Page 60 - Flathead Beacon // 9.30.15

OUT OF BOUNDS 61 EXPLORE 62 Outdoors
An Age-Old Pursuit Renewed
120 years since Montana’s first formal hunting rules were established, venturing outdoors in pursuit of big game remains a beloved tradition
well underway as a prelude to the general hunt, when thousands of Montanans venture outdoors in search of deer and elk. Rifle season runs Oct. 24 through Nov. 29. The rifle season for wolf hunting is Sept. 15 through March 15.
A two-day season set aside only for youth hunters 10-17 years old is Oct. 15-16.
This year a new law creating an apprenticeship program also allows youth hunters to go afield with a mentor who completed hunter education and received an apprenticeship certificate from one of the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks regional head- quarters. Previously, kids could only hunt once they turned 12 and completed a hunter education course.
State Sen. Mark Blasdel, R-Kalispell, spear- headed the bill creating the apprenticeship program as a way to enhance the tradition among families.
“It’s going to get kids out involved in the sport earlier. It’s going to add involvement with families and give more opportunities to get kids out in the field,” he said.
As of last week, over 700 permits were sold across the state.
According to game managers, the opportunities are ripe this season. FWP is reporting strong fawn recruitment from last winter and significant gains in populations, especially whitetail deer.
“The population of whitetail deer seems to be doing well,” FWP Region One Wildlife Manager Neil
HUNTING SEASON DATES
ANTELOPE
900 SERIES ARCHERY GENERAL
BIGHORN SHEEP
ARCHERY GENERAL
BLACK BEAR
FALL ARCHERY FALL
DEER & ELK
ARCHERY
YOUTH DEER ONLY GENERAL
MOOSE
GENERAL
MOUNTAIN LION
ARCHERY FALL WINTER
WOLF
ARCHERY
GENERAL SEASON RIFLE TRAPPING
UPLAND BIRDS
MOUNTAIN GROUSE PARTRIDGE SHARP-TAILED GROUSE TURKEY
BIG GAME OUTLOOKS
DEER
AUG. 15-NOV. 8 SEPT. 5-OCT. 9 OCT. 10-NOV. 8
SEPT. 5-SEPT. 14 SEPT. 15-NOV. 29
SEPT. 5-SEPT. 14 SEPT. 15-NOV. 29
SEPT. 5-OCT. 18 OCT. 15-OCT. 16 OCT. 24-NOV. 29
SEPT. 15-NOV. 29
SEPT. 5-OCT. 18 OCT. 24-NOV. 29 DEC. 1-APRIL 14
SEPT. 5-SEPT. 14 SEPT. 15-MARCH 15 DEC. 15-FEB. 29
SEPT. 1-JAN. 1 SEPT. 1-JAN. 1 SEPT. 1-JAN. 1 SEPT. 1- JAN. 1
Many areas of the state are seeing excellent fawn recruitment and abundant deer populations. In Northwest Montana, mule deer popu- lations remain low, but among those hunters willing to put in the time and effort, it’s clearly possible to still harvest a mature trophy buck in some remote areas, wildlife managers say. It’s a different story en- tirely for whitetail deer. Region-wide hunters can expect to find more whitetail deer and an increase in the number of bucks 3 years old and older, as populations continue to rebound from severe winter mortal- ity in 2007 and 2008.
ELK
These are good times for elk hunters as Montana elk populations continue to be strong across most of the state, according to wildlife managers. In some areas of western Montana, where populations have declined, wildlife biologists have recently observed increased recruitment of calves. Several mild winters have helped with elk calf survival and recruitment in this corner of the state. Elk populations in many areas in northwestern Montana, where steep terrain and heavy forest cover pose considerable challenges to hunters, are stable to increasing.
SOURCE: MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE AND PARKS
FOTOLIA.COM
EBY DILLON TABISH OF THE BEACON
ARLY SETTLERS NOTICED A UNIQUE FEA- ture in the Flathead Valley besides the stun- ning scenery — an abundance of wildlife. Elk,
deer, moose — this corner of the state was a cradle for big game; a sportsman’s mecca. Word spread quickly, and hunting and fishing parties began pouring into the region by the early 1890s to take advantage.
Yet the so-called code of the sportsman suf- fered and many hunters became increasingly con- cerned about dwindling game populations due to over-hunting. According to historical accounts that reflect the rapacious exploits, two residents in Demersville killed 1,500 deer in three months near the Flathead and Swan rivers for 30 cents per skin.
Hoping to protect big game populations for gen- erations to come, in 1895 the newly formed State Fish and Game Commission established one of its first bedrock laws in the Montana territory. Hunters were limited to eight deer per year, and most game animals and waterfowl could only be hunted during certain months, or seasons.
The age-old tradition remains firmly intact and is inextricably tied to Montana’s identity 120 years later.
This fall, the pursuit is renewed as big game hunting season arrives. Archery season is already
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SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM