As always, hunters need permission to hunt on private land. Some cooperators who enroll land in the Block Management Program have chosen to allow public elk hunting ONLY during the archery only and general firearms hunting seasons. For answers to your localized questions about shoulder seasons, contact FWP in the respective regions: Headquarters Office A shoulder season is a firearms season that occurs outside the five-week general firearms and archery seasons. Montana Elk Hunts . Available 2020 Surplus Licenses Download the list (PDF) Transfer of game animal or wolf Download the form (PDF) Saw around 100 elk on day 1. The days are shorter, the weather is colder, and—unless you are waterfowl hunting—you’re likely waiting on the lull on the couch watching football or YouTube hunting videos, awaiting the 2020 big game seasons. “Of those 47 elk, 18 … Click on the links below to see the performance criteria for elk harvest in the hunting districts where there were shoulder seasons. Season timing and lengths will be tailored to each hunting district, so know your regulations. Hunting licenses and permits are available for purchase on the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department website for both Montana residents and nonresidents. Therefore, clearly defined fundamental objectives for what shoulder seasons are meant to accomplish were developed along with performance criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of a season in achieving those objectives. $950.00 nonresident license & elk tag, application deadline is MARCH 15, 2020. However, if you can’t hunt this week for whatever reason, don’t despair. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. These guidelines do not require implementation of any one option. However, multiple cooperators have decided to include their lands in the early and/or late elk shoulder seasons. Antelope, bison, black bear, elk and mountain lion are all included in Montana’s hunting … *Backcountry dates may vary by region. Phone: (406) 454-5840 Moose Hunting Seasons Chapter 8. Our outfitter referrals operate on private ranches in some of Montana's premier Hunting Districts like the Missouri Breaks (HD 410-21 & HD 622-21)Bull Mountains (HD 900-20), Snowy Mountains (HD 900-20) and any of 21 Bundled HDs (HD 900-20) and many other great General draw hunting districts. Phone: (406) 577-7900 The regulations were finalized by the Fish & Wildlife Commission on Feb. 13. For Arkansas, the number of elk harvested during the 2020 season was 47. Had some encounters and close calls but didn't fill my tag. (KY3) - All five hunters selected to participate in Missouri’s first legal elk hunting season harvested a bull elk. 6 Days Archery Elk Hunting + 6 Nights Lodging includes guide and meals from Camp. ... Montana General Elk Season Hunts 2019. 4600 Giant Springs Road In 2020, there will be full moons on August 3, September 2, and October 1 and 31 (a “Blue Moon” on Halloween). Email: fwprg62@mt.gov. 2020-2021 NEW MONTANA HUNTS MENU. Hunting; FishMT; Recreation; Fish & Wildlife; Education The days are shorter, the weather is colder, and—unless you are waterfowl hunting—you’re likely waiting on the lull on the couch watching football or YouTube hunting videos, awaiting the 2020 big game seasons. Shoulder season success will depend on landowners, hunters and FWP working closely together in a cooperative and respectful fashion. 1 Airport Road Fax: (406) 761-8477 The new application deadline is April 1.. In addition to a good bull harvest, the total all-seasons-combined harvest of cow elk was about twice what it had been in any of the previous five years. ... – lead-up to Fall Equinox, cooling weather (typically), and aggressive bulls – especially in the mountain states (Montana, Colorado, Idaho, etc.). States have been breaking records in hunting licenses distributed as well as overall kills during the season. Because elk herd numbers are above or at management plan objectives, the Montana FWP has instituted a number … Thread starter samuel_koeshall; Start date Dec 22 , 2020; Dec 22, 2020 #1 samuel_koeshall New member. Hunters harvested 47 elk during the 2020 Arkansas elk hunting season, a mirror image of the previous year’s total, according to Wes Wright, elk … Landowners within the designated shoulder season districts with elk on their property can expect calls from hunters looking for opportunities to hunt. If you are interested in booking any of the following hunts or would like to discuss them further, please call us at (406) 585-9051. From boating to fishing to hiking to camping to hunting, more and more people looked to the outdoors to socially distance in style. This new application deadline impacts both residents and nonresidents. 