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FWP sets urban archery deer hunt in Roundup

Sep 22, 2021 8:53 AM

Annual hunt designed to reduce conflicts with mule deer in and around town

BILLINGS – Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has scheduled a special archery-only hunt for property in and around Roundup to reduce the number of mule deer in town. Special tags for the hunt go on sale on a first-come first-served basis starting at 5 a.m. Oct. 6, 2021, online or at any license dealer.

FWP has issued 120 either-sex mule deer hunting licenses specifically for the Roundup management season at $10 each for residents and $75 each for non-residents. The season will run from Nov. 6, 2021, through Feb. 15, 2022. Each hunter is limited to two special Roundup licenses. The special Roundup licenses do not count toward a hunter’s limit of seven deer B licenses.

The tags are valid only for the special Roundup season and on specific properties in and around Roundup. Hunters must hold a current Montana conservation license, base hunting license and bow-and-arrow license.

In addition, hunters must obtain permission from the Roundup city offices, 34 3rd Ave. W., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The city may assign hunters to appropriate sites.

Because of the proximity to homes and businesses, hunters are restricted to archery equipment.

The hunt will take place on property owned by the City of Roundup, Musselshell County, Eric Snortland and Green Oil Field Service. Maps detailing the hunt area and rules are available at the Roundup city offices.

Hunters are required to bag and properly dispose of the deer viscera and report their harvest to the Roundup city offices at (406) 323-2804.

For the past seven years, FWP offered a similar hunt in and around Roundup. Last year the 120 special licenses were sold to 84 individuals. Forty-two hunters purchased two licenses each and 36 individuals purchased one license each. Residents bought 102 licenses. Of those, 72 licenses were purchased by people from Billings, Roundup, Acton, Laurel, Shepherd, Worden, Park City, Ballantine or Huntley. The remaining 30 resident licenses were purchased by hunters living as far away as Plains. Hunters harvested eleven mule deer, including six bucks and seven does.

City of Roundup and Musselshell County officials reported that, since the special hunts started, they have noticed fewer complains of vehicle/deer collisions and aggressive deer in town.

Here is a map of the areas open to hunting during the special Roundup deer season: