There will be lots of color in the backcountry on Saturday — not from changing leaves but from the safety vests of thousands of hunters.
We talked with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) about a few simple ideas all hunters should follow that will allow for continued safe and successful hunting seasons.
Saturday, October 26, will be a busy day for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks as thousands of people will be out for the opening of the general big game hunt.
This happens because of Montana's vast resource of game and its partnerships with landowners who allow hunting.
“Access in Montana, especially for hunting is so important and we want to preserve as much access opportunity as possible and retaining and preserving that access and those opportunities really relies on good hunter behavior and making good, ethical and responsible decisions,” noted FWP spokesman Morgan Jacobsen.
The vast majority of those hunters do just that. However, there are some bad apples, and preserving that access requires those bad apples to be removed.
“If you encounter something while you're out that doesn't look right, if you see something -- illegal activity or other suspicious activities that may be occurring, make sure that you report that to Fish Wildlife and Parks,” Jacobsen said.
A quick phone call to 1-800-TIP-MONT or an online report at tipmont.mt.gov will alert FWP wardens about the situation so that can track down those bad apples.
Ultimately, Montanans are fortunate to be able to hunt many months out of the year, and the five-week general season is one of the longest in the country.
“We're grateful to have these opportunities. Let’s all do our part to leave no trace and to make good decisions while we're in the field so that collectively we can have a good experience with hunting season this year,” Jacobsen said.
The general season opens at first light on October 26 and runs until sunset on December 1, 2024.
