New Hunt & Fish Licenses; Deer & Elk Permit Applications Available

Montana’s new 2014 hunting and fishing year begins March 1. Licenses are now on sale along with applications for resident and nonresident buck deer and either-sex elk hunting permits.

Resident and nonresident deer and elk permit applications and information is available online at fwp.mt.gov; click “March 15–Deer & Elk Permits“.

Paper application pamphlets will be available from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and most license providers by mid-February. The application deadline is March 15.

FWP continues to urge hunters to apply online. “It’s the fast, convenient and accurate way to apply,” said Ron Aasheim, FWP spokesman in Helena.

Aasheim urged hunters to start planning early, but hold off on submitting deer and elk permit applications until sometime after Feb. 13. “There are several elk hunting districts with ‘pending’ quotas that won’t be finalized by the Fish & Wildlife Commission until Feb. 13. If you’re interested in applying for one of the pending hunting districts, check the FWP website after Feb. 13 to make your choices and submit your application.”

Nonresidents seeking to apply for big game combination, elk combination or deer combination licenses and deer and elk permits for the 2014 fall Montana hunting season can also apply online or download an application from FWP’s website. To request an application by mail, write to: Licensing Section; Montana FWP; P.O. Box 200701, Helena MT; 59620-0701; or call: 406-444-2950.

Aasheim said May 1 is the deadline to apply for moose, sheep, goat and bison licenses and June 2 for antlerless deer B and elk B licenses and antelope and antelope B licenses.

Montana’s upcoming hunting and fishing license year runs from March 1 to Feb. 28, 2015.

*****

AT TAX TIME REMEMBER YOUR FAVORITE WATCHABLE WILDLIFE

2014-01-31_0957The annual nongame income tax check-off fund on Montana’s tax-return forms, helps Montana’s wild creatures and is a convenient way to snag a tax benefit.

The tax check-off fund goes to nongame wildlife management and activities that encourage awareness and enjoyment of birds and small mammals—think wildlife monitoring, habitat improvement projects and the publication and distribution of educational materials.

Every $10 you donate is matched one to three times with federal dollars.