2020 Moose Hunting Seasons 2020 Moose Hunting Area Map. A shoulder season in no way grants anyone permission to hunt on private land. Stockton Outfitters has an established waiting list for the 2021 Archery Elk Hunting Season. Everything you need to plan your Montana hunting trips for 2020. All Montana nonresident licenses are designated for both archery and rifle hunting. Elk Shoulder Season in Montana, searching for advice ... . Week 4: October 1-7. As the season progresses, migration of elk begins and affords our late season elk hunters an opportunity to bag an elk at lower altitudes. For questions about elk shoulder seasons, call the number for your area below: “Performance-based” shoulder seasons were put in place to reduce elk populations in areas that are over population objective. Steve Bullock and our own Fish & Wildlife Commission have tasked FWP officials with addressing these concerns. For the rifle hunting season we do have a camp cook. Get the latest species and season information. We do provide lodging and a full kitchen, but no cook for the archery season. However, while elk and mule deer season seems to be months away, you can still get into the woods during shed season. A Conservation License is a prerequisite for all resident and nonresident licenses. 2020 Migratory Bird Regulations Plan Your Hunt Online. The late season hunts are conducted out of nice lodge with great food and hospitality. Which Week for Elk Hunting in 2020? Montana’s premier big game hunting outfitter. Hunters should not expect shoulder season hunts to be easy. A Conservation License is a prerequisite for all resident and nonresident licenses. 2020-2021 Season Elk and Deer Hunt Openings. Our Guided Elk Hunts. Moose- Combining Hunt Areas 3 and 4 into one Hunt Area, 3. Our General Season rifle elk hunt is an eight day expedition. The overall performance of the shoulder season in each hunting district will be evaluated and a decision made as to whether to continue the shoulder season or not. License Deadlines: April 1st for Elk & Deer, go to Montana Department FWP website (non resident licensing) for Rifle hunts apply for the BIG GAME combination license. For MT hunting regulations or other information, click on the following link: Montana FWP. I know y'all are wrapping up the 2020 year and this is still a year out but what a better time to start asking questions than now, when everyone is coming down from the mountains with their (hopefully) great experiences. Montana offers a large selection of big game for avid hunters to choose from. Shoulder seasons represent a strategy at addressing concerns with over-objective elk populations and elk distribution. Hunters interested in hunting elk on Block Management Areas during elk shoulder season dates prior to the general firearms hunting season are advised to check the particular Block Management Area on which they plan to hunt on a daily basis to determine if a Block Management Area fire closure is in effect. All downloads below are in PDF format. In each FWP region, agency officials have reached out to landowners to inform them of the shoulder seasons and provided information about how the hunts will or will not be coordinated and what landowners can expect. The combined maximum hunting and trapping bag limit is five wolves per person during the 2020-21 season. Go elk hunting in Montana for a late season monster bull with Guy Eastman. Youth ages 12-17 license is 1/2 price when hunting with parent or grandparent! Fax: (406) 228-8161 Elk . Week 4: October 1-7. No change in quotas. 2020 Montana Archery Elk Season Hunts. 2021 late Season Combo hunts. According to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks there is a special Elk shoulder season as follows. View District Details View Map . Looking at September, you’ll find that the moon will be mostly bright during the first week of the month, then fading out and hitting New Moon (no moon) right in the middle of the month (17th). View District Details View Map . Season proposals that might include one or more option will continue to be initiated by regional staff. 