With more than 30 million acres of public hunting land available, Montana is a popular destination for hunters. Known for its rich wildlife diversity, Montana boasts an animal population that includes deer, elk, bears, mountain lions and turkeys. However, all prospective hunters in Montana must possess a valid hunting license.
Here are six important things to know before applying for a
hunting license, according to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department.
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1. Hunter Education Classes
These classes follow standards established by the International Hunter Education Association, which teaches students about firearm safety, wildlife management, field care of game, responsible hunting, landowner relations and more. Hunting accidents have fallen precipitously during the past 50 years,
according to the International Hunter Education Association.
In Montana, hunter education classes are required for all hunters born after January 1, 1985. Classes are free, last a total of 12 hours, and require students to pass a final exam to earn a valid certificate.
2. Disability Licenses
Disability licenses are available for hunters with verifiable physical ailments. However, in recent years, the regulations for disability licenses frequently have been skirted.
Huffington Post writes, “Montana wildlife regulators suspect more and more people are faking disabilities to take advantage of privileges granted to disabled hunters, so they want to remove one of those perks in hopes of curbing abuse.”
Now that the rules have been tightened, all disabled hunters in Montana must provide extensive documentation from a doctor, nurse or physician’s assistant along with their application.
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3. Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact
All license applications will be checked against the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, which lists all current and past hunters who have violated hunting and fishing laws in Montana and other states. Applying for a license while privileges are suspended is a misdemeanor that can result in
additional fines and penalties, the FWP said.
4. Vehicle-Killed Wildlife Salvage Permit
In 2013, the Montana state legislature passed a bill that grants permission to residents to salvage game resulting from a car crash. Permits can be acquired online at Montana FWP or with a police officer on the scene of the accident up to 24 hours after a collision.
5. Bow Hunting Licenses
Any hunter applying for a bow and arrow license must provide a valid bow hunting education certificate.
6. Black Bear Identification Program
Grizzly bears are currently a threatened species, and they maintain small populations in Montana. Black bears, however, have much stronger numbers and are fair game. All black bear hunters must pass a bear identification test to prevent a hunter from mistakenly killing a grizzly. The bear identification program can be completed online at the Montana FWP website.
This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.
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