill crane population, which is smaller than the mid-continent population of lesser sandhill cranes that migrate through eastern Montana. Hunting for the Rocky Mountain sandhill crane population is regulated by federal management-plan guidelines.

To hunt sandhill cranes north and east of I-90 in the Central Flyway hunters must obtain a free permit.   The hunting season in this area is proposed for Sept. 22 - Nov. 18.   Permits will be available in early August from FWP offices in Billings, Helena, Glasgow, and Miles City, or from the Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge near Malta or Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge south of Plentywood.   In Sweet Grass County, the area south of Interstate 90 will remain closed to crane hunting.

A Montana Migratory Bird license is required to hunt sandhill cranes. Montana residents 12-14, and 62 or older, or holders of a Resident Person with Disability Conservation License need only their conservation license to hunt sandhill cranes.