The people are always friendly and go out of their way to make you feel welcome. The scenery while traveling from Missoula to Wolf Point is spectacular. And, of course, the pheasant hunting is always great.
So a week ago, Jens Gran of Polson and I headed over to hunt with some of the local folks on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. A reservation license is required to hunt pheasants there. The cost for a license is $45 for pheasants and $5 for a conservation license, unless you are a senior citizen like my friend Jens. Then, you’ll pay only $35. The license is good for the season.
One of the problems with out-of-state hunters that some of the locals expressed frustration about is they think, because they purchased a tribal license, that entitles them to hunt anywhere on the reservation without permission. Most of the land on the reservation is deeded and hunters are required to ask permission to hunt.
The hunting pressure along the Missouri River bottom has gotten to be heavy during the first two weeks of the pheasant season and magnifies even more when the general big-game elk and deer rifle seasons begin, especially on weekends.
Still, there seems to be plenty of places for hunters to go. And, as I said, the pheasant population is far better than most places around the state.
The best suggestion that I might offer is to buy a map of the reservation and know what land is public and what is private. Spend a day driving around to get to know the land and ask permission as you go.
Then make a plan for what you will be hunting the next few days.
Having a good hunting dog or two would also be highly recommended. I also would suggest that you limit your hunting party to four or fewer and one vehicle, if possible. Landowners are more likely to grant permission to
smaller groups.
It’s a big area, and there’s so much great habitat that it’s easy to get sidetracked during the day. Don’t forget to plan a day of hunting off the reservation, too. There are many conservation reserve program and block management lands that offer great pheasant hunting as well as private land that requires permission.
The pheasant hunting is good in this area, which is why many people travel from as far as Washington to the west and Minnesota to the east to hunt and enjoy northeastern Montana.
I look forward to joining them every year.
Mark Ward’s statewide Montana Outdoor Radio
Show airs Saturdays from 6 to 8 a.m. in Missoula on KGVO 1290 AM. E-mail Ward at captain@montanaoutdoor.
com.
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