1400 South 19th Fax: (406) 248-5026 For more information on obtaining licenses, permits and regulations, visit the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department website. Normally the application deadline for special draw deer/elk and nonresident combination licenses was March 15, but for the 2020 season, you now have an extra two weeks (17 days) to submit your application! Billings, MT 59105 Shoulder seasons will vary in timing and function from hunting district to hunting district. Harvest and survey data portray overall Sun River elk numbers near the lower end of objective range (2,250 to 2,750 elk) along with continued low calf recruitment, so antlerless harvest opportunity has been reduced for this herd in the 2020 hunting season. Printed copies will be available at all license providers and FWP offices in a couple of weeks. Access district and public hunting land maps. “A shoulder season is a firearms season that occurs outside the 5-week general firearms and archery seasons. ), the shoulder season may be continued, as long as access to elk during the general season is not considered to be the main reason harvest criteria are not being met. Get the latest species and season information. Two Hunters – One Guide: $4,500 per client; One-on-One: $5,750 per client; Week 1: September 4-10. A full explanation of shoulder seasons, the fundamental objectives and the performance criteria is found in the Final Elk Season Guidelines Flexible Season Structure with Performance-based Shoulder Seasons. Montana offers a large selection of big game for avid hunters to choose from. Our backcountry elk hunts start during the bugle season, September 15 and run through to October 15. Email: fwprg12@mt.gov. This is an early rifle season and the hunts are 7 days long. The program is aimed at continuing Montana family traditions by making an effort to bring sons and daughters and family back home during hunting season. Everything you need to plan your Montana hunting trips for 2020. Week 2: September 13-19. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Licensing Dept (406) 444-2950 Harvest and survey data portray overall Sun River elk numbers near the lower end of objective range (2,250 to 2,750 elk) along with continued low calf recruitment, so antlerless harvest opportunity has been reduced for this herd in the 2020 hunting season. The primary purpose of elk shoulder seasons is to reduce elk populations in areas that are over population objective as outlined in the Montana Elk Management Plan. 490 North Meridian Road This shall include fundamental objectives, performance criteria, and periodic commission/public review of season performance against those elements. This regulation establishes hunting seasons, dates, limitations, bag limits, special archery seasons and hunt area descriptions for moose hunting seasons. Montana law ( MCA 87-1-323 ) requires Fish, Wildlife & Parks to manage elk populations to objective, and both Gov. Regulations that governed the use of these Elk B Licenses during the general season will continue to be enforced in the extended season. Bozeman, MT 59718 However, while elk and mule deer season seems to be months away, you can still get into the woods during shed season. Note: All Archery and Rifle Elk/Deer hunts are 5 hunting days. They also emphasize flexibility with using all currently available harvest tools. ** **Now Offering Cow Elk Hunts for the 2020 Hunting Season** We encourage clients to apply for the Big Game Combo License (Elk-Deer) and start putting in for preferance points for the Bull Elk permit. Five wolves can be taken by means of hunting each with a valid Wolf License. 2020 Archery Season Elk and Deer Hunt Openings This was frustrating to hunters, of course, and we learned that we need to do better at getting information out to folks in the future. In the PF a split season for both ducks and geese, with dates of Oct. 3 – Jan. 10 and Jan. 16-20, will allow an additional weekend of hunting (season closed Jan. 11–15), which allows for later season hunting days and an additional weekend of hunting. MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE & PARKS MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE & PARKS . There were often over 500 calls per day in addition to the hundreds of people walking in, and we couldn’t handle them all. OR: Other shoulder seasons not subject to the above harvest criteria are allowed if they are consistent with the fundamental objectives and have broad, expressed support from landowners, sportsmen, FWP and the commission. All of our Montana elk hunts require more or less rigor and we offer elk hunting in three distinct seasons: Our season starts with archery elk hunting. Launch the Montana Hunt Planner Glasgow, MT 59230 Regulations. Hunters need to check the regulations for each district. per guest. Montana offers the Block Management program, a system designed to encourage private property owners and land management agencies to allow free public hunting. Harvest