Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks wants to alert all hunters to important updates to the 2012 preseason calendar, especially new deadline and drawing dates. The biggest change this year is the deadline for residents and nonresidents to apply for deer and elk permits – now March 15. This date was moved up to allow hunters more time to prepare for hunts. Drawings for those permits will now occur in mid-April as opposed to July.
IMPORTANT PRESEASON DATES FOR HUNTERS
February 16 — FWP Commission addresses hunting districts with pending quotas
March 15 — Deadline to apply for deer and elk permits (NEW)
March 15 — 2012 Season regulations available (ONLINE)
Early April — 2012 Deer/elk/antelope regulations available (PRINTED)
Mid April — Drawing for deer and elk permits
May 1 — Deadline to apply for moose, goat, sheep, and bison licenses
June 1 — Deadline to apply for antlerless deer B, elk B, and antelope licenses
July 16 — Drawing for antlerless deer B and antlerless elk B licenses
At the February 16 FWP Commission meeting, quotas will be finalized for hunting districts with pending quotas. It is important that hunters interested in applying for special deer and elk permits in districts with pending quotas wait until after February 16 to make their choices and submit applications.
The deadline to apply for moose, sheep, goat, and bison licenses remains May 1, while June 1 remains the deadline to apply for antlerless deer B and elk B licenses as well as antelope licenses.
FWP urges hunters to apply for licenses online. For more information, log onto fwp.mt.gov and click on “hunting.”