Wildlife managers said a warm fall led to poor elk hunting in much of the state. The board responded by extending the season through Dec. 9.
“The elk harvest in some key areas was much lower than we hoped for,” said Quentin Kujala, chief of wildlife management for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. “Once again, a lack of snow and cold weather - and some difficult public access issues - played a significant role in keeping the harvest below our elk management objectives.”
FWP director Jeff Hagener said it is fairly rare to extend the elk season, but the agency has now done so twice in the last three years because of warmer than usual fall weather.
Hagener said there has been talk about delaying the start of future general rifle seasons by a week or two so they will stretch later into the fall. That would give hunters a better chance of seeing snowfall, which can drive elk out of the high country.
A snowstorm that hit parts of the state this week will help with hunting, but wildlife managers didn't feel it would be enough to reach targets established for the elk population by the scheduled close of the general hunting season Sunday, Hagener said.
“We're asking for hunters' help,” Kujala said. “We need hunters to help us get the elk harvest up for 2007, to get Montana's elk numbers in line with population objectives.”
FWP officials will close hunting on 24 hours' notice on a district-by-district basis if the agency sees excessive elk kills. All hunting regulations apply during the extended season, including the need for permission to hunt on private land.
Depending on the area open to hunt during the extended season, to participate hunters may need only a valid 2007 general elk license, or an antlerless or either-sex elk permit - in tandem with a general elk license - specifically valid for the area where an extended season is in effect.
General elk licenses, and some over-the-counter A9 licenses, are available for purchase from FWP and most license providers.
Hunters who have already killed an elk in 2007 with their general elk license are not eligible to purchase a second general license, but they can purchase one of the available A9 licenses.
Some Block Management Areas may not be open for the extended season. Hunters must contact regional FWP offices to determine whether a BMA is open for hunting elk during the season extension.
Here is a summary of the hunting districts with extended seasons - Nov. 26 through Dec. 9 - and the extended season format in effect:
n Open to hunters with a valid general elk license consistent with the 2007 elk hunting regulations in effect Nov. 25: 300, 314, 315, 320, 322, 323 (outside the Wall Creek WMA), 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 330, 333, 390, 393, 411, 413, 415, 416, 418, 421, 423, 432, 445, 446, 448, 449, 452, 454, 511, 530, 540, 580.
n Open to hunters with a valid general elk license, but hunters can harvest only antlerless elk: 422, 424, 425 (outside the Sun River WMA), 442.
n Open to hunters with an elk permit valid for the specific district during the general rifle season: 101, 103, 104, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 130, 132, 140, 141, 210, 212, 213, 261, 270, 281, 283, 285, 290, 292, 302, 323-10 (Wall Creek WMA), 401, 420, 441, 445, 450.
n Open to hunters with an elk permit valid for the specific district during the general rifle season, but hunters can only harvest antlerless elk: 412, 417, 426, 620, 621, 622, 630, 631, 632, 680, 690.
n Open to hunters with valid A9/B12 license awarded via the special drawings: 213, 292, 283, 411, 511, 530, 580, 680, 690.
n Open to hunters with over-the-counter A9/B12 license valid on private and DNRC lands: 413, 415, 416, 418, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425 (off Sun River WMA), 426, 432, 442, 446, 449, 450, 452, 454.
Map online
For a map of the hunting districts where the elk season has been extended, click here.
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