and survey data portray overall Sun River elk numbers near the lower end of objective range (2,250 to 2,750 elk) along with continued low calf recruitment, so antlerless harvest opportunity has been reduced for this herd in the 2020 hunting season. Part of getting information out is this Shoulder Season website, but we will also be doing a lot more outreach through TV, radio, newspapers, and social media. I'm glad that he did. In order for shoulder seasons to work at reducing elk everybody has to pitch in – FWP, sportsmen, landowners, everyone. Montana does not allow crossbow hunting during archery season nor does it have a muzzleloader only season. Montana elk hunting, trophy, whitetail and mule deer hunts, Montana black bear hunting, moose, sheep and mountain goat hunting trips. Where a shoulder season and archery season occur at the same time, the shoulder season will mostly be limited to private land. Please contact us to schedule an hunt based on your party’s needs. 2020 Hunting Regulations. — Missouri’s first elk-hunting season ended Sunday with all five of the hunters selected for permits harvesting bull elk during the firearms portion Dec. 12-20. This map has many improvements over the original Hunt Planner map and will continue to be improved throughout the 2020 hunting season. 2020 Elk Applications are due by April 1st. Antelope, bison, black bear, elk and mountain lion are all included in Montana’s hunting seasons. To hunt in Montana, you will need: To sign up as an Apprentice Hunter or take a hunter education class if born after January 1, 1985.. Conservation License. New for 2020, Montana's application deadline has changed. These guidelines have 11 fundamental objectives as well as clear performance criteria to evaluate effectiveness and make sure that adequate harvest of both bulls and cows occurs during the general five-week season. MHC Available Hunts for 2021. Please contact us to schedule an hunt based on your party’s needs. The 2020 alternate list for nonresident Montana general deer combination hunting … The response from hunters was overwhelming, so much so that even though FWP put on additional staff and directed other staff’s time we were swamped. These guidelines were developed to improve elk harvest and bring elk populations into objective. 2020 Archery Season Elk and Deer Hunt Openings It is priced at $2900. More CWD in more places. Join us on a Montana hunting trip between Libby and Kalispell, Montana in the heart of the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness deep in Montana's rugged northwest. September 2020 was one of the toughest elk seasons I can remember for rut activity – or at least rut intensity. Montana Deer and Elk Hunting Season. I hunted 270 last year, 2019, for elk. Extra days are available at a discounted rate. As mentioned, shoulder seasons are opportunities to hunt antlerless elk primarily on private land. FULL GUIDED RIFLE or ARCHERY BULL ELK HUNTS. For the rifle hunting season we do have a camp cook. Greetings! ), this would be it. Hunting licenses and permits are available for purchase on the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department website for both Montana residents and nonresidents. check the particular Block Management Area on which they plan to hunt, Final Elk Season Guidelines Flexible Season Structure with Performance-based Shoulder Seasons, 2016-2017 Montana Shoulder Season Performance Criteria Evaluation Table, 2017-2018 Montana Shoulder Season Performance Harvest Criteria Evaluation Table, 2018-2019 Montana Shoulder Season Performance Harvest Criteria Evaluation Tables, 2016-2018 Combined Montana Shoulder Seasons Performance Harvest Criteria Evaluation Tables, Montana 2015 Shoulder Season "Pilot Project" Performance Criteria Evaluation. All of our Montana elk hunts require more or less rigor and we offer elk hunting in three distinct seasons: Our season starts with archery elk hunting. The 2020 deer, elk, antelope, black bear, and moose, sheep, and goat hunting regulations are available online. Montana law (MCA 87-1-323) requires Fish, Wildlife & Parks to manage elk populations to objective, and both Gov. To hunt in Montana, you will need: To sign up as an Apprentice Hunter or take a hunter education class if born after January 1, 1985.. Conservation License. The Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted the concept of shoulder seasons in October 2015. BIG GAME HUNTING. Learn more. They can also be purchased from a variety of businesses throughout the state. 2020-2021 Season Elk and Deer Hunt Openings. Phone: (406) 228-3700 We learned that shoulder season can be effective in harvesting a lot of elk if landowners participate. 