Outdoors: Region 6 shoulder season to begin

Montana FWP

For the third year, FWP Region 6 has a shoulder season that allows antlerless elk hunting with a specific B-license. The past two years, the shoulder season was two weeks long, but this year the season has been extended 15 days and will run from Dec. 15 to Jan. 15. Elk licenses - general elk or B-licenses - valid during the archery and general seasons are not valid for the shoulder season in Region 6. Hunters must have previously applied for this opportunity during the June 1 license drawing and received their elk B-license that is only valid during the R6 shoulder season, either a 699-00 Elk B-license-valid in HDs 620, 621, 622, 630, 631, 632-on all public and private lands, not including CMR National Wildlife Refuge or 696-00 Elk B-license-valid in HDs 680 & 690 on all public and private lands.

Even though a shoulder season occurs outside the general season, all hunting regulations apply, including, but not limited to, obtaining landowner permission to hunt on private lands, properly validating your tag, wearing 400 square inches of orange above the waste, following legal shooting times, not shooting across a public road or right of way, leaving evidence of sex/species of the animal, and not shooting from a vehicle.

FWP suggests that hunters contact private landowners as early as possible, and to be respectful during the holiday season. Shoulder season licenses are also valid on legally accessible public lands except CMR Wildlife Refuge, and in participating Block Management lands.

Block Management cooperators were given the opportunity to opt out of the shoulder season, and four Block Management Areas BMAs in the shoulder season districts are not participating in the shoulder season for elk: No. 1 Springer, No. 21 Thorstad, No. 191 Wortman and No. 48 Burke Ranch. These BMAs are, however, still open for upland bird hunting through Jan. 1. Permission for the participating shoulder season BMAs are the same as they were for the general season, which can be found in our Hunting Access Guide.

Biologists would like to remind license holders that this is not a "damage hunt," with elk stacked up in concentrated areas. Hunters should prepare to hunt hard for elk, no different than any other hunting season. Expect variable weather conditions to possibly include deep snow, cold, and/or muddy conditions. Hunters should have means to retrieve elk over potentially long distances.

If there are any general questions concerning the shoulder season in Region 6, the FWP website contains a wealth of information at fwp.mt.gov/hunting/seasons/elkShoulder/, or people can contact the following:

Questions about the 699-00 license can be directed to the FWP Region 6 headquarters in Glasgow at 406-228-3700.

Questions about the 696-00 license can be directed to the FWP Region 6 field office in Havre at 265-6177.