Hunting season gears up for antelope, deer and elk

Surplus licenses are those still remaining after Montana's recent special hunting license drawings and Hunt Roster sign-ups. The unsold licenses are made available on a first-come first-served basis. "B" licenses are for hunting antlerless deer or elk.

"If you're interested in these licenses, the best advice is to buy online," said Hank Worsech, the licensing bureau chief for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Helena. "The few that are available will be sold out in a hurry, so plan ahead to be online or at a license provider that's open early."

The licenses can be purchased online at fwp.mt.gov, then click "Buy a License;" or from any FWP license provider. Purchase of over-the-counter antelope licenses and surplus licenses for deer B, elk B and antelope began Aug. 4.

Hunters may hold one either-sex and up to two doe/fawn antelope licenses, and in some cases may hold more than one deer B license depending on the area, but no more than seven in total. The list of available licenses can be viewed online at fwp.mt.gov.

Montana's wolf hunting licenses became available Aug. 4 for the state's 2014-15 regulated wolf hunting season.

For the 2014-15 wolf seasons, hunters will have the opportunity to pursue wolves throughout Montana beginning Sept. 6 for archery hunting, Sept. 15 for the general rifle season and Dec. 15 for trapping.

Licenses will be valid within 18 specifically defined wolf management units. Wolf licenses will be available for purchase online at fwp.mt.gov, or from any FWP license provider. Hunters must have, or also purchase, a valid 2014 conservation license. Wolf hunting licenses are $19 for residents and $50 for nonresidents. 

Hunters can purchase up to five wolf licenses. A trapping license, and the successful completion of a wolf trapping certification course, is needed to trap wolves in Montana. 

To learn more about wolf hunting and trapping in Montana, visit FWP online at fwp.mt.gov. Click Hunting, then click Wolf Hunting & Trapping Guide.

Some archery antelope hunters will be afield beginning Aug. 15.

This either-sex antelope license had to be obtained through the drawing before June 2. Archers who secured this license can only hunt antelope with archery equipment for the entire fall hunting season.

FWP officials remind early-season archery hunters that they may be traveling through or hunting in areas with official fire restrictions. Hunters must follow all fire restriction advisories in effect in these areas. For details on current conditions, go to the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks website at fwp.mt.gov. Click Drought & Fire Updates.

As a reminder, antelope "archery-only" season runs Sept. 6–Oct. 10 and the general antelope hunting season will be open Oct. 11–Nov. 9. 

The archery-only deer and elk seasons run Sept. 6 – Oct. 19.

The 2014 deer, elk and antelope regulations are available at FWP regional offices, from FWP license providers and on the Internet at fwp.mt.gov, then click Hunting.