6 Days Archery Elk Hunting + 6 Nights Lodging includes guide and meals from Camp. ; Base Hunting License Fee. Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Headquarters Office Here, hunters can find all they need to know about taking advantage of shoulder season opportunities in hunting districts where they are approved. ... We specialize in horseback hunting trips in Montana for Elk, Whitetail deer, Mule Deer, Bighorn sheep, Black Bear and Mountain Lion in the rugged and remote wilderness areas of southwest Montana. Didn't get an ethical shot all week. 2300 Lake Elmo Drive Not wanting to wait until fall 2017 to begin, the Commission and FWP instituted a “Pilot Project” in five hunting districts to see how shoulder seasons might work. Montana Hunting Seasons, 2020-2021 Montana offers a large selection of big game for avid hunters to choose from. Likewise, hunters have a responsibility to be respectful of the land they hunt on and to be courteous with and respectful of landowners. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. Another new (wannabe) elk hunter here. New for 2020, Montana's application deadline has changed. Our Guided Elk Hunts. The new application deadline is April 1.. LITTLE ROCK — Hunters harvested 47 elk during the 2020 Arkansas elk hunting season, a mirror image of the previous year’s total, according to Wes Wright, elk program coordinator for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. We have a remote backcountry camp in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness in Montana, adjacent to the northern boundary of Yellowstone National Park. If a shoulder season in a hunting district does not meet the performance criteria, FWP would not propose to continue the shoulder season. ; Base Hunting License Fee. Below is a news release from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The F&W Throughout Central Montana the elk population is plentiful, with numerous public land access points. One of my buddies here in ID was bow hunting hard for elk, as he usually does and complained about the same issues....too much smoke and too hot. Hunted the rifle season in late October. Stockton Outfitters has an established waiting list for the 2021 Archery Elk Hunting Season. Medicine Lake Outfitters offers semi-guided rifle elk hunts during the “General Season” in the Madison Range just to the west of Yellowstone Park near Big Sky, Montana. Week 2: September 13-19. Phone: (406) 542-5500 Hunters should start early establishing contacts and building relationships with landowners who may offer access for shoulder season hunts. To ensure you have a legal hunt, visit the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks website for more information. Email: fwprg3@mt.gov, Headquarters Office To ensure this standard of broad and diverse collaboration is met, the commission shall review the nature and amount of landowner and hunter support when considering any shoulder season proposal under this guidance. Antelope, bison, black bear, elk and mountain lion are all included in Montana’s hunting seasons. Hunters will need to look at the specific Block Management Area maps and the chart in the Block Management Hunting Access Guide to determine when public elk hunting will be allowed on a specific BMA. Harvest and survey data portray overall Sun River elk numbers near the lower end of objective range (2,250 to 2,750 elk) along with continued low calf recruitment, so antlerless harvest opportunity has been reduced for this herd in the 2020 hunting season. It needs to be well understood that this was not a full-blown shoulder season because hunters and landowners did not have time to understand or even try to meet evaluation criteria, it was already October so there was no opportunity for an early season, plus hunting was already in full swing with the archery season and rifle season to open soon. In HD 410, where there was less landowner participation in the late shoulder season, there were only 31 cows taken during the shoulder season compared to 444 during the archery and general season. In some areas, the shoulder season will occur at the same time as the archery season, while in others it will not include the archery only season. Trapping is authorized Dec. 15, 2020-Feb 28, 2021, with a valid Trapping License and upon completion of mandatory one-time wolf-trapping certification . You cannot hunt waterfowl or any Regulations are adopted by the Fish & Wildlife Commission Regulations for season dates, structures, and restrictions were adopted