Upcoming deadline for spring turkey hunting

Montana’s spring male turkey hunting season begins April 13, and the deadline to apply for a Montana spring turkey permit, needed for some areas, is March 7.

Hunters only need to apply for a special permit by March 7 to hunt turkeys in two western Montana areas: 1) Mineral County (150 permits available) and 2) Powell County and a portion of Granite Counties (5 permits available).

Resident and nonresident spring turkey permit applications are available on the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov. Go to the Hunting page, click “Licenses and Permits” then “Paper Applications.” Applicants must have a 2013 conservation license to be eligible to apply. There is a $5 application fee. Permits are also needed for some areas in FWP’s Regions 3 & 4. Check the spring turkey permit application for details.In western Montana, turkey hunters can use an over-the-counter license in Missoula, Ravalli, Flathead, Lincoln, Lake and Sanders Counties. Just purchase your hunting licenses from any provider and head afield beginning April 13. The season runs through May 19.

Hunters are reminded of upcoming March, May and June deadlines to apply for permits and special licenses. Find out more at fwp.mt.gov.

March 15 is the deadline to apply for 2013 buck deer and bull elk hunting permits. Montana’s streamlined eight-page application packet that contains all the information hunters need to apply is available at all license providers, FWP offices and online at fwp.mt.gov. Successful applicants will receive their permits in April.

May 1 is the deadline to apply for moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and bison licenses.

June 1 is the deadline to apply for antlerless Deer B, Elk B, and all antelope licenses. Cow elk hunting opportunities are available as “Elk B” licenses; and doe hunting opportunities are available as “Deer B” licenses.

Applications for the May 1 and June 1 deadlines will be available in mid-March.