Montana's elk shoulder season continues

Hunters in Montana still have a few opportunities to get in on the late shoulder season for elk, although they’ll have to head outside Region 1.

A total of 41 hunting districts in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 will allow hunting on private land through December, and in several instances, into January 2017.

Permits are still available only in some of those districts, and hunters need to get permission from private landowners before hunting on their property. Shoulder seasons focus on antlerless elk harvest with specific objectives, such as reducing property damage on agricultural land.

Hunters should consult with the regulation handbook to check rules specific to the region and district in which they plan to hunt:

n Region 2: Hunting districts 210, 212, 213 and 291 — B-licenses obtained in the July drawing; hunting district 215 — over-the-counter B-licenses bought before Oct. 22; hunting districts 290 and 298 — over-the-counter B-licenses still available; hunting district 217 — over-the-counter B-license bought before Oct. 22 or B-licenses obtained in the June 1 drawing, along with general elk licenses for youth and permits to hunt from a vehicle.

n Region 3: Hunting district 312 — over-the-counter B-licenses still available; hunting districts 390 and 393 — general elk licenses and over-the-counter B-licenses still available.

n Region 4: Hunting districts 421, 422 and 423 — B-licenses obtained in the June 1 drawing; hunting districts 411, 412, 445, 446, 449, 451 and 452 — B-licenses obtained in the June 1 drawing and general elk licenses.

n Region 5: All hunting districts except district 500 — B-licenses obtained in the June 1 drawing and general elk licenses.

n Region 6: Hunting districts 620, 621, 622, 630, 631, 632, 680 and 690 — only shoulder-season-specific B-licenses acquired through the June 1 drawing.

While Region 1’s only shoulder season lasted for only two months prior to the start of the general season, Tim Thier, a state wildlife biologist based in Trego, said the Tobacco Valley’s early-season elk hunt was a success.

“It went very well,” Thier said, estimating 20 to 25 elk had been harvested. “I talked to a rancher here two nights ago who thought it really helped tremendously.”

The shoulder season was added in response to a number of complaints from farmers and ranchers in hunting districts 101 and 109 that a growing elk herd had been wreaking havoc on alfalfa fields and other local crops.

And while no extended seasons are being offered this year, Thier said he’s always trying to lure more turkey hunters to help knock down the Tobacco Valley’s ballooning population of the popular game birds.

“We’ve got lots of them, so it would be good to have people get out there and put a couple in the freezer, if they could.”