by the F&W Commission on April 23, 2020, under the authority granted in MCA 87-1-301 and are valid March 1, 2020, through February28,2021. During the past three years, the number of bulls harvested during the archery-only and five-week general seasons combined (not including the shoulder season) is more than half (>50%) the number of bulls recruited during that three-year period AND, During the past three years, the number of cow elk harvested during the archery-only and five-week general seasons combined (not including the shoulder season) is more than half (>50%) the number of cows recruited during the three-year period AND, During the past three years, total harvest of cows during all seasons combined (archery-only, five-week general and shoulder season) is greater than the total number of cows recruited during the three-year period AND, During the past three years, total harvest of all elk during all seasons combined (archery-only, five-week general and shoulder season) is greater than the total number of all elk recruited during the three-year period OR. Another chance to pick up a deer, elk or big game combo license and hunt Montana during the 2020 season. We offer fully guided hunts for Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail, Antelope and much more! Regulations, Part 20.11 and 20.21(i). The guidelines respect private property rights and landowner decisions as well as public trust responsibilities associated with elk management. In some districts the shoulder seasons will start as early as Aug. 15 and go as late as Feb. 15. Bighorn Sheep-No changes. General | December 4, 2020. The Block Management Hunting Access Guide and maps for lands enrolled in the Block Management Program will be available beginning mid-August, either online or upon request, in accordance with regional directions in the Hunting Access Guide or on the website, from FWP regional and area offices. 2020-2021 NEW MONTANA HUNTS MENU. Chronic wasting disease has been found in wildlife in new areas of Montana. Shoulder seasons are performance-based, meaning that certain criteria for timing and number of animals harvested must be met, as stated in the shoulder season guidelines. However, other Block Management cooperators have chosen to allow public elk hunting during all legal seasons for their respective hunting districts including the shoulder seasons. Launch maps, obtain legal descriptions, regulations, and statistics all in one place. The Montana Legislature, through statute (MCA 87-1-323), Gov. That’s why some of the fundamental objectives for shoulder seasons speak to landowners. Most all of the elk hunting is by permit only. The Devil’s Kitchen Working Group represents one example of this sort of significant and diverse collaboration. Normally the application deadline for special draw deer/elk and nonresident combination licenses was March 15, but for the 2020 season, you now have an extra two weeks (17 days) to submit your application! The bugling action will be picking up every day, and if I was going to pick one week to hunt elk in the mountain states (Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, etc. Steve Bullock, and our own Fish & Wildlife Commission, have tasked FWP officials with addressing these concerns. But there is concern that offering shoulder seasons without any sideboards could lead to de facto privatization of wildlife and facilitate exclusive use of a public resource. Missoula, MT 59804 If lack of access during the general season is the main reason for not meeting harvest criteria, then the hunting district(s) or a portion of the hunting district may, at the Commission’s discretion, shift to antlerless only. FULL GUIDED RIFLE or ARCHERY BULL ELK HUNTS. Montana Big Game Archery Elk/Deer Season Dates: September 5th - October 18th, 2020; Montana Big Game Rifle Elk/Deer Season Dates: October 24th - November 29th, 2020; Elk/Deer General Combination License Price (Plus Drawing Fee): $1,083.50 2020 Hunting Regulations. Nonresidents are also able to purchase combination licenses for deer and elk hunting. Elk Numbers in Arkansas. The 2020 deer, elk, antelope, black bear, and moose, sheep, and goat hunting regulations are available online. $950.00 nonresident license & … To be more specific, in Idaho you can hunt for: General Season Deer - White-tailed Deer and Mule Deer Elk Black Bear Mountain Lion Wolf Controlled Hunts Deer - White-tailed Deer and Mule Deer Elk Pronghorn Black Bear Moose Bighorn Sheep - California and Rocky Mountain Mountain Goat After a Successful Hunt Big Game Field Dressing Backcountry Game Meat Care Guide Fill Out A Hunt …