Lucky hunters with extra time in their lives are already scouting for good public hunting locations and while others are planning when they will contact that landowner they know to ask for permission to hunt.
If you aren’t among them, don’t despair. Instead, turn to the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Hunting web pages at fwp.mt.gov for help. While scouting in the field is essential for a good hunt, FWP’s online hunting information will save hours if not days, and help you catch up with hunters who have time to burn.
Here is a quick survey of what you can find within minutes.
Hunting Seasons
Here you’ll find a chart summarizing all the basic 2008 hunting season dates as the FWP Commission adopts them. Also available from this page is an explanation of how hunting season dates are set in Montana.
Hunting and Trapping Licenses
The deadlines to apply for licenses to hunt big game species or trap furbearers are on this page, including information on the various application deadlines, and the cost and availability of resident and nonresident licenses.
Also from this page you can access the online licensing system, get the locations of regional FWP offices and find a list of FWP license provides and their locations. You can check your ALS number, bonus points and application status from this page too.
Hunting Regulations
Look here for online copies of the 2008 hunting regulation books including moose, mountain goat and bighorn sheep. Imagine the travel time and gas that can save. Equally important, this page provides any critical corrections to the printed regulations as they are discovered. Check this page before setting out this season to make sure you play by this year’s rules.
Hunt Planning
Begin to plan your hunt with a regional map by species, or go right to the hunting district you are most interested in studying. Launch the online map for a view of related hunting regulations and harvest statistics by species—all of which will be updated as final season decisions are made.
Automated Licensing Service (ALS)
As you use the FWP website to apply for special drawings or obtain 2008 licenses, you may need to find your ALS number, bonus points or check your drawing status. The ALS section provides that, and allows you to look up your bear identification test certificate and game damage roster registration results.
Hunting Access
Whether you choose to hunt on public or private lands you need to spend time scouting an area and talking with locals to identify good hunting opportunities. This web page helps you select the maps you’ll need, provides information on Montana Hunter Access laws, and offers tips on hunting opportunities on private and public lands. For example, did you know that there is public hunting on the 23,000-acre Montana State Prison Ranch?
Trapping
Here you will find trapping license applications, regulations, quotas, guidelines and ethics, and information on furbearer management. The information is updated as the commission makes final decisions on season dates, quotas and other details.
If your hunt planning needs a head start, or you are just interested in saving some gas and time, use the FWP online Hunting pages to begin your 2008 hunting season in the know.
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