Game damage hunt registration deadline nearing

  • Published
  • By Fish, Wildlife and Parks office
GREAT FALLS, Mont. --  Hunters interested in participating in game-damage hunting opportunities on private land this year must register online by Sunday with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. 

Game-damage occurs when animals such as elk, deer and antelope concentrate on private farms and ranches and eat crops and hay. FWP's game-damage hunt rules are designed to respond to the needs of landowners who provide public hunting during the general hunting season, yet who could nevertheless suffer losses due to wildlife damage without this additional management tool. 

In addition to game-damage hunts, those who register will also be eligible for special game-management season hunts. Special game-management seasons are called for in response to concentrations of big game due to seasonal migrations, extreme weather conditions, restrictive public hunting on adjacent or nearby properties and other factors. 

The 30-day roster sign-up for such hunts ends Sunday. A final game-damage roster, randomly generated from all the online registrations, will be posted by Aug 1. Hunts could take place anytime from Aug. 15 through Feb.15, 2008. Officials stress, however, game-damage hunts are only offered when needed and the need for such hunts may or may not develop. FWP will contact hunters on the game-damage rosters if hunting opportunities arise. 

"We're asking hunters to consider registering for hunting districts where, if called, they'd be able to respond quickly," said Quentin Kujala. "For most hunters that means registering for a hunting district that is pretty close to home." 

Prospective hunters must register for the hunt rosters online at fwp.mt.gov. Click on "Game-Damage Hunt Roster." The Internet-based registration can be completed at most public libraries or at any FWP office. 

To register, hunters need their ALS number, which is on your current year's conservation license and they'll be prompted to enter a preferred hunting district for potential deer, elk and antelope game-damage hunts. Hunting districts with a history of game damage harvests will be highlighted on a drop-down menu. Prospective hunters may choose to participate in all three species lists. Hunters are urged to print the confirmation page upon completion of the registration process. 

The effort to create hunter rosters is specifically intended to decrease game-damage response time and to generally streamline the game-damage process. Montana's general five-week hunting season, and the creation of more either-sex seasons for big game, eliminated methods used in past years to generate lists of prospective game-damage hunters.